The Effort to Bring "Against Domestic Colonialism" Back to Life

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, elevated by a scissor-lift, Arnold Belkin's widow Patricia Quijano Ferrer studies damage to a detail of Belkin's 1972 public mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," which adorns the wall of a Hell's Kitchen community playground in New York. Against Domestic Colonialismâ in 1972. The national organization Heritage Preservation has called it one of the most endangered public murals in the country. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (AP2011)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, moisture damage is seen on Arnold Belkin's 1972 mural "Against Domestic Colonialsm," which decorates a wall of a Hell's Kitchen playground, in New York. An architect, an art conservator, and an artist familiar with Belkin's work are exploring whether the mural, which the Washington DC-based Heritage Preservation has called one of the country's most endangered public murals, can be restored. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, a member of the media, the widow of the artist and an art conservator survey damage to Arnold Belkin's 1972 mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," which adorns a playground wall in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, in New York. The national organization Heritage Preservation says Belkin's mural is one of the most endangered public murals in the country and the group, as well as members of the community, are looking into ways to preserve it. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, guarded by Bronx resident Chris Rivera, 17, Chris Pena, also 17, shoots a basket at May Matthews/Alexandra Palmer Park playground and park in Hell's Kitchen against the backdrop of Arnold Belkin's 1972 mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," in New York. The national organization Heritage Preservation says Belkin's mural is one of the most endangered public murals in the country. Community members are joining the preservationists as they look into ways to preserve it. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, Patricia Quijano Ferrer, left, widow of Arnold Belkin, and art conservator Harriet Irgang Alden survey damage to Belkin's 1972 mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," which is decaying on the wall of a Hell's Kitchen community playground and park in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, Patricia Quijano Ferrer, widow of internationally-known artist Arnold Belkin, is shown on a scissor-lift after helping community members and experts assess her husband's Hellâs Kitchen community mural, in New York, to determine if it can be restored. Belkin, a naturalized Mexican artist and noted muralist, painted âAgainst Domestic Colonialismâ in 1972. The national organization Heritage Preservation has called it one of the most endangered public murals in the country. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, community members capture the moment as Arnold Belkin's widow Patricia Quijano Ferrer unveils a painting her artist husband did in preparation for his 1972 public mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," now deteriorating on the wall of a Hell's Kitchen community playground in New York. An architect, an art conservator, and an artist familiar with Belkin's work are exploring whether the mural, which the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Preservation has called one of the country's most endangered public murals, can be restored. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

In this Sept. 13, 2011 photo, art conservator Harriet Irgang Alden, left, and Patricia Quijano Ferrer, widow of Arnold Belkin, compare a painting done in preparation for Belkin's now-decaying 1972 mural "Against Domestic Colonialism," against the full-sized work, at the May Matthews /Alexandra Palmer park playground in New York. Alden, an architect, and an artist familiar with Belkin's work are exploring whether the mural, which the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Preservation has called one of the country's most endangered public murals, can be restored. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)