As reported by Seattle Times, these beautiful murals created by Andrew Morrison (Apache/Haida) were defaced over the weekend.
Judging from the photograph it looks like the vandal might have used a super-soaker or rigged extinguisher to spray their name on the wall or “drip tag”. I've seen quite a few of these tags on walls here in Chicago and the result to me has always been ugly.
Especially when the picture beneath the tag is honoring some pretty important Natives.
The eight murals — which are visible from blocks away — include 25-foot-tall black, white and gray portraits of Chief Seattle, Sitting Bull and other historic figures from local Native American communities.
The portraits, which are painted on the outside walls of Seattle Public Schools’ Wilson-Pacific School campus — once home to the Indian Heritage Middle College — are among just a few notable examples of local public art honoring Native Americans.
Unfortunate that this occurred since Morrison had finally won the fight to save these murals from being torn down. There were plans to tear down the existing building to make way for new ones for the school campus. The district had agreed to save the wall and incorporate it into the new design.
Morrison assured everyone that the murals can and will be restored.
“I’m going to do my best to fix it. … I’m going to do my best to stand tall, help bring this person to justice and restore peace and resolution,” he said.
Update On Murals
From SeattleTimes.com
Here, as a new middle school and elementary school take shape, eight murals once slated for demolition and even defaced by graffiti have come full circle.
Rescued, cleaned, carefully moved and curated, they have been in the last two weeks installed in the exterior walls of the new buildings under construction on the 17-acre campus. The idea is to bring some of the best of the old buildings at the former Wilson-Pacific School to the facades of the new buildings.
Featured photo: Mark Harrison/The Seattle Times
Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Paul G
Ruthann Alberts
says:How disrespectful and rude they should throw there asses in jail and leave them there for defacing public property. They should be shamed didn’t the indians go through enough they have to destroy the things they have to honor their people? I hope it can be restored to its natural beauty……So sorry this happened.
Linda Zumwalt
says:I am so sad and heart broken to see this still happening to me and ALL my ancestors. May they be caught and punished the way we have been punished all our lives. Why can’t ALL this hatred and racial violence be STOPPED and we live as one!!!! Linda Zumwalt West Frankfort Illinois.
Susan Stephens
says:Have we not done enough to the Native Americans It is a living shame. People should put their head down in shame. Why !!!! it is also part of our heritage too Grown up world before it is too late.
Janet CHACHA Fisher
says:You would think with all these other people coming here to make their lives they would think not to disrespect the Natives who rightfully belong here! This is our one & only home and were sharing it with you and this is what you give us back?? SMH. People teach your children better THATS all I can say Let history not repeat itself !
Dennis Hill
says:I am of native American decent. On both my mother and father. I’ve always have been in touch and educated about my history. When I see this outwardly disrespect for our calture and history it just reminds me what these people have done and are still doing till this day. Now if some one were to throw black paint on mt. Rushmore and Christopher Columbus statue what would be the response and action? Sorry for such a long comment but it hurts to see this ugly hateful disrespectful action done to the indigenous people of this land. Again these people who are of low carictor and filled with inatiquicies in there self. Thank you my brothas and sistas for letting me vent. Peace! TANKA!! PS. IN THE SPIRIT OF CRAZY HORSE! A.I.M. We have to stand together as one ! Stand up!
Chris Webber
says:When one side of the political spectrum gives permission to Antifa (Nazifa?) and their degenerate bretheren to tear down statues of soldiers in the South and desecrate Confederate cemeteries, and then the destruction spreads to memorials honoring those who served and died in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, then you can’t expect to reserve repect for that which you hold dear. Disrespect is disrespect. The Left brought this out for us to “enjoy.”
JA Norwood
says:Chris Weber, I hope you realize that Antifa is a group that is anti fascist, which I would hope all of us would be. Sadly, they often use violent means to fight the hate mongers, thus losing support from people who would applaud them if they protested peacefully. By the way, I hope you understand the statues that are being removed were not put in place to honor the South, but rather most were erected during the Jim Crow era as a means of sending a message. As a southerner, I have always found it strange that we try to honor a time when the south essentially committed treason against the United States by declaring war against the Union.
