“Life of Washington,” the massive mural of George Washington depicting various phases of his life is the new controversy in San Francisco. People who witnessed it are divided on the decision that the mural should be destroyed or not? The motive behind the piece of artwork might be a good one. But what it’s turned out is perhaps not good as expected.
The Mural Gallery That Is Ordered To Abolished
George Washington High School in San Francisco has a mural gallery of George Washington of 13-panel, 1,600-square. In that, a piece of art consists an “images of slaves working at his Mount Vernon home and a dead Native American killed in America’s westward expansion” as NBC news suggests. This image provoked San Francisco United School District to order its destruction. That is for the racist depiction, as seen by some viewers.
Crowd Gathered To Watch The Mural
On Thursday, the United School district allowed the want-to-be viewers to witness the gallery. Guess what?? More than 100 people turned out there to see the mural which was ordered to be painted over by the aforesaid authority on 25th June. However, a date to abolish the artwork is not yet decided by the school board.
People Divided Over The Mural’s Destruction
NBC Bay Area claimed that people who have taken selfies or snapshots of the mural are the ones who don’t want the mural to be destroyed. While on the other end there were people who think the school board’s decision is correct. Linda Fadeke Richardson, an African American stated the images as “derogatory.”
“There is a notion we have to keep this as a remembrance for Native Americans, for African Americans, for people who have been oppressed,” NBC News quoted her words. “Anywhere we find these kinds of images, they need to be abolished.”
The Painter And His Intent To Draw It
Russian immigrant Victor Arnautoff is the painter who came with the artwork in 1935. The intent was to represent a harsh critique of Washington’s legacy as America’s first president.
Victor’s grandson Paul Arnautoff who also attended the viewing on 1st August stated that “Most people are painting glossy pictures of our founding fathers, and this is very contrary to that”.