KIC Document

When I read about the murals and their possibly negative racial undertones (most notably during the progression from ignorance to knowledge how the characters facial features became increasingly Northern European as the slides progressed) and when I viewed them for myself, I was struck by them. I understand that they are beautiful works of art and were made in a different time when these things were either more acceptable or simply overlooked. Having been white my whole life, I did my best to try to imagine what it might be like for a student of color to ponder these murals.

First of all, please excuse my crude hand, as this might be the first drawing I’ve done since grade school. Second, I tried to mimic, stylistically, some of Albert Runquist’s paintings that they gave as examples from his time on the Oregon Coast and working in a factory. Third, I wanted to make the student the focal point, with the mural fading into the background. Lastly, I made an effort to move between the slides and, as they progress, go from blander colors to more vibrant reds, greens, and blues.