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Last night’s “Saving the Murals & Lovin’ the Music” event was a big hit: good food, nostalgic music, cool decorations, and an entertaining and informative talk by Seth Mallios, chair of SDSU’s anthropology department, about the history of rock ‘n’ roll at SDSU. The winners of our writing contest were announced by former SDSU President Stephen Weber; congratulations to Cheryl Hinton, Donna Duarte, Edward Ortiz, Michael J. Anderson, and Dorothy Marshall! You can read excerpts from their stories online.
Below are some photos from last night’s event.
Enlarged images of posters and ticket stubs from SDSU’s Backdoor concert venue.
Dr. Stephen Weber gives a prize to one of the winners of the library’s writing contest.
Photographs from past concerts at SDSU.
A member of the audience who is definitely in the Valentine’s spirit!
Dr. Mallios tells the tale of the Ramones and the San Diego Chicken!
Good eats!
Seth Mallios studies the Rock ‘n’ Roll mural (a.k.a., Backdoor Mural) in its original location in the former Aztec Center.
It’s been seen by Jimmy Buffet, Patti Smith, REM, and the Talking Heads. Eventually, you’ll be able to see it, too, once the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mural has been restored and relocated to the San Diego State University Library.
Fundraising is underway to restore the 9’ x 14’ mural, which was painted in 1976 by students in the Chicano Art class and features a rock band composed of stylized Aztec warriors. The mural was located in an unfrequented hallway near the rear stage entrance to the Backdoor, a once popular concert venue in the former Aztec Center. While the mural wasn’t visible to concertgoers, musicians passed by it when they walked to the stage.
Seth Mallios, chairman of SDSU’s anthropology department, became concerned about the mural when the plans to demolish Aztec Center didn’t include saving the mural. He raised the necessary $15,000 to have the mural removed from the wall and stored. Now the San Diego State University Library is trying to raising the remaining funds needed to complete the Rock ‘n’ Roll mural’s restoration and have it relocated to the library.
In conjunction with the mural project, the library is sponsoring a music-themed writing contest this year. In 500 words or less, you can share your favorite music memory, whether it was a rock concert, festival or band practice. The deadline for the contest is February 3, and the winners will be announced and prizes awarded at an event at the library on February 14. More information about the event and an online entry form can be found at http://library.sdsu.edu/writingcontest. Entries will also be accepted by mail at Great Music, SDSU Library, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-8050.
To raise awareness of and interest in the mural, the library is presenting a Valentine’s Day event called “Saving the Murals and Lovin’ the Music.” The evening begins at 7:30 in Love Library Room 108 with a free dessert reception, followed by a lecture by Seth Mallios titled “The Legendary Yet Unknown History of Rock ‘n’ Roll at San Diego State.” Winners of the writing contest will be announced during the event. Information and images of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mural, as well as other murals the library hopes to preserve, will also be available at the event.
More information:
Writing Contest Entry Form
Saving the Murals Valentine’s Day Event
Seth Mallios’ list of the “20 Most Important Rock ‘n’ Roll Concerts at San Diego State”
SDSU Library’s efforts to save the Rock ‘n’ Roll (Backdoor) Mural
Check out this video of Seth Mallios discussing the “San Diego Industry” mural during the dedication on October 5.
Talking, laughter, cameras, and eating in Reference Services? Really? That can’t be right…can it?
Yes, it can, and yesterday around 3:30 p.m., that’s exactly what was going on as the library held the dedication ceremony for the second restored WPA-era mural, “San Diego Industry.”
Painted by student George Sorenson in 1936, the mural’s original home was in the basement of Hardy Tower, which in the 1930s housed SDSU’s first library as well as art classrooms. Damaged by renovations and lost for years behind ceiling tiles, the mural was found accidently in 2004 and underwent restoration before being relocated to its new permanent home on the wall behind the Reference Desk.
We listened to speeches by Interim Dean Jon Cawthorne, SDSU President Stephen Weber, and Professor Seth Mallios, who spearheaded the effort to restore the mural. The artist’s son, George Sorensen, flew in from Oregon to help us celebrate. The local media filmed the event to share with the rest of San Diego. We talked, laughed, and noshed on canapés and lemon bars. And the mural was dedicated. But what we also celebrated was the dedication of so many individuals—library staff, faculty, and administrators; members of our Friends of the Library; donors from outside organizations; Seth Mallios and President Weber; and many more—who saw the value in preserving a piece of SDSU’s history, who brought to fruition what seemed like an impossible task. Kudos to all of you hard-working dreamers. You pulled it off!
Want to learn more about the murals of SDSU? Here’s a few links:
The Depression-Era Murals of San Diego State University
San Diego Union-Tribune
Uncovering Local Art and Industry: The Discovery of Hidden WPA-Era Murals at San Diego State University
Enjoy some photos from Tuesday’s dedication. If you’d like to see more, visit our Flickr page.
George Sorensen was interviewed regarding his father's mural.
Seth Mallios, chair of SDSU's Anthropology Department, discusses the mural's history.
SDSU President Stephen Weber shares some thoughts about the mural.
San Diego Industry in its permanent home in the Library Addition.
SDSU Library 