The East

City officials and the artist both say they don’t know who is responsible for changes recently made to a mural in Lawrence’s Hobbs Park.

One section of the multipaneled mural depicts people with picket signs, and following the presidential election one of the signs was altered to read “Stop Trump.” Originally, the sign said “Save the Tree.” Last week, the anti-Trump message on the sign was repainted back to the original one, though the Trump message is still partially visible.

Lawrence Arts and Culture Director Porter Arneill said the city does not know who was responsible for either of the alterations. Arneill said the city was not involved with the restoration of the original message.

“I was monitoring it because I wanted to ensure that all copyright was honored, but it occurred on its own,” Arneill said.

Arneill said that typically in the case of public art, the owning entity — in this instance the City of Lawrence — owns the artwork while the artist maintains copyright. Arneill said he informed the mural’s lead artist, Dave Loewenstein, of the original alteration.

A police report was also filed when the anti-Trump message was added, but Parks and Recreation Department interim director Ernie Shaw said there has been no update in that regard.

The lead artist also said he didn’t have additional information. Loewenstein said he was aware of the changes, but did not know who made either of the alternations to the mural.

“I was actually out of town when it all happened, so I’m not sure how it happened, but I saw it,” Loewenstein said.

The mural, “The East Lawrence Waltz,” was painted by Loewenstein with the help of about 30 others and was unveiled at Hobbs Park in 2004.