Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Oakland Owner Halts Plan to Paint Over Ohlone Mural After Nudity Complaints

The owner says the paint-over is on hold indefinitely to allow community dialogue.

Overview

  • The property owner told KTVU the planned removal is paused indefinitely, following earlier notices that the mural would be retired due to complaints about nudity.
  • SG Real Estate’s director of property management, Gracy Rivera, informed tenants by email that the mural would be removed to keep shared spaces welcoming after some residents deemed it offensive.
  • The 20-year-old work, titled "The Capture of the Solid, Escape of the Soul" by Rocky Rische-Baird, portrays Ohlone people receiving smallpox-infected clothing from Spanish missionaries.
  • Neighbors, teachers and visitors describe the mural as an important educational resource, with a resident of the building disputing that there were widespread complaints.
  • The mural drew protests and vandalism over nudity when unveiled in 2006, and reporters seeking further comment from SG Real Estate said their inquiries were not returned at the time of publication.