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Pink Lady (art)
Encyclopedia
The Pink Lady was a short-lived painting
on a rock face near Malibu, California in 1966. The painting was created by Lynne Seemayer, a paralegal
from Northridge, California, and depicted a 60-foot (18m) tall, nude
woman
in a running
position.
The painting was located above a tunnel on Malibu Canyon Road, about four miles north of Malibu. The rock above the tunnel had been covered with graffiti
, which Seemayer felt was "an eyesore". Working at night, she began removing the graffiti in January 1966, using rope
s to suspend herself in front of the rock. When the rock was clean, she created the painting on the night of Friday, October 28, 1966.
By November 1, the painting had begun to attract local news coverage. It was dubbed the "Pink Lady" by the media, due to the pink paint used for the skin. Los Angeles County
road officials, concerned about traffic problems the painting might cause, attempted to remove it with high-pressure spray from fire hose
s, and then with paint stripper
. However, Seemayer had used heavy-duty house paint for her creation, and both methods failed to remove it.
When she realized that her work was in danger, Seemayer publicly admitted to creating the Pink Lady, and sought a court injunction. This failed, however, and on November 3 a road crew covered the painting with brown paint. Seemayer sued the county for $1,000,000 for the destruction of her work, and the county counter-sued for $28,000 in removal costs. Since the painting was on private property, both cases were dismissed by the court.
For some time after the painting was removed, Seemayer received hate mail
and phone calls
from people who felt the work was obscene
, including threats of violence against her and her children. She also received a few offers from art galleries to show her work.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
on a rock face near Malibu, California in 1966. The painting was created by Lynne Seemayer, a paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
from Northridge, California, and depicted a 60-foot (18m) tall, nude
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
in a running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
position.
The painting was located above a tunnel on Malibu Canyon Road, about four miles north of Malibu. The rock above the tunnel had been covered with graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
, which Seemayer felt was "an eyesore". Working at night, she began removing the graffiti in January 1966, using rope
Rope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
s to suspend herself in front of the rock. When the rock was clean, she created the painting on the night of Friday, October 28, 1966.
By November 1, the painting had begun to attract local news coverage. It was dubbed the "Pink Lady" by the media, due to the pink paint used for the skin. Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
road officials, concerned about traffic problems the painting might cause, attempted to remove it with high-pressure spray from fire hose
Fire hose
A fire hose is a high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant to a fire to extinguish it. Outdoors, it is attached either to a fire engine or a fire hydrant. Indoors, it can be permanently attached to a building's standpipe or plumbing system...
s, and then with paint stripper
Paint stripper
Paint stripper, or paint remover, is the generic name given to solvent mixtures designed to remove paint and other finishes and also to clean the underlying surface. The principal active ingredient is usually dichloromethane...
. However, Seemayer had used heavy-duty house paint for her creation, and both methods failed to remove it.
When she realized that her work was in danger, Seemayer publicly admitted to creating the Pink Lady, and sought a court injunction. This failed, however, and on November 3 a road crew covered the painting with brown paint. Seemayer sued the county for $1,000,000 for the destruction of her work, and the county counter-sued for $28,000 in removal costs. Since the painting was on private property, both cases were dismissed by the court.
For some time after the painting was removed, Seemayer received hate mail
Hate mail
Hate mail is a form of harassment, usually consisting of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient...
and phone calls
Obscene phone call
An obscene phone call is an unsolicited telephone call where a person derives sexual pleasure by using sexual or foul language to an unknown person. Making obscene telephone calls for sexual pleasure is known as telephone scatologia and is considered a form of exhibitionism...
from people who felt the work was obscene
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
, including threats of violence against her and her children. She also received a few offers from art galleries to show her work.