Samantha Chaffin
News Editor
Discussion and controversy has surfaced regarding the future location of a canvas mural that currently hangs above the indoor entrance to Reed Gym.
An article printed in the “Idaho State Journal” on Thursday, Oct. 10, described the possibility of the mural being removed. ASISU President Matt Bloxham and Senator Tynan O’Neil both said removing the mural entirely was never an option but rather they were researching whether relocating the mural would be a possibility.
Bloxham said a few senators were interested in moving the mural, painted in 1963 by Professor John B. Davis, to a more suitable place if one can be found. O’Neil noted a location on the fourth floor of the Fine Arts building was being looked at and had been measured. Here the mural would overlook the John B. Davis Art Gallery and could be seen from every floor of the building.
The mural depicts nude, physically fit figures participating in various athletic activities. It was created by Davis reportedly with the intention of not being a typical athletic mural.
O’Neil said the reason behind moving the mural would be largely to increase Bengal spirit and Bengal pride and options for what would replace the mural would also be along those lines. O’Neil said he would like to potentially get student input or submissions, noting whatever took the mural’s place, the aim was for it to be able to change with the times and be replaced should it become outdated.
O’Neil said the mural was originally paid for with student fees.
“So while it wasn’t done by students, it was paid for by students so we did have a say in it at that time as well, at least as far as the funding was concerned,” said O’Neil.
“When [the senators] asked me about [relocating the mural], I said, ‘Listen, you guys can do what you want,’” said Bloxham. “I said, ‘Check with your constituents, talk to the students to see if they care, talk to faculty and staff, talk to alumni, make sure there’s no major issues regarding moving it, but first and foremost make sure that it can be moved or relocated without damaging it.’”
Both Bloxham and O’Neil said if there was a possibility the mural could be damaged during its relocation, it would remain where it is in Reed Gym.
“Never once has there been any real controversy this year about that painting,” explained Bloxham. “It’s not about the nudity, it’s not about the painting itself, it’s about why it is where it is.”
O’Neil stated, “The content nature was not discussed at all, other than its applicability to Reed Gym. I mean, if [its content] was really the problem we wouldn’t be looking at placing it in another place we’d be looking at just getting rid of it.”
Bloxham and O’Neil both noted that the mural has been covered in the past for several years at a time. Bloxham didn’t recall what exactly covered it but that something was built over it so it wasn’t visible.
Senators O’Neil and Rachel Munson have reportedly done the bulk of ASISU’s research on the mural’s history and the feasibility of moving it.
Should ASISU find that moving the mural is feasible, they would then consider whether a public student vote, a senate vote or another method would be used to decide the fate of the mural’s location.
Associate Director of Campus Recreation Bill MacLachlan said while his opinion was only one of many, he would prefer the mural remain in Reed Gym and doesn’t necessarily think students should be the ones to decide whether the mural remains at its current locale.
“Students are [at ISU] for a certain period of time and hopefully they’re always here as alumni, but if it’s just the students wanting to take it down, that’s kind of a short term solution because what if three years from now the students wanted [the mural] to be there?” questioned MacLachlan.
MacLachlan noted that Reed Gym is currently designated as an academic facility and not an athletic facility. Facilities Services could not be contacted at press time to verify that information.
Both MacLachlan and Director of Campus Recreation Douglas Milder expressed that there was other space on the wall that could be used to promote athletics and spirit without moving the mural.
“Honestly I don’t know why there is controversy,” said Bloxham. “It’s not gonna get painted over, no one’s talking about throwing it away, no one’s talking about destroying it, all we’re looking at is, why is it there? I mean, if we’re here to gather information and do research and know more about history at a university, then what’s the controversy about?”
O’Neil said he was aware the mural was painted for the purpose of being in Reed Gym but feels that purpose is often overlooked and people don’t understand the painting.
“I think it would do the painting a lot of justice to be in the Fine Arts building where [Davis] spent a lot of his time after it was constructed, “said O’Neil.
“If there was a significant reason [the mural] needed to be in Reed and not belonging with the art department, then I would imagine it’ll stay in Reed,” said Bloxham.
He added, “So far, through the research [O’Neil and Munson] have done, there is no significant reason it needs to stay in Reed.”
Others have disagreed over the past week, stating the history of the mural warrants it remaining in Reed Gym.
O’Neil said, “Even if you move it, the history is still tied to the painting. You look at museums, you look at art galleries, they still move art pieces and we’re just moving one to another place on campus.”
O’Neil said prior church group opposition to the mural’s content noted in the “Idaho State Journal’s” article did not impact ASISU’s decision to research and look into moving the mural. He also noted that ASISU had researched and found the historical information published and was taking it into consideration.
Donald Brown, a former ISU art professor quoted in the “Idaho State Journal’s” Oct. 10 article clarified via email that information published in the article was incorrect.
He said, “It was incorrect as to what visiting group insisted the mural be covered during their session. ‘The Journal’ stated that it was an LDS church group but it definitely was not. It was another church group, an evangelical religion whose name I don’t recall.”
He continued, “The other error was mine; I was incorrect in stating that the mural was the result of a commission which included a painting by Ray Obermayr and a mosaic of mine, both of which I presume are still in the Student Union. John Davis also did a great landscape for that event as well, and that’s the one that was the other part of that commission, not the mural.”
Staff-council and faculty-senate have also reportedly discussed the relocation of the mural.
O’Neil said the cost of moving the mural had not yet been calculated but would be taken into consideration. He mentioned that costs would be kept as low as possible through the use of volunteers and university employees should the mural be moved.
Milder, via email, questioned whether moving the mural was necessary and vital to the university mission, noting that should the mural be moved, it should be done after an evaluation and under the supervision of an art expert or professional trained to deal with such pieces.
“The mural is on stretched canvas and painted in place. It would probably need to be removed or cut from the frame and rolled up to move it. This could cause damage to a 50-year-old mural. This type of professional could be expensive to hire and at a time when ISU’s Finance Office is asking all departments to conserve budget monies and only spend on things that are truly necessary and vital to the University mission at this time.”
If students would like to voice their concerns or provide input on the mural’s location, they can email ude.usinull@usisa or attend senate meetings on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. where there is an opportunity for students to ask questions or make statements.
