More at Greater Tulsa Reporter (//%22http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/1284/tulsa-may-become-home-to-spectacular-peter-hurd-mural%22)
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There is no better-preserved example of Southwestern frontier culture than Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is according to Gary Lee, travel writer, Washington Post, in a travel article about Tulsa that appeared in the Post's Sunday, April 2 edition.
In addition to the written word, another way of communicating the glory years of the Southwestern frontier culture that is, in Lee's opinion, best represented by Tulsa, is through art. This is exactly what famed artist Peter Hurd (1904-1984) accomplished in 1952.
Prudential Life Insurance Company commissioned Hurd to paint a mural evoking its corporate motto: "The Future Belongs To Those Who Prepare For It." Hurd painted a visually stunning 15'x47' mural for the Prudential headquarters in Houston. According to Hurd's son, artist Michael Hurd, "The mural is a great romantic tribute that reflects my father's love of the Southwest, its people and culture. It's a strong echo of the work that he and other regionalist painters created under government sponsorship during the 1930's." He adds, "To my knowledge it is the only, perhaps the largest, mural by Peter Hurd to ever be made available on the market."
"Made available on the market?" Yes. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has purchased the Prudential Life building in Houston. Due to the building's settling foundation and other issues, Anderson plans to raze the building and construct a new medical facility. The spectacular mural needs a new home and Tulsa might be the perfect place for it if a local new owner can be found.
Through an arrangement with Hurd-La Rinconada Gallery, the agent responsible for finding a new home for the mural, M.D. Anderson has agreed to donate the mural to the future owner. According to Hurd, "M.D. Anderson is not requiring payment for the mural, but must approve the specifics of any removal plan submitted to them. In lieu of a purchase cost, the acquiring party will be responsible for the transportation cost of the mural and installation (or storage) costs." A gallery fee will be paid to the Hurd-La Rinconada Gallery in for its role in arranging transfer of the mural.
Based on Hurd's conversation with an art appraiser and conservation experts, the mural is conservatively valued at twice the removal and installation costs.
Various representatives of the local art, business and civic communities have expressed an interest in studying the feasibility of moving the mural to Tulsa. The mural would be a tourist attraction for the city, and could be located in a museum such as Gilcrease or in the newly configured Tulsa Convention Center.
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