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The “We Are the Dream” mural is back in Hale Library!

Posted on by Cailin Riley

A very important part of Hale Library’s history and story is back in the building.

The “We Are the Dream” mural is an important record of the struggle of K-State’s underrepresented students to be seen and heard.

“We Are the Dream,” which was sponsored by the Black Student Union, Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos de Aztlan (MEChA, a Hispanic student group), and the Native American Indian Student Body, was dedicated on October 24, 1980, making this year its 40th anniversary. At that time, the fourth floor space was home to the Minority Resource and Research Center.

 

A picture of Harold Carter painting a section of the "We Are the Dream" mural.
Harold Carter helped paint the “We are the Dream” mural. He was a senior in landscape architecture when the mural was dedicated in October of 1980.
A picture of the mural space back in the 1980's.
Here is the mural in the 1980’s in the Minority Resource and Research Center. The Center has since changed locations in Hale Library and is now named the Dow Center for Multicultural and Community Studies. The mural remains in its original location which now house the Academic Learning Center, a study and tutoring space for student athletes.  

The fire started on the roof almost directly above the mural. Subsequently, the mural suffered from significant water damage and soiling—it even had mold trapped behind it. The paint created a barrier that inhibited the moisture from escaping, and so to allow the wall to dry out, art conservators had to remove the mural from the wall for cleaning.

For more pictures and information on the mural handling directly after the fire, check out our previous post on the mural.

An up-close shot of a section of the mural with student signatures.
The mural was conceptualized and created by several students—their signatures are painted on the lower edges of the canvas.
A picture of Rachel Gilberti looking over paperwork.
Rachel Gilberti, chief conservator at John Canning Company, looks over her paperwork after the first pieces of the mural are tacked into place behind her.

Rachel Gilberti, the chief conservator at John Canning Company, has been working with the damaged mural since June 2018. Initially after it was removed, the mural was taken to the third floor for some emergency cleaning and drying. After that, it was taken back to the company’s studio for another month of further work.

Rachel and her team came back to Hale Library this fall to begin final restoration work on the Great Room murals. Within the last few weeks, they also had the opportunity to put the We Are the Dream mural back in its original home and give the canvas a few final touches.

A picture of Dean Lori Goetsch looking at the mural.
Dean of Libraries, Lori Goetsch, visited the mural to see the progress of the mural as it was returned to its original location.

Dean of Libraries, Lori Goetsch, said that saving the mural was an important goal of the Hale Library renovation and restoration project.

“The “We Are the Dream” mural has survived 40 years and represents an important moment in time at K-State and in our nation,” said Dean Goetsch. “It was essential to do the post-fire restoration, because many organizations and individuals on campus look to it as a significant symbol of diversity on campus.”

Part of the challenge of putting the mural back up on the wall was touching up the edges and making sure that the seams of the mural sections align. The mural was painted on burlap panels that were attached to wood backing that was in turn attached to the stone wall behind.

A picture of art conservators using a ladder to place the mural on the wall.
Part of the challenge of putting the mural back on the wall was lining up the seams correctly. Over time, the mural sections have shifted a bit so that some lean a certain way. As such, lining them up takes a bit of adjustment.
A pair of art conservators looking at the first section of the mural placed on the wall.
Gilberti and David Gough, project manager, survey the first piece of the mural to be placed on the wall, the painting of Martin Luther King Jr., who visited K-State in 1968 for his speech, “The Future of Integration.”

“Over time, the original adhesive they used on the burlap started failing and so when we got here, you could see areas where the seams had started coming apart,” Gilberti said.

Fine arts conservator Dona Yu works on touching up the paint on the mural.
Fine arts conservator Dona Yu works on touching up the paint on the mural, giving an extra bit of life and color to the 40-year-old work of art.

One of the most obvious differences in the mural to those who had seen it before the fire was how absolutely vivid the colors are. The rich color and mixed artistic styles draws the eye and gives the mostly neutral 4th floor space a burst of personality and purpose.

“There is so much symbolism that is representative of a diverse student body here,” Gilberti said. “This is a great time in history to put this mural back on the wall. I think students will really appreciate having something that stands for unity, peace and diversity.”

A picture of the full mural tacked to the wall.
With the entire mural now adhered to the wall, the conservators are working on final touches to the seams and edges.

We are excited to have the mural back safe and sound in the building, as part of our ongoing efforts to restore the library and the important artwork and architecture within. These efforts ensure that future generations of K-Staters can appreciate the history and stories of those who came before.

2 thoughts on “The “We Are the Dream” mural is back in Hale Library!”

  1. Amazing work. I love hearing about how the library is coming back to life and all the amazing things that are being done to preserve so much of the history of the library. I can not wait to return to MHK someday and see the completed library.

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