Three years after a Daily Bruin article prompted Associated Students UCLA to contemplate exposing a mural that has been covered for more than 20 years, ASUCLA is responding to student pressure to restore the mural. Whatever the solution, ASUCLA has to ensure that a part of the school’s history is not hidden much longer.
The piece, titled “The Black Experience,” depicts the faces of the seven UCLA art students who created it in 1970 and pictures of important figures in African-American history. The mural sits behind a false wall in Ackerman Union next to Panda Express.
This year, the mural has been briefly exposed, giving passersby a small view of the bottom of the piece, as administrators evaluate how to bring it into proper light.
ASUCLA student union director Roy Champawat, who oversees operations inside Ackerman, said the options include leaving the mural in place and restoring it, moving it or recreating the art on another wall.
It may be the case that further examination of the mural shows that the original work cannot be displayed in its entirety or that the surface it is on cannot be relocated. At a minimum, this board believes that a tasteful recreation or commemoration can be done on an adjacent wall.
This board believes that the university should be proud of displaying the mural because of its value to UCLA’s culture and history. The piece of art served a historical tribute and is still an important remnant of the era.
Three years ago, a Daily Bruin story revealed the history behind the mural. There was some interest in revealing the mural then, according to Champawat. ASUCLA began exploring what could be done and its representatives met with two of the original artists to discuss what could be done with their work.
Nothing came of the initial pleas, which Champawat attributed to a lack of student interest, and the mural remained covered.
But this time, the student voice is louder. Champawat said ASUCLA renewed its efforts because Jason Smith, a fifth-year world arts and cultures student, approached ASUCLA last quarter with the backing of the Afrikan Student Union.
ASUCLA does seem more serious than it did last time – Champawat said ASUCLA will coordinate a meeting that includes the artists and art preservationists in the next few weeks.
ASUCLA is still in the preliminary stages of analyzing the feasibility of each option, Champawat added, and he did not have a timeline for when plans would executed.
This board feels that Champawat and the ASUCLA board of directors should create a plan of action immediately, regardless of requests from students, to prevent the same outcome as three years ago.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board.