Art News

California’s Surfing Madonna Mosaic to Come Down

ENCINITAS, CA (AP).- The artist who created the popular but illegal Surfing Madonna mosaic has agreed to pay the costs of relocating it from public property, it was announced Tuesday. Mark Patterson will pay a $500 fine and all costs to remove the 10-foot-by10-foot stained glass work that mysteriously appeared days before Easter on the wall of a railroad bridge underpass in the beach town. In negotiations with the city, Patterson agreed to remove the artwork “as soon as reasonably possible,” according to a city statement. The colorful piece depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe surfing a wave along with the words “Save the Ocean.” Hundreds of people have come to view it in Encinitas, a picturesque coastal community 25 miles north of San Diego. City officials said the piece was put up without a permit and technically was graffiti. However, authorities also agreed that it was beautiful and hired an art conservation firm to find