The alumni board met last week and several of our members have voiced concerns over the Jesus mural on the side of the Science Building. If you have been in the discussion (through the years!), there is a concern on the part of a number of students and alumni, that Christ on the mural is very much an Anglo. As we understand it, the model used by Kent Twitchel for the painting was a European Jew. Some alumni and students of color and others have felt like this does not represent the true Jesus and the mural should be removed.
If you have viewed it recently, it is in need of restoration as the last 15 years of weather have affected the painting and areas are beginning to fade and crack. Now is the time to determine if changes need to be made to the mural. The alumni office would love to get your comments and feedback. What do you think?
Is it representative of Biola? Is it purely an artists rendering? Should it be painted over or removed as it offends some who attend here?
Why do we ask the question? Well, we want to get your opinion as alumni and students of Biola. And, we want to make a recommendation on what action to take.
Thanks for all your opinions and suggestions!
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13 comments:
Perhaps could figure out the expense for changing this mural, add a plaque at the bottom telling all that this is one artists perspective. Then note, we choose to agree on this and donate all the money that would have been used to missionaries who are spending their time in the field with people who need HIM not a discussion on what he looked like with skin on.
^ Great idea
I think that money should be spent to just refurbish the mural as the artists rendition was of a European Jew.
All that matters is that Jesus was Jewish.
This discussion was a hot topic back in 1992-1993 when I was attending Biola. However, I thought it was put to rest when Kent Twitchell stated that it is a rendering of the artist's viewpoint stating that Jesus was a European Jew. It would be quite a shame to eliminate such a work which was donated to the University by a world renowned Christian artist who additionally put countless hours into this wonderful artwork. Thus, I say it is certainly worth refurbishing to what the artist originally crafted it to be.
At Biola, Jesus is expressed from the pulpit, from the locker room, or on the court, in a thesis paper, or a lecture, in mission work, or musical performance, and also in the case of Kent's work a giant mural on a science building.
Is the mural the only interpretation or expression of Christ? Is an African American hymn the only expression of Christ? A Korean prayer, an artists interepretation of Christ as a European Jew? Of course not but it adds to our understanding of who Christ is when we realize Chirst is bigger than our own personal interpretation of Him. Who He is reflected in us and expressed through us only adds to a bigger picture and more true reflection of who Christ is.
Restore the mural, its a personal and beautiful reflection of who Christ is by a respected muralist who is a believer. We all benefit from viewing Kent's work of love, his offering to God of his talent. We all grow in Christ when we allow Christ to shine through us and respect how his is doing that in his body in its many forms.
I think all have missed something here. Jesus (or an artists rendering of what he thinks Jesus may have looked like) standing on the earth looking up, holding a modern day Bible is not Biblically accurate, and takes away from who Jesus really is (in my highly educated BIOLA Alumni opinion ;-). The truth is that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. He is RISEN. He ASSENDED. He is THERE. He is NOT standing around here on earth, which when I look at the mural is the illusion it gives.
WE are the ones holding the Bible and looking up (to Him), and specifically at Biola to prepare to go out and serve Him (see my idea for a solution below).
Furthermore, it is widely known that the mural IS causing people to have concerns and feel disenfranchised. If, then, the mural is intended to bring about a focus on Christ, for a unity in purpose, yet it causes some to feel disenfranchised—even if we justify it with the “it’s just the artists perspective”—then aren’t we sort of guilty of the same disenfranchisement that is addressed in 1 Corinthians 8? IS that what God wants of BIOLA?
It seems that enough care did not go into any discussion THEN about the mural. So now we have it. However, there are still choices in the matter.
As Christians in situations like these, are we called to weigh the many against the few and then simply justify away the disenchantment of that few with crafty argument—such as “it is just the artists perspective at the time of painting”? Or do we love those who are voicing concern, and seek to meet their needs above ours?
What then should the attitude of the “many” be in this matter? Some thoughts come to mind:
1Cor 8:13-- 13Therefore, (AB)if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Romans 14:21-- 21(A)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything [put up; keep up a mural artists rendering of someone’s interpretation of what Jesus may have looked like] by which your brother stumbles.
I do not complain without a solution in mind, however: I vote to remove the mural, and replace it with several students who are holding the Bible and looking up to God. We are the ones here on earth, looking to his Word, and to Him! We are the ones preparing (or who have prepared), and in need to be unified in the purpose of truth to “Above All Give Glory to God”!
Anyway, just my quick thoughts.
Blessings to all!
Brett (BIOLA ’00)
I think there are more important things in life than arguing over a painting. You will always have someone offended. Take it down, leave it up, just make a decision-that is part of leadership. People that are offended by representations or expressions are putting to much emphasis on themselves which isn't the point of the art or expression anyways.
I've never been a huge fan of the mural for many reasons, but I think its the right thing to do -to refurbish the mural, and work toward investing in more public art on the campus.
This way the thought of it as "one man's interpretation" will be obvious, as well as being able to offer more thought provoking images, as WELL as affirming the gifts of the artists who have strong faith and may feel displaced at times in the faith-based community.
The stars in Van Gogh's Starry Night don't look like real stars. Can we please change this painting so astronomers won't be offended.
I'm with Aardvark.
I think the mural is fine the way it is. It is kind of silly for "students of color" to be concerned about the color of the painting. After all, it was never intended to be historically accurate (i.e. the two shadows, the color of the pages of the Bible). There is much more to the mural than the color of Jesus' skin.
I was at Biola during the time it was being painted. The artist made a point of communicating that he deliberately used the same color for the skin as he did for the pages of the Bible (Jesus is the Word). If y'all change the skin color a big part of the artist's vision will be lost (unless you darken up the pages of the Bible too... not sure how much darker you could make them without having it look odd...).
I agree with whoever said to do a minimal restoration and then donate the remainder of the available fund to those on the mission field.
why can't you just make Jesus look more middle eastern while restoring the painting? i don't think that would change the color of his skin that drastically (addressing edkela's concern with the skin being the same color as the Bible's pages). it would affect more his hair/eye color/facial features.
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