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Home > University Art > somsenhallmural

Somsen Hall Mural

The Somsen Hall Mural was designed and executed by John Martin Socha (1913-1983). It was one of the largest of the New Deal (1935-1943) Federal Art Projects in Minnesota. The mural was dedicated to Winona State Teachers College on November 7, 1938.

Somsen Hall is located on the Winona State University (WSU) campus in Winona, Minnesota. The mural is displayed on the east, north, and west walls of the north main entrance to Somsen Hall.

WSU has acknowledged that Socha relied on stereotypical imagery and white myths, which convey inaccurate, uninformed, and traumatic messages. In 2018, WSU commissioned two scholars to create a document to provide context with commentary as a reminder that the responsibility of an institution of higher education is to examine history and learn from it to improve the future.

In 2020, WSU made the decision to cover the Somsen Hall Mural. It was covered in August 2020.

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  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section, Figures by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Left Section, Figures

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Middle, Close-Up by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Middle, Close-Up

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, North Corner by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, North Corner

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right End by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right End

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right Section by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right Section

  • Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right Section by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, East Wall, Right Section

  • Somsen Hall Mural, North View by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, North View

  • Somsen Hall Mural, North Wall, Center, Three Figures by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, North Wall, Center, Three Figures

  • Somsen Hall Mural, North Wall, Three Figures Close-Up by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, North Wall, Three Figures Close-Up

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Center, Close-Up

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Center, Close-Up

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Center to North Corner by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Center to North Corner

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Left by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Left

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Left and Center by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Left and Center

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Right by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Right

  • Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Right Section, Close-Up by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Hall Mural, West Wall, Right Section, Close-Up

  • Somsen Mural Three Wall View by John Martin Socha

    Somsen Mural Three Wall View

 
 
 

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Darrell W. Krueger Library | 507.457.5140 | library@winona.edu | In Libris Libertas

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