Coffee shop mural critiqued for being 'too violent' for SoCal city with history of gang violence

Residents of one SoCal neighborhood are up in arms over a 'violent' new mural outside a coffee shop that depicts black figures seemingly fighting and stabbing each other. 

The mural went up several weeks ago outside the Unincorporated Coffee Roasters in Altadena and locals immediately began complaining that they weren't consulted. 

'It's negative, it's violent, and it doesn't belong,' said resident She'She Yancy told KTLA. 'Not in a black community or a community of color. This is misplaced.' 

According to a Los Angeles Times story, the neighborhood has been known to experience gang violence in the past. 

'Art is a form of expression. Real art will create a feeling in a person, one way or another,' said the shop's owners in a statement released Monday. 

Cleon Peterson, the artist who created the mural, told DailyMail.com the backlash to his work of art is 'sad.' 

'It’s sad that, in this case, the work has been used by a small group of people in the neighborhood as a platform to be divisive and destructive, which contradicts its original intent in every way,' the artist said. 

This mural went up several weeks ago outside the Unincorporated Coffee Roasters in Altadena and locals immediately began complaining that they weren't consulted

'It's negative, it's violent, and it doesn't belong,' said resident She'She Yancy told KTLA . 'Not in a black community or a community of color. This is misplaced'

Peterson, a well-known artist with more than 185,000 followers on Instagram, is best known for his 'chaotic and violent depictions of society.' 

He said in a statement that his art is meant to be a positive force in the world. 

'My work shows base archetypes of power and violence in the world and the potential for darkness and destruction within us all,' Peterson said. 

'Although my work is difficult, I want my work to be a positive force in the world. The work offers an opportunity to examine ourselves, our actions and lives, and how we treat those around us,' he continued.

Altadena residents are not seeing it the same way that he is, however, as they have called out the mural for its impact rather than its artistry. 

'A mural depicting black figures attacking each other in a neighborhood that previously had gang violence even in front of where that mural is located is tone deaf at the least,' one Facebook user wrote on a news article discussing the mural. 

According to the LA Times, at one point more than 10 people were killed in a wave of gang violence that overtook the Los Angeles suburb in the 1980s. 

The deaths were primarily connected to the Bloods and the Crips.  

'It displays violence in an already violent neighborhood. Choking, stabbing what is wrong with people these days all filled with hatred,' wrote another commenter.   

'OK on a canvass, but not on a coffee shop's outside wall,' said one Facebook user. 

Yancy, in an interview with the Pasadena Star-News, doubled down on her statements against the controversial piece of art. 

'I’m a black woman, I’ve been in my home for 48 years, raised a son here and unfortunately, I was here during the time when it was very violent, a lot of gangs, a lot of killing,' she said. 

'This whole mural depicts anger, they’re angry Black men killing each other and I take offense to that. It promotes violence,' the Altadena resident continued. 

'My work shows base archetypes of power and violence in the world and the potential for darkness and destruction within us all,' muralist Cleon Peterson told DailyMail.com

Commenters were split on the mural on social media, sharing their thoughts on the art 

Some on Facebook likened the mural to Picasso's work and called it 'an amazing piece of art'

'Although my work is difficult, I want my work to be a positive force in the world. The work offers an opportunity to examine ourselves, our actions and lives, and how we treat those around us,' Peterson said in his statement 

This is one of Peterson's murals inside The Source Hotel and Market Hall in Denver

Many of the residents, however, say they don't see the issue with it.

'I just see faces and hands, I don't see anything violent about it,' one person said. 

'Cleon Peterson did such an amazing job on this mural. I suggest researching his work before looking just at surface level. Wish there was one of his murals closer to where I live,' wrote one Facebook commenter. 

'I cant wait to come up and see it. An actual strong piece in a public space,' wrote another person, admiring the mural. 

Those on the opposite side of the issue have already organized against the mural. 

Yancy and other residents attended an Altadena Town Council meeting and asked that the artwork be taken down. 

The group said they are against censorship but believe the art is better suited for a gallery or museum.     

'When we do community art it’s supposed to reflect the community itself, so if the coffee shop that chose to have that picture painted thinks that (reflects) our community, that’s a problem for me,' resident Kelly Simmons said at the meeting.

The Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger was notified but the local zoning office reportedly said they have no authority to regulate the art. 

While some are completely split, others say they 'don't even know what' they're looking at

This is the original post made by Unincorporated Coffee Roasters when the mural was done

'We've worked hard to provide the community a place where individuals are free to be themselves, play, have fun , and connect with their neighbors, while offering them the best coffee and hospitality in the city,' said the Unincorporated Coffee Roasters owners 

On Wednesday, the owners of Unincorporated Coffee Roasters released a lengthy statement regarding the artwork and the backlash. 

'Our town is a community of artists and respects everyone's freedom of expression,' the statement from the owners reads. 

'We've worked hard to provide the community a place where individuals are free to be themselves, play, have fun , and connect with their neighbors, while offering them the best coffee and hospitality in the city,' it continues. 

Their post, much like the mural, arrived to mixed reviews from community members.

'It’s like TV…don’t like what’s on? Change the channel. If you don’t like the mural well it’s as simple as just don’t look at it. Not every art piece or artist is for everyone. I’ve lived around the corner for over 20 years and I’ve seen the changes at this corner. You do you UCR,' replied one woman. 

'You have a platform to spread kindness and hope and instead you chose this. Our family have been residents of Altadena for almost 70 years. You will not have our support or business,' said another resident on the other side of the argument.