Talladega College, an historically black college in Alabama, is partnering with the world-renowned High Museum of Art in Atlanta to restore the historic Amistad Murals, leading to a world tour.
During a signing ceremony in the Savery Library, where the murals are housed on Talladega’s campus, the college’s President Dr. Billy Hawkins joined Phillip Verre, the High’s chief operating officer, to sign an agreement that will lead to the deinstallation, restoration and a world tour of the murals, painted by Hale Aspacio Woodruff 73 years ago.
Talladega College, Alabama’s oldest privately own historically black school, has been the home of one of the nation’s most treasured, but little known art works – The Amistad Murals. Back in the 1930s, Talladega’s president commissioned a talented young artist –Woodruff – to create a work that would commemorate the building of the Savery Library and capture the history of the famed Amistad revolt. The colorful massive panels have attracted international visitors over the years who have admired the works and studied them. In fact, Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg used the murals as inspiration for his 1997 movie, “Amistad”.
Deinstallation of the murals will begin in March and take nearly a year. At that time, Talladega and the High Museum are planning an exhibit that will showcase the murals throughout the U.S., France and other countries.
Talladega, with help of the Tom Joyner Foundation, has been on a major campaign to raise funds to restore the murals and the college, located about an hour southeast of Birmingham.
Here’s some recent coverage:
MyFoxAl.com –
Here’s the story: Talladega murals coming down for national tour
Here’s a link to the video: Talladega murals
From The Daily Home: Down Come the Murals
From The Associated Press: Preparation starts for Amistad murals from Talladega College to tour nation