Desecrating cemeteries, anywhere, for soldiers or not , is despicable, as is destruction of murals honoring great Native Americans, especially since America committed genocide against their people.
JA Norwood
says:Chris Weber, I hope you realize that Antifa is a group that is anti fascist, which I would hope all of us would be. Sadly, they often use violent means to fight the hate mongers, thus losing support from people who would applaud them if they protested peacefully. By the way, I hope you understand the statues that are being removed were not put in place to honor the South, but rather most were erected during the Jim Crow era as a means of sending a message. As a southerner, I have always found it strange that we try to honor a time when the south essentially committed treason against the United States by declaring war against the Union.
Desecrating cemeteries, anywhere, for soldiers or not , is despicable, as is destruction of murals honoring great Native Americans, especially since America committed genocide against their people.
Jon meyer
says:Those civil war statues are like what the SS officers were to Jews for black people here in the states. You can’t compare those to a mural honoring Native Americans. The history of those civil war statues themselves was racially motivated. They were cheaply made and inserted into communities to send a racist message to the people of color that lived in those towns. Racist Japan lost to the United States, Racist Germany lost to the United States, and the racist confederacy of the South lost to the United States, and thank god they did. Please do your research before making accusations.
D K T
says:Chris Webber; take your political B.S. and leave, it’s not needed!
Brian
says:Um, actually, you’re a fascist. Can tell from your “writing”. You’re just butthurt that other people are getting “special days” and you’re no longer individually “special”. You know, for nothing other than winning the genetic lottery that while some inbreeding may be involved, you really didn’t do anything special for your status.
Oh, as an FYI, it’s the statues honoring “heroes” who were traitors against the US, fought to keep slaves, etc. If you want to look to the guy who’s tearing up graves and monuments for actual war heroes, it’s your buddy Trump, to make room for his wall. Google it.
Mike,el Inkimann
says:mindless vandals with no talent that will attack any work their pathetic ego see fit to deface because it’s their given right to do so. With some shite tag that no one really cares for bar them and some other waste man in their crew it savage that these great pieces of art were destroyed and ive been into graff but works like this get my respect. Even encouraged me to want to do better things with a spraycan.
Mary Ziebarth
says:And the altright is weeping bitter tears over a cloth Extinction Rebellion logo that was placed on a chalk horse. Their point: animals are dying off.
I would love to find the loser who vandalized the beautiful Native murals…it breaks my heart
I am so ashamed of being white (more beige).
Vicki
says:Great words
Janet CHACHA Fisher
says:You would think with all these other people coming here to make their lives they would think not to disrespect the Natives who rightfully belong here! This is our one & only home and were sharing it with you and this is what you give us back?? SMH. People teach your children better THATS all I can say Let history not repeat itself !
Dennis Hill
says:I am of native American decent. On both my mother and father. I’ve always have been in touch and educated about my history. When I see this outwardly disrespect for our calture and history it just reminds me what these people have done and are still doing till this day. Now if some one were to throw black paint on my. Rushmore and Christopher Columbus statue what would be the response and action? Sorry for such a long comment but it hurts to see this ugly hateful disrespectful action done to the indigenous people of this land. Again these people who are of low carictor and filled with inatiquicies in there self. Thank you my brothas and sistas for letting me vent. Peace! TANKA!! PS. IN THE SPIRIT OF CRAZY HORSE! A.I.M. We have to stand together as one ! Stand up!
donald lawrence
says:What a horrible mindless thing to do,every day people outdo themselves
John Wilde
says:I think it is disrespectful and disgusting that nobody respects someone else’s culture and expects to be respected by posting their “names “ over public property, meaning, art work like this is out there for all to see and contemplate. We all have responsibility to talk and interact with one another to be able to respect and live together regardless of so called color and culture , because we are all the same inside.
