The CCSF-San Francisco Connection

Letters to the Editor: Raise awareness on murals

San Francisco Chronicle Aug. 8, 2019

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Photo: Associated Press/Eric Risberg

The controversial 13-panel, 1,600-square foot mural, the "Life of Washington" by Victor Arnautoff, is seen at George Washington High School during an open house for the public Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in San Francisco. More than a 100 people packed the public high school to view a controversial mural criticized as racist and degrading for its depiction of black and Native American people. School officials opened the school Thursday to allow the viewing of the "Life of Washington" mural. The 83-year-old fresco is slated to be destroyed after the San Francisco School Board voted last month to paint over it.

Regarding “Voters want to keep mural, poll says” (Aug. 7) and “Black leaders back Washington mural” (Aug. 7): At a time when many students and faculty weren’t even aware of Diego Rivera’s Mural of Pan-American Unity at City College, we used a grant for instructional improvement to create lessons on it across the curriculum — English, history, art, graphic design, women’s studies, transitional studies, Latin American history, etc.

According to Phil Matier’s report, a poll shows that voters of color oppose the school board’s decision to paint over Victor Arnautoff’s mural at Washington High School 72% to 12%, and as Michael Cabanatuan reported “Black leaders back Washington mural,” so why doesn’t the San Francisco Board of Education focus on promoting a program that would increase the awareness of all aspects of the mural instead of painting over it?

Students could be given agency to take a close look at it instead of away from it and create artwork and written work expressing their thoughts and feelings. I was shocked at the viewing that they had only provisional signage. They could use a QR code to keep commentary current and inclusive. The Board of Education needs to add to, not subtract from, student learning.

Tina Martin, San Francisco