Featured News

AUC Hosts Mural Unveiling Ceremony, Artist Talk to Celebrate Installation of Its ‘Off the Wall’ Mural

ATLANTA (February 22,2019) —On Friday, Atlanta University Center (AUC) institutions joined local arts organization WonderRoot to host a mural unveiling ceremony and artist talk with popular muralist Muhammad Yungai to celebrate the installation of the AUC’s “Helping Hands” mural.

The mural was created and installed by Yungai as part of the city-wide Off the Wall initiative, which was organized by WonderRoot and the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, and is one of 30 that highlights Atlanta’s civil rights and social justice journey.

Students and leaders from the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, Spelman College and WonderRoot met to discuss the fusion of arts and civil rights and the role each of their institutions plays in telling Atlanta’s unique story.

“Helping Hands” promotes the importance of education and honors African American activists and pioneers who created a path for future generations: Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, Ella Baker, Alonzo Herndon, Congressman John Lewis, Stacey Abrams and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It depicts their hands lifting up and supporting four young children on their way to school.

Yungai said his piece suggests that, “They’re not there yet. Martin Luther King, Jr. made sacrifices, and there were a lot of things that he got accomplished, but you still have to do the work to get the life that you want.”

“Now that you have more opportunities, there’s still a path for you to go,” Yungai added.

The mural is located on the external wall of the AUC Woodruff Library, 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW, on the side facing Parsons Street. To learn more about the Library, visit www.auctr.edu.

About the Atlanta University Center (AUC)

The Atlanta University Center is the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities. Comprised of the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, the Interdenominational Theological Center and Spelman College, the Consortium is a vibrant intellectual community with a long tradition of scholarship, service and community engagement. AUC Consortium, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that operates on behalf of its members to advance each institution’s mission and strategic goals by fostering collaboration, managing center-wide initiatives, offering services that benefit our students and community, and leveraging our shared resources.  To learn more, visit AUCenter.edu.

Topics: Art, Murals

Ask a Librarian

Do you have questions about our recent news or upcoming events? Let us know.

Learn How