Now valued around $40 million, the paintings by artist Hale Aspacio Woodruff were commissioned in 1938 and the first three panels have hung at the historically Black school since the 1939 dedication of a library. Others were added later.
The murals were being taken down piece by piece on Monday and will be restored before beginning a tour of several museums around the country. Talladega President Billy C. Hawkins says the restoration and tour will help bring the school more revenue and attention.
“We believe it’s a national treasure,” he says.
Upon arrival at the Atlanta Art Conservation Center, the murals will be adhered to another piece of fabric and then onto enormous wooden stretchers where they will be cleaned and restored.
“Once they are cleaned, any areas of damage will be restored,” says Larry Shutts, an associate conservator at the center. After almost 70 years of dirt and dust buildup in the library, Shutts says the paintings are in very good shape for their age.
