Panel Does a Double Take, Decides Kruger Work Is Art Ruling: Building and Safety Commission reverses itself, unanimously declares mural is not a sign.: [Home Edition]

The Los Angeles Building and Safety Commission on Tuesday reversed an earlier decision and voted unanimously to declare a huge proposed mural by New York artist Barbara Kruger to be a work of art and not a sign.

The vote, which reversed a ruling a month ago by the same five-member panel, apparently permits the Museum of Contemporary Art to hire painters to install the Kruger mural on a 29-by-218-foot outside wall of the Temporary Contemporary museum in Little Tokyo.

"Do what you want," museum officials were told by Tim Taylor, a top city department permit official, after Tuesday's vote. "Get the paint brushes out." The museum said the work might be installed within two months.

The tone of the encounter between Taylor and MOCA officials after the hearing was jovial, but the commission vote came after City Councilman Joel Wachs urged the board not to let the city government Los Angeles involve itself...