The Runquist Murals are beautiful and represent an important time in the history of not only this university, but also our country. I do not think that they would’ve been chosen for display, had they been painted today because of the lack of diversity represented by the people painted in this mural. The murals mostly represent white males, ignoring people of other races, as well as females. However, I do think that these murals demonstrate the growth of humanity over time, in forms such as learning, inventing, and artistic appreciation. The murals demonstrate that humanity is ever changing. For this reason, I think that the murals should always remain in the Knight Library. Although the murals may not demonstrate complete equality, they are an example of the inequalities our country has worked – and must continue to work – to overcome. The tree in the middle of both of the murals can serve as a reminder of the continued growth of people and culture as long as the necessary work is put in to ensure that this growth occurs.

The Runquist Murals also represent the place in time when the library was built. They are a reminder of the people that put their hard work into the creation of the library and who wanted it to be a beautiful place of learning. We may criticize the inequalities evident in the murals, however, they do a great job of reminding us of the history of our university. In the article by Doss, she states that, “we are living in extraordinarily contentious times, marked by especially fierce talk about issues of political representation, war, reproductive rights, and immigration,” (Doss, 6). The Runquist murals may not have been installed in order to instigate debate, but because they are historical pieces of art, they should be left in place to spark these conversations into the future. They may serve as pieces of reflection and learning on our university.

I think that public art is a very important park of our communities. Doss stated that, “It’s difficult to imagine any kind of contemporary public art that might adequately address the multifaceted interests of today’s diverse America,” (Doss, 5). I find this statement to be extremely accurate, and also one reason for my personal opinions about public art. Because it is impossible to ever please everyone at once, the installation of public art should be very common in all communities. In addition, the art should vary in style, technique, and subject. This way, many people’s opinions and cultures may be reached. In addition, people may learn something from the art that does not necessarily represent their personal beliefs.

I try to notice and appreciate buildings that have artistic elements or that I find to be unique and interesting. For example, two obvious examples of this on our campus are the Jaqua Center and also the new Ford Alumni Center. These buildings are beautifully designed and add interest to our campus as well. It is clear that much planning and forethought went into these buildings to make them stand out as modern and advanced. I appreciate the unique modern qualities that these buildings add to our campus. In addition to these two buildings, I have always loved the look of the exterior of the Knight Library. I found this week’s assignment to be especially interesting because I was able to learn about the history of the design of the library. I like that the website about the Runquist Murals mentioned the heads that are around the perimeter of the exterior of the library, because I have wondered why they were included in the design. Upon reading the website, I learned that “Public art was added to the design, such as the fifteen stone heads by Edna Dunberg and Louise Utter Pritchard,” which I found to be very interesting. Furthermore, learning that Ellis F. Lawrence designed the Knight Library was interesting because I realized that I had heard his name before. He designed my sorority’s house, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The design of buildings on the University of Oregon campus was one of the main reasons that I decided to attend this school. I like to remind myself how lucky I am to attend a school with such beautiful architecture and surroundings. Doss mentioned Miwon Kwon in her article, who states, “ public art has been charged with generating ‘place-bound identity’ and lending a sense of distinction and authenticity to the nation’s ever more homogenous public spaces,” (Doss, 5). The fact that the University of Oregon has unique building designs is not lost on me. I visited many universities whose buildings lacked interest and originality. Visiting the UO was refreshing and excited me much more than other school did. Clearly, in this case, the public art that has been implemented into the designs of buildings on this campus has caused me to appreciate this school more and to think of the history behind it. Among other reasons previously mentioned, these facts demonstrate that public art is contributing to public interest and learning.