Robert
says:Who ever did this there a sad individual there history only teaches them lies so they don’t know differnts between rite and rong the only thing we got do pray for them because all they got is hate maby his scared that the medicine wheel is turn in to our way of life
raezeal
says:Evil certainly is energy horribly misdirected. I so wish those who desecrated these magnificent murals can be found – made to help restore them and then have to do community service – a LOT – on a reservation.
Vivi checks
says:What if someone at the school board did it?
La Licuanan
says:I am sorry this happened to your art. I’m from Los Angeles when Artisits would do a Mural they would seal it with some type of sealer THEN SPRAY some type of wax or compound that could be power washed off taking the spray paint off The. mural thus restoring it. There were /are companies that do this type of thing. Even in Vancouver,BC I think it was called Graffitti removal.
Chris
says:The person caught should have to erase all the tags & ugly graffiti in that city …. every day 8-10 hours a day ASSHOLES and yes it is really nice art from the artist
Joe Russell
says:That’s exactly what they should do instead of incarcerating someone. Clean up the city fitting punishment.
Jeffrey Robinson
says:The person or persons are idiots, worthless, monster s that needs to spend time in jail!! There is no need for such destruction of valuable historical figures getting defaced in such a careless manner! I detest such cowards and their actions, there is no place for them anywhere…
Scott Sands
says:Given the quality of “americans” I am not surprised. Restore and have some people if possible watch over them -lay in wait- and pounce on em with Great Force and enthusiasm. …
john
says:Either you are a socialist visiting from a failing country or you’re a democrat, to make that blanket statement about Americans? I am guessing, you are a democrat?
Brian
says:From your question, I’m guessing you’re one of those guys who supported the “very good people” at the Unite the Right march who ran over some counter protesters, and also want to pass laws allowing you to do the same at any protest? Let me guess, you’re a Republican.
D
says:Unbelievable! So much hours of work. So much pouring out of your creative hearts. So deeply offended.
Perhaps we could deface their 4 presidents, that was carved on our land, without our permission. Without honor.
Robbie
says:such a shame that someone has total disrespect for this mural. i hope somone will be caught. makes me upset about that.
Paul Molina
says:Dont feel bad brotha most of the time a person who tags garbage like that have no art skills at all. Probably cant even draw a stick figure.
Hoka.
goldie leona hayes
says:my nephew was killed in a car accident; he was very much loved by many people; and talked about for many years after his death, and remembered often by our entire community, though he was only 17.
my niece was in a school for the harder children and a group were talking him up when another young man made a comment that he was glad he was dead and wished everyone would shut up about him and that no one noticed him and he was still alive!
my family was furious; but I told them that he felt invisible. perhaps this young person also feels invisible. I believe that our Greatest Chiefs were people of the greatest understanding and that we must also be so to best honor their memory. (I’m glad this can still be restored.)
Rose
says:When I grew up and when I raised my child if something was done to someone elses property and the guilty person was found, frequently they were made to help restore the damaged property, In this case if they couldn’t help paint, they could clean, prep, wash brushes, anything to learn what was involved in creating/ repairing the damage they caused… get to know what it means to the artist. This would possibly teach something vs.fines, probably paid by others and seen as just money, that hasn’t value to vandals anyway. Just a thought??
DAN
says:And we on Facebook are learning about this NOW??? Wtf??!!
There’s something called the internet and something called ‘timeliness’. Beepin’ look into them. Sheesh!
Jeffrey Robinson
says:The person or persons are idiots, worthless, monster s that needs to spend time in jail!! There is no need for such destruction of valuable historical figures getting defaced in such a careless manner! I detest such cowards and their actions, there is no place for them anywhere…
Ms Ellie
says:you idiot kids happy? go home and brag about it somewhere so we can find you.
Irena
says:Typical of the less talanted & moronic of society to destroy that which is iconic, skillfully represented & admired, jealousy is such a miserable quality to have.
I sincerely hope that these paintings can be restored to there pristine glory.
