Posted on 05/03/2002 5:57:43 PM PDT by Betteboop
A recently-completed mural at Hightstown High School has drawn the attention of resident David Abalos, an advocate for the school district's English as a second language program.
The halls of Hightstown High School are more colorful thanks to a new mural completed this week by art teacher Bill Plank. But not colorful enough for East Windsor resident David Abalos, a Princeton professor of sociology.
The mural, "A Walk Through Time," which depicts a cultural and art historical timeline from prehistoric cave drawings through Michelangelo and The Beatles, has sparked a mini-controversy over its European-dominated imagery.
"The mural attempts to look at the sweep of human history," Dr. Abalos said, reviewing a key to the work of art. "Ironically the majority here represents a fairly European perspective. Aztec and Egyptian cultures are somewhat on the fringes … the only person of color is Martin Luther King Jr."
The mural depicts artists Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. It also features the Greek mythological figure Icarus, an interior view of the Pantheon and the philosopher Aristotle.
"When we walk into a classroom we walk in with our limited perspective," Dr. Abalos, author of several books, including "Strategies of Transformation Toward a Multicultural Society," said. "The wider the perspective the more we take into the classroom. When an artist sits down and gives his perspective of the world he's making a statement. The mural represents his limited perspective of a walk through time."
Dr. Abalos, an advocate for English as a second language students in the district, added that a mural, ideally, should mirror a school. Hightstown High School is currently undergoing what is commonly called a "change in demographics." More Latino, Indian and African American students are entering the school district. The mural should show diversity and the richness of humanity, he said, adding that 75 percent of the world's population are people of color.
"This mural is, unfortunately, very European-oriented," Dr. Abalos said.
Artist Bill Plank was surprised and disappointed by the accusation of exclusion.
"I've been called eccentric," he said, on his way to add finishing touches to the work of art. "I've been called egocentric, I've been called grandiose — but I've never been called Eurocentric."
Mr. Plank, who volunteered more than 150 of his own hours to help beautify the school, defended his mural as a celebration of life from an art history and cultural standpoint. The 40-foot-long mural features details of many of Mr. Plank's paintings and continues a theme he began in a drawing he made while he was in high school.
"This is my time period as a kid growing up in the suburbs," he said. "This is what I was exposed to."
Aside from backdrops for stage productions, the high school mural is the largest scale painting he has completed. He enlisted the help of more than a dozen Hightstown High art students. Students who have approached Mr. Plank on the artwork, he said, have had nothing but praise.
"It improves the look of the school," he said, "and also supports an understanding that everything in the world is interrelated."
The mural begins with a "prehistoric handprint," images of the Sphinx, Stonehenge and Mayan pyramids. In the center of the mural are the Earth, physicist Albert Einstein and a hippie girl blowing bubbles. Toward the end it features President John F. Kennedy, the space shuttle Challenger and a DNA molecule.
Principal William Roesch defended the merit of the mural.
"There is no doubt in my mind this is a masterpiece," he said. "I do not see this mural as an issue. What Bill (Plank) is trying to do is show that everyone is connected. He's trying to celebrate life, discovery, challenges."
Mr. Roesch assured that Mr. Plank did not overtly or covertly omit any culture.
"As citizens of the 21st century," he said, "we owe much to the people who are represented in that mural."
Dr. Abalos does not disagree with value of classical European culture. He does, however, believe that the mural marginalizes other cultures and under-represented women.
Men of achievement represented in the mural include: seven artists, the musical group The Beatles, two scientists, two astronauts, a president (JFK), a civil rights activist (Martin Luther King Jr.), and two philosophers.
Women of achievement include Mother Theresa, a generic mother and child and a hippie girl blowing bubbles.
Education, according to Dr. Abalos, should be like shining light into darkness. This mural, he said, is a very narrow beam and is — by its nature — exclusionary. Mr. Roesch said that, though the mural is heavily European, it is still an excellent educational statement and mirrors many of the school's classroom subjects.
Judith K. Brodsky, a distinguished professor in the visual arts department at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts, said the mural is ambitious and sophisticated. Her granddaughter, a Hightstown High art student, assisted in painting it.
"What they're trying to do is show the panoply of civilization they're studying in school," she said, "by relating art history and 20th century events. It all had to do with the development of culture. If you're dealing with trying to get science in there and recent events like civil rights and landing on the moon, I would say it's pretty hard to be as complete as (Dr. Abalos) would like."
Mr. Plank, both proud of his creation and disappointed at criticism of it, said that he received many suggestions for what to add to the mural, but ultimately kept his artistic vision intact.
"I had some people who were upset that The Beatles were in it, but Mick Jaggar wasn't," he half-joked. Getting to the heart of it, he said: "When someone criticizes this they really are criticizing me."
The ultimate good of the artwork's criticisms, according to Dr. Abalos, is that it will raise questions and open debate. He said that he hoped people would rethink basic assumptions and preconceived notions about history, but added: "It still is unfortunate that this is semi-permanent."
