San Francisco school board votes to save George Washington mural

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

San Francisco school board votes to save George Washington mural | The San Francisco public school board has voted 4-3 to reverse a decision made in June to paint over a mural depicting the life of George Washington, created in 1936 by the Russian artist Victor Arnautoff, on the walls of the city’s George Washington High School, opting instead to cover it up. The decision was made because of ongoing concerns over the years regarding some of the imagery in the mural, including representations of slavery the body of a dead Native American beneath the feet of white settlers. The board has since faced considerable opposition, with support for the mural coming from artists, academics, civil rights organisations and actor Danny Glover, who attended the high school.

Central Park monument to women’s suffrage redesigned | Designs for the first Central Park statue dedicated to female historical figures have been amended to include the African-American activist Sojourner Truth, in response to criticism over the original design, which only featured the white suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. 

Pace Gallery launches art tech platform | Pace Gallery has announced the launch of PaceX, a new platform designed to support artists working in the technology sector. Christy MacLear, former vice chair of Art Agency, Partners at Sotheby’s, has been appointed CEO of the new venture. 

Daniela Rivera wins DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s Rappaport Prize | Boston-based painter and installation artist Daniela Rivera has been announced as this year’s winner of DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s Rappaport Prize. Now in its 20th year, the prize has grown from $25,000 to $35,000 thanks to a recent gift from the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation.