CAA News Today
What Do You Think? On the Victor Arnautoff Murals and Controversial Artworks
posted Sep 09, 2019
Please share your comments using the form at the end of this post.
One of thirteen The Life of Washington murals by Victor Arnautoff, George Washington High School, San Francisco. Image courtesy George Washington High School Alumni Association.
CAA invites comments from our members regarding our position on the San Francisco Unified School District and its Board of Education’s decision to destroy, and later its reversal and decision to cover up, WPA-era murals by Victor Arnautoff at George Washington High School.
We spoke out against the initial vote, in opposition to the destruction of works of art and from the hope that creating a contextual reading of the murals might be of some value to the school and its students and an alternative to destroying them.
We also acknowledge that many, including CAA board members, find the murals offensive and damaging to the students’ learning environment, and supported the Board of Education’s decision.
Last month, during a reportedly contentious meeting, the School Board voted to cover up the murals rather than destroy them.
What do you think? Should the murals by Victor Arnautoff be covered up? Should they be destroyed? What are other alternatives?
More broadly, what place do controversial works of art hold in our society? What role do you feel CAA should play in these situations?
We want to know what you think and why. Let us know using the form, below.