Such a tradgedy
Cmartinez
says:Chief Joseph, Geronimo and Tatanka Iyotake
Shame
Kim T. Curtis
says:It’s too bad our society has one back to the dark ages in respect to just that: RESPECT! When I was a child, I’m 62, now, our parents taught us respect and pride in our own and other’s accomplishments. Nowadays, it seems that neither the parents or the children have respect for much of ANYTHING! If only we could turn things around and re-orient our society back to pride and respect for each of us and our abilities and accomplishments without such pervasive permissiveness!
Ben Lunt
says:This is a difficult subject and it carries a secondary virus – it makes us justifiably angry. We feel the anger and wish for punishment, for retribution. This may seem natural, and fine, but it is a secondary injury. First, the vandal harms the artwork. When we feel and express our outrage, he injures us as well, and we delight him in expressing our feelings. He is a sniveling little vandal, nothing more. He did this for attention, and you can be sure he is watching this thread, much pleased with himself. He is a powerless little jerk. Girls won;t date him. They laugh at him. Other boys call him names to his face. They push him around and scare him easily. So he sneaks around at night with his can of cheap paint, which he imagines is a light saber. He attacks imaginary enemies and impresses girls who have rejected his pathetic overtures. He plays lots of video games and masturbates excessively. This poor little weasel is not worth your anger or concern. Restore the painting and protect it, possibly with security cameras and Lexan panels. But don’t think about this creep any more.
William Pruetzel
says:This is what America has come to. No respect for anything or anybody. I hope they find the culprits and punish them severely, not just community service
Lynda Steadman
says:being of Indian heritage my self this is so disrespectful and uncalled for. I hope who ever has done this will find it to turn there self in. I dought it but at least I can hope, and if not I hope they are caught and made to do a service for a long time. Mr. Morrison I want to tell you I have seen your work before and I love it. I hope this can be fixed, and treated with respect from here on out. This person should be ashamed and God as well as mother earth will see to it they are punished….
Dave Tate
says:This is a shameful thing to have done,only a hate filled mind will do this. I hope those that dit it will be captured
and be sentenced to hard time and to mental treatment, they were beautiful works of ART i hope Mr. Morrison can repair the damage that has been done so that they may continue to be seen for many many years ahead with never more damage to them
Barbara McMillan
says:I am so sorry for this blatant disregard of beautiful artwork and history, and I hope that the person is caught and punished. I am glad to hear that they can and will be restored, but I realize how much work and love went into them the first time. God bless you for perseverance and for sharing your talent with all of us who do appreciate our heritage.
Oshogeeshik
says:This is so sad that the art could not be appreciated and was vandalized. Local youth in my day would protect this as territory and wouldn’t allow any harm to occur.
Juana
says:Has anyone set up a fund /donation, I would be honord to help. It’s ashame tbat these kids were not giveing the time and taught respect and honor. PLZ email me with any info
Ursela Wiese
says:I can’t believe that someone would do this… It’s heartbreaking to see the shown respect towards other cultures and the value that some have :'(
Sung Manitou Tatanka Wakinyan
says:Its a disgrace for someone to do this to our Original Fathers Aho it makes me angry to see this done to my brothers work of art I hope they can stop these sort of things and take more pride in our country Aho Mitakuye Oyasin.
Dennis Hill
says:I am of native American decent. On both my mother and father. I’ve always have been in touch and educated about my history. When I see this outwardly disrespect for our calture and history it just reminds me what these people have done and are still doing till this day. Now if some one were to throw black paint on my. Rushmore and Christopher Columbus statue what would be the response and action? Sorry for such a long comment but it hurts to see this ugly hateful disrespectful action done to the indigenous people of this land. Again these people who are of low carictor and filled with antiquities in there self. Thank you my brothas and sistas for letting me vent. Peace! TANKA!!
Johnny Salas
says:Most kids dont have respect for other other peoples culture or property because of how there being trained to thibk by tgere parents I grew up a gang member because of were I lived and went to school and I still wouldnt do this to anyones art because my father taught me to respect! And now that im a father I teach my kids the same thing respect other peoples beliefes religioun and culture even if you dont agree. I am apache navajo and Cherokee maybe that is why seeing this does not upset me it is a oppurtunity for a nation to wake up and recognize how wrong they were about us 300 years ago and we as a free spirited race of humans will never switch up instead will always remain a peaceful loving race nomattet how hard the attempt was made to make our people extinct we will never be extinct we were here since the beggining of time and all thanks to God we will be here till the End the result of love!
