By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – The lawyer, representing artists trying to save their mural in Uptown Normal, believes there’s a sense of urgency to prevent its demolition.
Chicago attorney William McGrath, representing 13 artists who painted the mural, filed a federal lawsuit last month. He’s now asking the judge to issue a temporary restraining order to stop Normal’s town government or developer Bush Construction from bulldozing the eight-year old mural or perhaps moving it to another spot.
An order would temporarily prevent the town government and the developer from “taking any actions to destroy, distort, mutilate, or modify” the mural, which adorns the exterior wall of one of the three buildings set for demolition on East Beaufort Street.
In his motion, McGrath contends demolition could start this month because college students have left Normal for the summer.
The town is offering tax increment financing dollars to help build the $30 million Trail East complex, which would include offices, residences, and a food court.
The lawsuit, filed last month, claims the federal Visual Artists Rights Act forbids demolition without the artists’ consent.
The artists seek unspecified financial damages in addition to a ruling protecting the mural.
A hearing on the temporary restraining order is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the federal courthouse in Peoria, according to Brian Day, Normal’s Town Attorney.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
