Years ago there used to be a large mural that hung downstairs in the UMass Campus Center depicting the campus during the 1960's. It was a pretty cool mural that included an image of someone I knew on it. However, one day several years ago it disappeared completely and I could never discover what became of it. Then last week I was coming down the stairs in Bartlett Hall when suddenly I came upon it hanging in the second floor stairwell!
The mural features images from that controversial decade as it related to the University. Here is how the mural depicts the UMass library when under construction.
A recent photo of the finished product.
The mural was painted in the 1980's by students who were barely alive in the 60's and had no first hand memories of the era. Therefore this depiction of the Beatles swimming in the campus pond may not be historically accurate.
The mural was a group project that incorporated a number of artists and historical advisors. Among them was the notorious Western Mass journalist Al Giordano, who although he wasn't a student at UMass, ended up as one of the models for the anti-war protest segment. Giordano and his mentor Abbie Hoffman were leading a lot of anti-nuke
rallies around the Valley in the 1980's and Al was well known to campus
activists.
But what caused the mural to be taken down from it's original very prominent location in the Campus Center, only to be relegated to the obscurity of a stairwell in the English Department? That relocation seems illogical.
Unfortunately, logic can seldom guide you in figuring out the ways of UMass.
Anyway, at least they're always looking for laughs.
The campus farmer's market is in full swing, featuring fresh produce from the student farm.
UMass used to be known as "Mass Aggie" as in Massachusetts Agricultural College. It has evolved over the decades, expanding its offerings until it became a full fledged state university. But it's original agricultural background has never been eliminated and UMass still teaches agriculture to students who come from all over the world, many looking to bring back the latest farming techniques to their native country.
Meanwhile, in Northampton there is a wall of fake vegetables.
This morning I was in downtown Springfield, where of course I stopped for breakfast at City Jake's on the corner of Worthington.
Jake's has the best breakfast sandwiches in the city.
A colorful neighborhood in Holyoke by Bill Pead.
The French King Bridge is the three-span "cantilever arch" bridge that crosses the Connecticut River on the border between the towns of Erving and Gill. photo by J. Ziff
Full moon rising over Boston this week.
New Hampshire does not want to become like Massachusetts.
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