Kim
says:Very sad that the person who did this has no respect for other people’s culture, history or property. Hopefully the mural can be restored to its original condition and the criminal someday, will become a better human being.
Ben Lunt
says:We live i a country where most of the kids don’t know anything about anything. They don’t know Illinois from Idaho, can’t find Kentucky on a map, don’t know who Eisenhower or Kennedy were, have never heard of Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Crazy Horse or Sacajawea, think Wounded Knee is a sports injury the Trail Of Tears is a rock band. They have no respect for anyone or anything. I think the way to do something about this is to organize a big effort, many people and artists, to gather at the spot and get to work on trying to restore. Make a big splash in the papers and on the news. Involve a news anchor to do a camera presentation and ask some questions of the artist. Shame the little rat bastard who did this, and the friends he told about it. Someone might phone in an anonymous tip and the snot-nose will get picked up. But don’t let him try to help save the art – he will only make it worse – he is a breaker, not a maker.
Tamaran
says:Nicely said. Amen!!
Tammy Lin
says:AMEN!
Stan vandale
says:I think of they catch whom ever done this , should painted and carry a sign around. stating : I am a idiot. no respect.
marlène fauré
says:les gens ne respectent plus rien ! Quel guachis de faire des tags sur des dessins aussi beau! Et surtout dans une école !!!
RedWolf
says:Shame on the persons who done this. may they be honor in the same way Defaced.
Crystal
says:Too bad the paintings couldn’t be protected with some sort of clear film that adheres to the surface so if someone were inclined to paint over again their pain t could just simply be wiped off using paint thinner or something like that. Foil the foiler.
R.T.
says:There is some type of coating that is graffiti resistant. For the life of me I can’t think of it at the moment. I MIGHT be an answer. Putting Perspex over it as someone earlier suggested isn’t an ideal way to protect this work. The plastic will allow moisture to stay trapped and mildew to form defacing the murals that much further unfortunately.
Crystal Bird
says:That is exactly what I was going to say … except foil the foiler. Great minds think alike! Awesome because my name is also Crystal, spelled exactly the same
Kayla Paul
says:While I was happy to have seen this reposted on FB, I have grown weary of clicktivism and would like to do more. Please set up a fund for donations to cover restoration costs and I will gladly start the pot. Also, is there an organization that provides art supplies for native youth who would perhaps not have access otherwise?
Giselle
says:I’m very relieved they can be restored. Probably some bored kids trying to get a “laugh”. Kids today just aren’t taught to respect others’ properties or works.
BCGRL
says:I agree with MO……….empty souls!!!!!!! Have nothing in their hearts and nothing in their minds!!! I feel sorry for such lost and empty “HUMANS?” I don’t know…….shells of humans I would think. ……..But as I said…….”empty”
MO
says:sadly, the ignorant & hateful are nourished by online trolling. Families don’t teach them that some things have meaning & power & are meant to be left ALONE! These souls are empty. These are the ghosts who lives be nothing, care for nothing & no one, including themselves.
Irene Friendly
says:I couldn’t agree more Irene – Heathens they are. It goes beyond understanding how anyone with a brain could destroy something so beautiful.
Sheri
says:God will have the ultimate say for whomever did this desecration . There is no reason for this to have happened!
irene
says:When this great art is fully restored it would be best to cover it with perspex.
The saddest thing of all is that we live in a society which is tarnished by heathens who are thankfully in the minority,but are so inadequate as a humanity,they destroy anything good.
Mark W. Farrell
says:Well said.
This was a sad thing and a sick mind that did it.
Call it cultural rape on top of damage to property and trespassing with intent to commit a crime.
Brenda
says:so where are the camera shots?
perhaps intersections showing th ecars?
Iris Potter
says:Yes. Where?