See treasured murals that were painted over at TSU

Two murals painted by a Texas Southern University student 40 years ago were ordered destroyed by school President John Rudley, who disagreed with the university museum director's opinion that the artworks' historical significance made them worth saving.

Workers used white paint last week to cover the murals painted by Harvey Johnson, who retired from TSU in 2007 after 34 years as a professor. Rudley said the murals, which covered two walls in the Hannah Hall administration building, had become eyesores.

"When I bring dignitaries to campus, I can't have them seeing that kind of thing," Rudley said. "All art isn't good art."

Rudley's comments contradicted those made by the university spokeswoman, who said the painters made a mistake.

"The paintings were very badly deteriorated and they inadvertently painted over them," TSU spokeswoman Eva Pickens said.

Regardless of the reason, the schoolhad lost two significant pieces of artwork, said Alvia J. Wardlaw, art history professor and university museum director.

"They were painted directly on the wall in Hannah Hall and are regarded as two of the most important murals that students had painted at TSU for the past 60 years," Wardlaw said.

Hannah Hall houses Rudley's office. The building is home to many murals by TSU students.

Johnson, a student of renowned TSU artist John Biggers, said he was informed of the destruction when Wardlaw came to his home to break the news.

"I was devastated. I couldn't believe what she was saying," Johnson said. "I went to the university and videoed to make sure that I was not dreaming and saw the two walls where my murals were."

A graduation project

Johnson's paintings, Mothers of "the Father and the Son" and Dere's a "Han' Writin on de Wall," were finished in the 1970-71 school year to satisfy his senior graduation requirement.

Johnson described the Mothers of "the Father and the Son" mural as four women which symbolized earth, wind, water and fire, the nourishing elements of life.

"I tried to show the importance of mothers because men have not given women their rightful place in society," he said. "Man's ego and greed, which have gotten him in trouble, make him think that he's superior when he's really not. He's really at the bottom of the tree of life."

'It can't be replaced'

"When you are destroying those murals you are destroying historical documents and a record of those times that was created by those students," Johnson said. "TSU's mural program, which was created by John Biggers, is one of the most unique programs in the country. Or was.

"Once you have destroyed a part of that, it's gone. It can't be replaced. When you do that, you are destroying the meaning of a very distinguished professor who has been honored nationally and internationally for his art as well as his fine teaching. When you destroy that you are saying that he doesn't mean anything to your institution."

Rudley agreed that Biggers' work is significant. He's just not sold on Johnson's.

He said he is committed to preserving Biggers' legacy.

"I know where the Biggers are," Rudley said.

sarah.raslan@chron.com