The “Subliminalities” student mural, created in 2001 for building L8 in De Anza College’s L Quad, was uncovered last week for the first time since late 2006.

Art students created the outdoor mural in an extracurricular effort using acrylic on wood. After its initial unveiling seven years ago, weather conditions damaged it. In 2006, campus administrators decided to cover it with a blue tarp to prevent further damage.

When it remained covered for over a year, it led many students to believe it was covered for its controversial depiction of revolution and a new world order.

“There was rain damage, and it is in a spot where the sun hits heavily, so there was sun damage also,” said Eugene Rodriguez, the art instructor who headed the mural project.

De Anza is in the process of receiving price quotes for its restoration, and the damage correction will begin soon once the funds are in place, said Vice President of Finance and College Services Jeanine Hawk.

“Subliminalities” was the first mural to be put on a campus building, but it might not be the last. The mural opened the doors for more artwork to be placed around campus.

A second two-part mural, “What Does Justice Look Like?” has been placed on the PE building housing the swimming pool, and this quarter marks the start of a third mural to be placed in the A Quad.

The high demand from students to create more public art caused Rodriguez to institute a mural class, where students work together all quarter creating one mural.

The Art on Campus committee plans to have at least five murals around campus, with Rodriguez heading the classes to create all of them. “We are identifying areas on campus for public art,” said Hawk.

Maura Vidal has been working the L-quad Espresso shop for over five years and says she likes the atmosphere that the Mural adds to the quad. “I think a lot of people don’t know I am here, so if they see the mural they will be attracted to the area and see me making coffee,” she said.

So far, the L-quad mural has not caused any outward displays of discontent.

Art student Jay Collins, who is working on the current mural said, “Our job as artists is to show both reality and hope.”