Mayor of Mount Dora, Florida, Nick Girone publicly apologized to the couple Wednesday at city hall, adding that his city has a long history of supporting artists
A Florida mayor has apologized to a couple who were fined thousands of dollars for having their home’s exterior painted to emulate a Vincent van Gogh masterpiece.
Mount Dora City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday that Lubomir Jastrzebski and Nancy Nemhauser can keep the blue-and-yellow paint swirled on their walls in the style of van Gogh’s painting ‘The Starry Night.’
Mayor Nick Girone publicly apologized to the couple Wednesday at city hall, adding that his city has a long history of supporting artists
The dispute began about a year ago, when the couple painted an exterior wall of the home in the likeness of the Dutch master’s well-known work as a way to ‘relax’ their 25-year-old son who suffers from autism. Their son also loves van Gogh’s work.
Two homeowners in Mount Dora, Florida, were fined thousands of dollars in fines for painting murals emulating a Vincent van Gogh masterpiece on the exterior of their home
The painted exterior of the home of Lubomir Jastrzebski and Nancy Memhauseer in Mount Dora, Florida
Lubomir Jastrzebski and Nancy Memhauseer stand by a section of a mural at their home. The Mount Dora City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday that the couple can keep the mural
Code-enforcement officers insisted that the mural violated Mount Dora’s sign ordinance and said the house must be painted a solid color.
The city also argued that the bright colors provided an ‘adverse effect on roadway safety’ because it distracted drivers.
The home sparked national attention, as tourists and visitors stopped in and the couple dug their heels in and decided to paint the rest of their home like the painting.
In September, a magistrate ruled in favor of the city and ordered the house to be repainted.
The city must pay them $15,000 and remove a property lien to end the nearly yearlong code enforcement case
Artist Richard Barrenechea, who painted the mural, left, and homeowner Nancy Nemhauser
Florida Mayor Nick Girone has now publicly apologized on behalf of the city to a couple who racked up more than $15,000 in fines for painting Van Gogh’s Starry Night on their home
The couple then filed a federal lawsuit which the settlement, and argued that Mount Dora was violating the couple’s constitutional right to freedom of expression, among other things.
Wednesday’s settlement agreement states the city must pay them $15,000 and remove a property lien to end the nearly yearlong code enforcement case.
Mayor Nick Girone reportedly planned a public apology Wednesday at city hall.
‘We are absolutely delighted and ecstatic,’ Nemhauser said after the vote. ‘I’m unhappy that we had to go through all of this, but the ending is a happy ending.’
Artist Richard Barrenechea, who painted the murals, agreed.
Lubomir Jastrzebski says that the wall was originally painted as a way to calm his son, who is autistic and loves van Gogh’s work
Homeowners Nancy Nemhauser and Ludomir Jastrzebski were fined $100 a day
‘It’s a big day for the arts,’ Barrenechea said to The Orlando Sentinel. ‘It’s a big day for Mount Dora, and a big day for freedom.’
‘We are just happy this whole thing can finally be put behind us,’ Nemhauser said Tuesday to the Daily Commercial.
Mount Dora, about 25 miles northwest of Orlando, is known to welcome artists and hosts one of the largest art shows in central Florida.
The council also voted to create a seven-member advisory committee for implementing new ordinances or codes ‘which are essential to the enhancement of the city of Mount Dora,’ and invited Nemhauser to be a member.
‘I hope she accepts,’ Girone told reporters Wednesday.
The committee will include a code-enforcement officer, a city building official, a city planner, two residents, a member of Mount Dora’s historic committee and a member of the city’s art committee.
The ‘Starry Night’ house will be exempt from any current or future ordinances so long as it keeps the murals. If they repaint, the homeowners lose their exemption.