The Richmond Museum of History and Culture has reopened after a prolonged pandemic closure with a new star attraction that spent decades hiding in a basement.
The attraction is a classic Depression-era mural by famed Russian-born artist Victor Arnautoff, titled “Richmond: Industrial City.” The work was one of several Arnautoff did of Bay Area sites and scenes, at a time when such works were being commissioned as part of the federal Public Works of Art Project.
According to museum executive director Melinda McCrary, the mural was exhibited in the Richmond Post Office until 1976. McCrary writes in the museum website that the work depicting Richmond landmarks and citizens of the 1930s was taken down for protection during a remodeling program and placed in the basement — and forgotten for more than four decades. Narrowly escaping crippling water damage, the mural depicting well-known scenes and citizens in Richmond, was discovered, unpackaged and — after months of restoration work and dealing with federal red tape — was installed in the museum last fall.
Arnautoff, a onetime assistant to famed painter Diego Rivera, was considered one of the Bay Area’s most proficient muralists during the New Deal era. He is likely best known for overseeing the famed series of murals created at Coit Tower in San Francisco.
Arnautoff lived in San Francisco from 1925-63, although he spent part of that time working with Rivera in Mexico. His work in the 1930s largely was dedicated to murals. Besides Richmond and the Coit Tower series, the artist also created works depicting the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, the Presidio chapel, George Washington High School in San Francisco, and the California School of Fine Arts, which he had attended.
Details: The museum is at 400 Nevin Ave., Richmond; hours are 1-4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; suggested donation is $10, $5 for students and senior citizens; www.richmondmuseum.org.