Row over murals at University of New Mexico
Some faculty members and students at New Mexico’s largest university want a set of Depression-era murals to be removed over their depiction of Hispanics and Native Americans in one of the pieces.
The image at the centre of the dispute shows a white man holding the hands of a faceless Hispanic man on one side and a faceless Native American on the other. The other pieces inside Zimmerman library at the University of New Mexico depict accomplishments of Native Americans and Hispanics.
“We have heard from several faculty, staff and students that the murals make them feel excluded and attacked,’’ University of New Mexico President Garnett S. Stokes wrote to task force members examining the issue. “We know that many people enjoy the murals, and we remain committed to a solution that ensures that everyone feels welcome at UNM.’’
The murals were created by Taos artist Kenneth Adams in 1939 under a federal programme used to combat the Great Depression, his task was to paint images depicting Native Americans, Hispanics and whites of New Mexico.
For years, the murals have been the subject of protests and sometimes vandalism.
“The murals themselves present a very racialised perspective of who is in authority,” said Glenabah Martinez, a Native American professor and associate dean in the university’s Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies department. “It was about the portrayal of how the racial hierarchy works in New Mexico.”
Student Zachary Martinez said he sees the beauty in the art. “I think it helps represent New Mexico well,’’ he said.
A task force is investigating options for the murals that were also paid for with a Carnegie Corporation grant. A recommendation to the Regents Historic Preservation Committee is expected this week.
University officials say the murals are part of the school’s historic character, so any changes would have to be reviewed by the committee and the Board of Regents.