Submitted by Larry Leventhal, Jan 31, 2007 12:36

Danny Finegood was not defacing the Hollywood sign nor was his intention simply as a "prank". In his own words

In a 1983 letter to the Los Angeles Times, Finegood and his cohorts wrote: "We broke no laws and did no damage to the sign. An artist's role throughout history has been to create representations of the culture he exists in. By hanging four relatively small pieces of fabric on the landmark, we were able to change people's perception of the Hollywood sign."

I have seen buildings covered in cloth, curtains hanging in Central Park and they are considered "serious art" so I see no real difference except in perception and the words of the critics and press.

Danny needs no defense but as I grieve his passing I find myself annoyed at these characterisations of his work. While his actions combined elements of a prank and basic humor they all had a serious basis and reflected the work of Danny as an artist.

Thank you

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.