For Jack

In 1975 artist Lee Whitten was commissioned by the County to create an artwork for the Manhattan Beach Library. The artwork is a 12’ H x 14.5’ W ceramic tile mural "For Jack" depicting a sea and sand motif reminiscent of a Manhattan Beach vista.

On August 9, 2011, LA County approved and established the Manhattan Beach Library project to build a new library with the City of Manhattan Beach.

At the outset of the new library project, the County Public Library and the City of Manhattan Beach agreed with the architects that the tile mural did not fit with the design of the new library.

The County of Los Angeles Public Library agreed to fund the safe removal, restoration and reinstallation of the tile mural within a reasonable agreed upon cost.

The Arts Commission staff looked for a County facility in or near Manhattan Beach to relocate the mural, however, no County facility had the space to accommodate the mural adequately.

Because the artwork was designed for the City of Manhattan Beach and has been on public view in Manhattan Beach for 38 years, there was a strong desire for it to remain in the community.

Civic Art Collections Manager Clare Haggarty worked with the Manhattan Beach Public Works Director to select a suitable site to relocate the mural within Manhattan Beach. The selected site is the wall adjacent to the Civic Center garage near the intersection of Fifteenth and Morningside Streets.

On June 11, 2013 the Manhattan Beach Cultural Arts Commission approved receiving the artwork donation and approved the proposed location and recommends the Manhattan Beach City Council approve the donation and location.

In August 2013 the ceramic tile mural was removed from the wall of the former library building under the supervision of a art conservator.

A section of the original mural was inside the library lobby, it extended approximately two feet inside. However the blue tiles were not glazed and therefore do not match the rest of the mural and with permission from the artist this section will not be included in the final reinstallation (the dimensions above reflect only the exterior portion of the mural).

Currently the mural is being stored at the art conservator’s studio where the tiles are being repaired and cleaned. While the utmost care was taken in removal, it is inevitable that some tiles needed repair.

An Artwork Transfer Agreement is being drafted by County Counsel and will be submitted to Manhattan Beach City Attorney Quinn Barrow for review.

Assuming the final documents are acceptable to and approved by the City Council, "For Jack" will be installed at the new location. The County will install a plaque next to the mural that describes its historical significance. The timeline for installing the mural will be likely be January 2014.