Luther Bean Museum's mural 70 years old (12-06-07)
Seventy years after the last brush stroke, the 49 feet by 12 feet mural, "Naming the Sangre de Cristo Mountains," painted by J. Noel Tucker, continues to inspire Adams State College Luther Bean Museum visitors.
Painted in rich, warm colors the figures and landscape dramatically capture the scene. Kat Olance, director of the museum, said: "According to the legend, Spaniards had enslaved Indians to work a gold mine, when the Indians revolted they mortally wounded the priest, Francisco Torres. He and the others were fleeing across the San Luis Lakes when the setting sun cast its glow upon the snow capped peaks. Standing, Torres exclaimed, "Sangre de Cristo," literally translated means, "The Blood of Christ."
Tucker was hired as the art department head during J. B. Smith's leave of absence. The Adams State Teachers college, now known as Adams State College, commissioned him to paint the mural over the entrance of the library.
Tucker attended Chappel School of Art at the University of Denver, now the School of Art and Art History, and the Chicago Art Institute. When he left Adams State, he moved to Los Angeles to begin working for Walt Disney studios.
Before accepting the temporary art chair position, Tucker painted a mural depicting the Lincoln-Douglas debate in the Fair Store, which was located in Chicago before being demolished in 2000. According to the Adams State College South Coloradan Aug. 6, 1937 issue, Tucker's mural, now located in the museum, was valued between $5,000 and $6,000 and he was commissioned to paint two murals in the Student Union Hall at the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, now known as Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
According to Tucker, in the article, the mural was unique because it is painted on canvas on frames and "will be moved to a permanent position when Adams State College obtains a new library building."
Tucker's son, Byron, now lives in Pueblo. He was 2-years-old when the family lived in Alamosa. "My dad was a prolific painter, who preferred to give away his paintings rather than sell them," he said. "He loved the outdoors and taught me to fly fish when I was five."
He said his dad retired from McDonald Douglas Corporation as the director of art. "The art department would work with the engineers to make artistic renditions of planes or spaceships to be used when soliciting funding for projects."
According to Byron, western artist, Bill Moyers, Adams State class of 36, studied under Tucker while attending college. "Bill Moyers sent his son to study with my dad while he was in Los Angeles," Tucker said.
"The mural is such a wonderful focal point to the beauty of the museum," Olance said. "First-time visitors are always surprised by the grandeur of the museum space, with its cathedral ceiling, arching wooden beams and fireplace. When they turn and see the mural over the entrance, they stand staring in amazement by the size and beauty of the mural. Hearing the story of the naming of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains - which are such a big part of valley residents' lives - connects visitors with the mural and our history in the San Luis Valley."
On the Web...
By Linda Relyea
