The Eastsider L.A. has an irresistible piece this morning about artist Nicky Gagliarducci's struggle to create a mural for Local cafe. The idea was to paint Dr. Marc Abrams, better known as the Walking Man, onto a four-foot high canvas of cinderblock wall 25 feet long — which did not instantly spark Gagliarducci's imagination.

Only by envisioning the Walking Man strolling through scenes of L.A. history did Gagliarducci find his muse — and lessen his sadness for the vanished Los Angeles that was unfolding with each paint stroke. As Dr. Abrams, depicted in vibrant color, walks from the beach to downtown through a monochromatic past of old Chinatown or Victorian streets, he seems to become a cross between the lost seeker in John Cheever's short story, “The Swimmer,” and Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down.

The Eastsider says that Dr. Abrams actually did stroll past the mural in progress, where he paused long enough to tell Gagliarducci, “Oh come on, you don't want to ruin that beautiful piece of art by putting me in it.”

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