Righting the past. To critics, the historical depiction carried an offending bias of their times, errors in both of commission and of omission.
John Martin Socha (1913-1983). Lots has happened culturally in America since 1930s.
A struggle between worthy art and unworthy history
WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University has found a way to remove offending depictions in a prominent 1930s mural while also retaining the mural’s artistic authenticity. Removable panels cover sections to which indigenous people took offense. The mural had lined both sides of the grand staircase entrance to Somsen Hall, the signature campus building. In a message to alumni, the university said: “While the mural will no longer be seen upon entrance to Somsen Hall, the artwork has been preserved for educational purposes.” Being removable, the coverings will allow for continued discussion and learning opportunities surrounding equity and bias, the message said.
Whence the mural
The mural was painted during the Depression by renowned Minnesota artist John Martin Socha. He drew on interviews with pioneers to shape his view on historical events. As a result, his depictions were often historically biased with depictions of elated white settlers and nothing about atrocities against the Dakota peoples. The irony, in retrospect, is that Winona State is located on ancestral lands of the Dakotas.
The artist
John Mattin Socha studied under Diego Rivera in Mexico as a teenager. During the Great Depression he had commissions through the federal Works Progress Administration to help starving artists. His historical works, in many public buildings, were based on interviews with early settlers and in the context of his personal experience and knowledge. His works hang in the National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Minnesota Institute of Arts.
Verbatim
Roger Boulay, art prof: “WSU has received consistent feedback from Indigenous members of our community over the past decades that the mural’s portrayal of their people is historically inaccurate and deeply hurtful. WSU is on Dakota land. Therefore, we are choosing to refrain from colonizing depictions of the Dakota on land taken from their people.”
Jonathan Locust, WSU administrator for equity: “I am not only pleased with the outcome we have arrived at,” “but the process leading to this outcome.”
Aaron Camacho, an indigenous advocate on the Dakota Winona Council and 2018 WSU grad: “Wopila tanka, many thanks, to the relatives who have given their time, heart and patience to bring our community of learners to this point.”