University plan to cover Ketchikan mural sparks reaction from public

KETCHIKAN - Some Ketchikan residents are unhappy with plans by the University of Alaska Southeast to demolish a 24-year-old mural painted by Native students on one of its buildings.

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Construction on the Robertson/Hamilton building is scheduled to start Jan. 6. UAS Ketchikan campus director Karen Polley told the Ketchikan Daily News that the university building has not been remodeled since the late 1970s, about the same time the mural was painted.

She said the remodel calls for windows along the wall on which the mural is located, to allow more light into classrooms.

The building was built in 1959 as a bowling alley and became a UAS building in 1977. Polley said the university wants to modernize the building and increase classroom space.

Sharon Huffman of the Stedman-Thomas Street Association said there was no public notification that the mural would be removed.

"We just kind of heard about it word-of-mouth about a month ago," Huffman said. "I feel something that important should have been publicized."

Huffman said the Return of the Eagle mural was funded in 1978 through a federal grant managed by Ketchikan Indian Community. Seattle-area artist Don Berrie worked with about 25 local students. Berrie painted the six main circles of the mural and students painted the numerous small circles along the bottom, said Huffman.

Elma Guthrie of KIC said each student's painting went with a personal story.

"What I'm really proud of is nobody has ever touched the mural," she said. "There's never been any graffiti on it. That's amazing in 24 years."

Huffman said the mural draws tourists, and people often stop in her shop to ask her about it.

Historic Ketchikan Director Dave Kiffer also said he is concerned there was no public process leading up to the university's decision. The mural is a stop on the Historic Ketchikan Walking Tour.

He acknowledged that the mural is on a university building but said it was an important piece of public art and the public should have a say in its future.

"It's a shame to lose public art in any community," Kiffer said.

Kiffer's group wants the mural to be restored, which likely would cost about $30,000. If it is not possible to save the mural, Kiffer said, Historic Ketchikan would be interested in a new public art project involving children of the students who painted the mural 24 years ago.

Polley said she is continuing to meet with the groups concerned about the mural but remodel plans have not changed.