Rescue Public Murals, based at the national nonprofit organization Heritage Preservation, seeks to bring public attention to U.S. murals, document their unique artistic and historic contributions, and secure the expertise and support to save them. Click here for more information about Rescue Public Murals or sign up for Rescue Public Murals news and updates.
Endangered Mural Update
Rescue Public Murals is working with the West 46th Street Block Association, CITYarts, Inc., and other concerned neighbors to raise funds to restore Arnold Belkin’s 1972 mural Against Domestic Colonialism. It is the only surviving mural in the United States by this Mexican master and it is New York City’s oldest extant community mural. Since being painted forty years ago, it has suffered flaking and fading paint and the wall it is painted on has water damage and drainage issues. Read more here.
Rescue Public Murals mourns the passing of William Walker who is credited with launching the U.S. community mural movement with his 1967 mural, Wall of Respect (South Langley Avenue and East 43rd Street, Chicago, destroyed 1971). In 1970, Walker, co founded the Chicago Mural Group, which continues today as the Chicago Public Art Group. CPAG is working today to preserve Walker’s mural All of Mankind (1973, 617 West Evergreen Avenue, Chicago).
In Minneapolis, the Peace House Mosaic by Angela Carlson Talle (2004, 510 E. Franklin Avenue) is slated to be destroyed when the house is razed for new development. Community members are raising funds to relocate or recreate the mural. For more information or to join the preservation effort contact Madeline Douglass.
Click here to read about more endangered murals.
To alert Rescue Public Murals about a mural preservation effort email us here.