{"id":9843,"date":"2015-10-08T07:30:27","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T11:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ashley-spencer.com\/ArtIsEverywhere\/?p=9843"},"modified":"2020-10-18T14:37:30","modified_gmt":"2020-10-18T18:37:30","slug":"can-historic-murals-be-divisive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ashley-spencer.com\/ArtIsEverywhere\/2015\/10\/can-historic-murals-be-divisive\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Historic Murals Be Divisive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is an ongoing issue with racial division coming to the forefront lately over historic murals and other public artwork. I usually don’t take on such political topics and it is not my intent to do so here but simply report and as usual show some connectivity to how art really is everywhere and relates in our lives.<\/p>\n

There is controversy a-brewing at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama over the historic murals that were painted by Chicago artist John W. Norton. He painted the large-scale, eight-foot murals to depict the story of the Old South and the New South<\/a> in the 1930’s when the courthouse was being built.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/a>
Old and New South Murals via BhamWiki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jefferson<\/a>
Old South section via AL.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jefferson<\/a>
New South via AL.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jefferson<\/a>
Old South full mural via AL.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jefferson<\/a>
New South full mural via AL.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They have existed without complaint until recently when Anne Garland Mahler<\/a>, a\u00a0Birmingham native who teaches now at the University of Arizona, started an online petition on change.org<\/a> to have them removed because she cites them as being racist.\u00a0 She indicates, “These murals have been described by scholars as white supremacist images and even the Chicago firm, Holabird & Root, that originally designed the courthouse and commissioned the paintings, has stated their support for the removal of the murals.<\/em>“…”Since these murals are works of art and were painted by a famous muralist, we are not necessarily advocating for their destruction.”…”Most importantly, these images do not belong in the courthouse.”<\/em><\/p>\n

There is precedent here with a twist when the now famous Maine Labor History Mural by artist Judy Taylor painted in 2008 was removed by then Governor LePage in 2012. It caused so much controversy that a lawsuit ensued by artists to keep it in place. Here was what resulted after a long battle, reported in Yankee Magazine<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The solution to many problems in this life is simply for enough time to pass for the problem to disappear on its own. What seems to have happened in the case of the Maine Labor History Mural is that, with litigation at an end, new Maine State Museum director Bernard Fishman, former director of the Rhode Island Historical Society, approached new Maine Labor Commissioner Jeanne Pacquette about exhibiting the mural in the museum lobby. Artist Judy Taylor was consulted on the move and consented. Gov. LePage apparently had no objections. And the U.S. DOL, which paid for the mural and had been demanding its money back if the mural were not exhibited,\u00a0agreed that it would be okay for the mural to hang, at least temporarily, in a non-labor department facility…. And, with its new-found fame, the mural will now be seen by thousands more people than would ever have seen it in the tiny, airless DOL waiting room.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Maine-Labor-History-Mural_via<\/a>
Maine Labor History Mural’s current home_ via Yankee Magazine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I would also say that controversy can be resolved with respectful dialogue — communication “with” rather than “at” one another.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen what will happen with the Courthouse Murals<\/a> because removal can cause extensive damage and the cost can be exorbitant at an estimated $100,000, <\/a>when that money and effort could be possibly better spent on the citizens and their community.<\/p>\n

\u00a0County Commissioner President Pro Tem, Sandra Little Brown, writes an impassioned plea<\/a> for their removal and makes some valid points for everyday living with the murals and what they represent. I’ve even tried to envision myself having to view them daily and recalling painful past struggles — if that is the only thing you see. However, they provide a beautifully rendered, stylistic depiction that is indicative of the Industrial Movement post Art Deco, despite the subject representing America’s honest history. They also show progress and historically represent the mindset of the 1930’s, not present day era, as they were painted then, not now. Diego Rivera also painted the American Worker<\/a> in the 30’s during the industry labor movement. Detroit fought hard and won<\/a> to keep these murals intact as their many other museum acquisitions had to be sold during the city’s declared bankruptcy. However, these are one of the main tourist attractions to the museum and have since become even more so visited.<\/p>\n

\"Diego<\/a>Equally persuasive is Wayne Flynt’s argument<\/a> that,”Addressing systemic issues involves confronting policies, but dealing with historic symbols is more complicated and divisive.”\u00a0 He is Auburn University’s professor emeritus of history. His closing phrase is poignant, “What, as a historian, I find wrong about that is this no longer allows us to have a conversation about the way we were,” Flynt said. “And the way we were is the problem.<\/em>“<\/p>\n

Perhaps this is a solution, as stated on AL.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Linda Nelson of the Jefferson County Historical Commission has suggested installing educational materials near the pieces and a third mural documenting Southern progress. Jackson told the commission he’s open to that idea.<\/p>\n

Nelson and Flynt say they understand the emotions that the artwork stirs, but they would rather preserve reminders of the region’s past than wipe it away.<\/p>\n

Until a resolution can be found, at least there is comfort in enjoying the beautiful building and some of its many details.<\/p>\n

Update: Here’s proof<\/a> that in the heat of a politically-charged debate, level heads and rational thinking — taking pause and thinking it through carefully a resolution can be found.<\/p>\n

\"Jefferson<\/a>
You can almost see Atticus here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Jefferson<\/a> \"Jefferson<\/a>I’m from the South, a New Orleans gal, and I currently live in a Southern town of Alexandria, VA, right outside the most political town of Washington, DC. We are grappling with our own “Confederate” symbols that became controversial in the sad wake of the senseless Charleston church murders. Although some landmarks, streets and Confederate flags are being removed or replaced, this beloved statue, where the Confederate Soldier, entitle Appomattox <\/a>stands in the middle of a busy street with his back to the North, is totally symbolic of the Civil War when the North and South were at such odds and pays tribute to VA’s dead in the wake of such a horrific war. It would take more than just a city order to remove as it is on the historic registry of landmarks and is owned by the state, so it is staying.<\/p>\n

[Never say never…Update:<\/a> as of June 2, 2020, this statue was removed to “preserve” and avoid it from being destroyed during the Black Lives Matter<\/a> protests that started the summer during the Covid-19 pandemic. These protests usually started out peaceful but then became riotous as Antifa<\/a> and other violent protesters destroyed and toppled many statues in their wake.]<\/p>\n

\"Appomattox<\/a>
Appomattox via DCMemorials.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are countless other murals and artwork that resonate with people because they precisely depict a figure who or an image that represents a time and place in America’s history that should not be forgotten.<\/p>\n

As I write this piece and with these controversial racial times, I am reminded of one of my favorite books, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera<\/a>. I learned from reading it how Russia used the everyday tactic of simple changes to erase history, like changing street names, renaming and removing landmarks. The next generation never knows its past and does not reflect on it. Therein mistakes are often repeated. It has a striking similarity.<\/p>\n

Recently in Seattle,\u00a0James Crespinel, the original artist of his tribute mural to Martin Luther King<\/a> below was touching it up and so many people stopped to complain because they were worried he might be damaging it. Once he explained his purpose, the passersby were welcoming of his careful and loving preservation.<\/p>\n

\"MLK<\/a>
MLK mural via TheStranger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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