You also forgot:
1) the peaceful Muslims, against their pacifist religious ideology, fought the British and gained independence for the American colonies
2) Mexicans, not Germans, came up with the All-American Hamburger
3) Snoop Doggy Dog and South Park Mexican, not Elvis and The Beatles, had the greatest influence on American music.
Gee, I need to send a flame e-mail to this mural artist....he is a true bigot!!
Quick! Name the black counterparts of these people.
Women of achievement include Mother Theresa, a generic mother and child and a hippie girl blowing bubbles.
LOFL!!!
Man, that should bring the clucking feminists out from under their rocks, haha...!
Mural shall 'shine like a beacon'
May 17, 2002
Letter to the editor
To the editor:
I feel that I must respond to criticism issued by Dr. David Abalos with regard to the recently completed mural at Hightstown High School.
Since work on the mural began, I have received only positive comments and encouragement from students, staff and community. I never expected that the only problems concerning the mural would come from someone who chose to "showboat" his negative comments to the press instead of talking to me about his concerns. Dr. Abalos' criticism was not about art-related matters. Rather, it was about the way certain cultures and ethnic groups, in his opinion, were not represented.
My original intent was to pour positive thought and constructive imagery into the mural. It started out to simply be a unique wall decoration but then grew into a concept of challenge, discovery and celebration of life with multiple levels of symbolism. Not one culture or person was portrayed in a negative way. I tried to choose the finest enduring visual images of many cultures and time periods.
Dr. Abalos seems to have taken offense that every ethnic group, culture and important figure should have been included within that 40-foot mural area. His criticism also suggests that one area of the mural is more important than another. This approach was unthinkable, as our attempt was to show how everyone and everything is interrelated.
As I stated in the article ("Questions raised over mural's ethnic inclusiveness," May 3, 2002, Page 3A), "when someone criticizes (the mural) they are criticizing me." I take personal affront to his remarks, but they almost seem laughable because, among my professional achievements, I have received a state award from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Dr. Abalos apparently has the need to see his name printed in public view at the expense of my reputation. What angers me the most is that his insensitive comments placed me in a very difficult position in the classroom. Students became quite outraged and vocal at his critical remarks. Thankfully, the integrity of our students remains intact for they understand this was only the reaction of one person and is not shared by others.
I hope that in the future Dr. Abalos concentrates on his own political agenda and refrains from his role as art critic, the latter showing that his lack of knowledge of symbolism in art history is only overshadowed by his insensitive interpretations. Any great work of art is usually surrounded by controversy and I suppose I have Dr. Abalos to thank for creating that. His reference to the mural as "a very narrow beam of light" is incomplete, however, for when light is focused in a concentrated area, it can become more powerful and is able to travel a greater distance. I know that the positive spirit in which this mural was created will shine like a beacon, go the distance and will be strong enough to withstand any criticism.
William S. Plank Jr.
Hightstown
Where was Dr. Abalos when the painting of the Blessed Mother had feces smeard on it where it was Displayed in the Brooklyn Museum? And where was he when another painting call "Yo Mama's Last Supper"? He is a poltroon and a phoney.
Response to letters concerning mural
May 17, 2002
To the editor:
In a spirit of openness and fairness to all involved I would like to respond to the concerns raised by those who wrote letters regarding the mural at Hightstown High School and to provide the background to the article that appeared in the Windsor-Hights Herald on Friday, May 3, 2002: "Questions raised over mural's ethnic inclusiveness."
Several weeks ago I received a call from Chris Karmiol, a reporter from the Windsor-Hights Herald, who asked me if we could discuss several topics that he was working on for possible articles. One of the topics was a mural that was being painted in Hightstown High. I replied that I had seen the beginnings of the mural but I did not know much about it. He then discussed some of his impressions of the mural and asked me if I would be willing to comment for an article that he planned to write. I was told at the time that there would be others who were being contacted to get their views on the mural so as to provide a balanced article. He told me that he had an outline of the mural and that we could use this to discuss the mural. The discussion lasted for about an hour-and-a-half. Before I left I made it a point to ask Mr. Karmiol to be sure to convey my comments in the spirit with which they were made — one of openness and fairness.
During our conversation I gave my personal observations regarding the mural. At no time was there any display of emotion and certainly no personal negative comments were made about the artist. The freedom of the artist was never questioned. I have heard that the artist is a good teacher and a very fine artist. I do not doubt that. But that is not the point. I disagreed with the perspective of the artist, not his ability as a teacher or artist. Ther is a difference between not agreeing with an artist and asserting his or her right to paint or write according to their vision. A school, however, is a public space and everybody has the right to comment on a mural both before and after it is displayed.
I hope that this background information helps to put the article in perspective. Finally, I would be glad to participate in a public forum to discuss the issues raised by the mural. There is no better way to interact with students than to invite them to join in a dialogue in which they can participate and see the democratic values of citizenship in action.
Dr. David Abalos
East Windsor
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