Administration Building, Eastern New Mexico University

The Administration Building was the first building to be used when the school opened in 1934 as Eastern New Mexico Junior College.

Several pieces of artwork can be found in this building. The Administration Building boasts a large mural painted under the WPA in 1936 by Lloyd Moylan title "The 12th Chapter of Ecclesiastes". An additional mural by Moylan faces it across the hall but is not a WPA work. The abstract mural "Art" by Raymond Jonson is displayed in this building, and it's companion piece "Science" is housed in the Golden Student Success Center.

For the initial structure, only the western side of the building was constructed. Though it was built to be the administration for the first college in the eastern part of New Mexico, the Great Depression paused the creation of the college. When the time came to open the school, hay had to be cleaned out of the building because it had been used as a barn in the interim. The central and eastern sections of the building were then constructed, providing the balanced structure you see today.^[1] The Public Works Administration made a grant of $87,636 and a loan of $46,000 to extend the building with the current central and eastern wings.

Two years later, Lloyd Moylan was hired under the supervision of Vernon Hunter, state director of the Federal Arts Project, to paint a mural in the large central staircase, and the materials for the mural were donated by an anonymous lover of art.^[2][3] In 1998, professional art conservator Dr. Duane Chartier was hired to conduct a conservation/stabilization project on the mural while working with Dr. Pat Rucker, Dean of the ENMU Fine Arts Department.^[4]

Two abstract murals were painted and also planned to be displayed as a pair in the Administration Building. Raymond Jonson painted "Art" and "Science" in 1937. As of 2022, "Art" is still housed in the Administration Building, but "Science" has been moved to the Golden Student Success Building.

^[1] Flynn, Kathryn A.. Public Art and Architecture in New Mexico 1933-1943: A Guide to the New Deal Legacy. Santa Fe, NM. Sunstone Press, 2012.

^[2] "Bible Passages Theme for Gigantic Mural Being Executed at College." The Portales Daily News (Portales) January 12th 1939. Vol. 4 no. 98, page 1.

^[3] "Work of Art Students of Junior College On Exhibit at Semi-Annual Tea." The Portales Daily News (Portales) January 16th 1939. Vol. 4 no. 100, page 5.

^[4] "Protecting Fine Art Subject of Presentation." Portales News-Tribune (Portales) August 30th 1998. Vol. 42 no. 173 ed, B sec.3.