Spring Break
George Hunt's blues-inspired art on display at the UA
Amanda Wells
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Life & Style
The painting, "America Cares/ Little Rock Nine," was originally commissioned for the Central High School Museum in Little Rock but first spent five years hanging in the White House. At that time, First Lady Hillary Clinton wrote in a personal note to Hunt, "We are grateful that our visitors and staff have such a powerful image of hope and freedom to greet, inspire and inform them."
Hunt was a senior in high school in Hot Springs in 1957 when Little Rock's Central High School was integrated. However, it wasn't until about a decade later that he really became involved in the Civil Rights movement.
"The integration in Little Rock didn't have too much influence on me at the time," Hunt said. "I was much more interested in sports back then."
Hunt participated in a few marches while in college in Pine Bluff, but he still was not extremely involved in the Civil Rights movement at that time, he said.
"[Martin Luther King Jr.] spoke at a graduation ceremony while I was at Pine Bluff, but I didn't go," Hunt said. "I just really didn't see any need to go see him speak."
However, Hunt, who was living in Memphis at the time of King's assassination in 1968, was, like many others, galvanized by the Civil Rights leader's death. After that, he began to be more involved in marches and other Civil Rights efforts.
"I became more of a Civil Rights advocate after '68," he said.
Hunt's "Visions of Blues Icons" exhibit in Mullins Library is on display as part of the UA's "Days of Recommitment" events for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hunt will be on campus to lead a "Walkin' Talkin' Gallery Tour" of the exhibit at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. Hunt said he will welcome questions during the tour.
"I'll probably talk a little about what motivated me to do each individual piece," he said, "but I want to focus on people's questions. I'm more interested in talking about what people are interested in."
Hunt was a senior in high school in Hot Springs in 1957 when Little Rock's Central High School was integrated. However, it wasn't until about a decade later that he really became involved in the Civil Rights movement.
"The integration in Little Rock didn't have too much influence on me at the time," Hunt said. "I was much more interested in sports back then."
Hunt participated in a few marches while in college in Pine Bluff, but he still was not extremely involved in the Civil Rights movement at that time, he said.
"[Martin Luther King Jr.] spoke at a graduation ceremony while I was at Pine Bluff, but I didn't go," Hunt said. "I just really didn't see any need to go see him speak."
However, Hunt, who was living in Memphis at the time of King's assassination in 1968, was, like many others, galvanized by the Civil Rights leader's death. After that, he began to be more involved in marches and other Civil Rights efforts.
"I became more of a Civil Rights advocate after '68," he said.
Hunt's "Visions of Blues Icons" exhibit in Mullins Library is on display as part of the UA's "Days of Recommitment" events for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hunt will be on campus to lead a "Walkin' Talkin' Gallery Tour" of the exhibit at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. Hunt said he will welcome questions during the tour.
"I'll probably talk a little about what motivated me to do each individual piece," he said, "but I want to focus on people's questions. I'm more interested in talking about what people are interested in."
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