Art of Compromise : On Freeway Wall, Design for Living

Images of freeways, transportation and the human condition immediately came to Israeli painter Yuval Golan’s mind when he saw other artists painting freeway walls for the 1984 Olympics.

Golan, now 41, immigrated to the United States 13 years ago hoping to become rich through his art. When he saw there was no commercial future in his style of political protest art, Golan resigned himself to living modestly rather than compromising.

Then, two years ago, he decided that he, too, would paint a freeway mural.

He presented a sketch to Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude. It was judged too “complicated,” Golan said.

“Politicians have their very legitimate considerations,” he said. “I have to accept it, and I even agree with it.”

Golan said the councilman’s deputy suggested “something more digestible, like something about peace.”

“I decided to compromise,” he said.

He developed a new design: five silhouetted faces, each a different bright color, lined up inside one another with an egg-shaped earth floating on the inner face, wrapped in the embrace of the dove of peace, above the title, “Many Colors--One Desire.”

The councilman liked it, Golan said. The artist next worked with the California Department of Transportation to find a mutually agreeable wall.

All he needed then was money for the art supplies.

The congregation of the Unitarian Universalist church on Haskell Avenue in Sepulveda stepped in to provide them. Golan got his first job in the United States at the church as a live-in gardener and caretaker, and never left. He still lives on the grounds with his children.

Two weeks ago, Golan began to paint. He finished Tuesday.

“Many Colors--One Desire” is now on exhibit beside the westbound ramp of the Ventura Freeway at Haskell Avenue.