Beloved Dolly Parton Mural Defaced at Gay Nightclub
Costa Mesa is officially trademarked as the “City of the Arts,” which is evident in the breezy Southern California’s town’s plentiful collection of public art.
Sadly, one of the area’s most beautiful and beloved murals was vandalized earlier this week.The mural, which is a colorful portrait of country music legend and queer icon Dolly Parton, covers a large wall on the exterior of Strut, a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub known for its dazzling drag and cabaret shows and inclusive vibes.In 2021, the club’s owner, Luke Nero, commissioned local artist David Gilmore to create the work as a response to Parton’s funding of COVID-19 vaccine research.
In addition to his amazing mural work, Gilmore is a well-known body paint artist — in fact, Heidi Klum’s body was once his “canvas.”The vandalism in this case is large “tagging” style letters that now cover a large portion of the mural.
Many locals and club patrons are heartbroken and angry over the defacing. While the destruction of Gilmore’s gorgeous work, which took him over a month to complete, is devastating enough, many feel the disrespect to the mural’s meaning makes the situation even more upsetting.“Not only is [Dolly Parton] an icon in the queer community and beyond, but she is truly a model of inclusivity,” said Nero to the Daily Pilot when the mural was first completed.
