UP OFF THE STREETS: Kevin Herrera New York City muralist Arnie Charnick’s ‘Gloom With A View’ (above), which depicts the homeless at Palisades Park, is currently on display at Santa Monica Place’s Community Gallery. Charnick, who painted the mural to demonstrate the stark contrast of poverty and wealth in Santa Monica, had struggled for months to get his work displayed publicly. It was-n’t until he met with the mall’s manager that Charnick’s dream was finally realized. ‘I decided to give it one more shot and it ended up being the right one,’ said Charnick, who was in town visiting his daughter when inspiration struck. ‘The painting is very accessible … It’s almost like looking through a bay window at the park.’ Charnick hopes the painting will be purchased by a collector. If so, he plans to donate some of the proceeds to organizations providing homeless services. Those interested can contact Charnick at
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2007. Read the original PDF.