“Freedom of Speech” > The Story of The City Club Mural

When The City Club of Cleveland opened its doors to a dazzling new facility on May 12, 2000, all eyes were on the auditorium’s mural, “Freedom of Speech,” the centerpiece of the newly renovated space. Painted for The City Club in 1942 by noted Cleveland artist Elmer Brown, the mural’s sweeping panorama represents the ideals that are the essence of The City Club: justice, freedom, honor and the free exchange of ideas. For more than sixty years, the mural has been a silent observer to the historic events that make up The City Club’s rich and fascinating history.

The restoration
The mural moved several times over the years as The City Club was forced to find new quarters. After the last move in 1981, the mural had to be cut down to accommodate its new space. Sadly, the missing section was lost. The Renovation Committee decided to restore the mural as part of the current renovation, including repainting the missing section. An old photograph of the original mural was used to recreate the missing piece.

A restoration team headed by Gail Berg of Berg and Associates worked for over five months to restore the mural to its current condition. Well-known local artist Gretchen Troibner painted the missing section of the mural, which includes the two men and the lock in the lower left of the painting. Painting conservator Kenneth Be and professional art installer Andy Rock restored and reinforced the fragile masonite panels by attaching wooden planks to the reverse sides. The mural’s panels are installed individually, and can be safely and easily moved in the future if necessary.

About the mural
A social realist painter, Elmer Brown admired the work of Diego Rivera and other Mexican muralists, emulating their robust treatment of the human figure. Several large, muscular men dominate the painting, giving it energy and strength. The mural tells a story through a series of related images. Tablets bearing the Ten Commandments on the upper right seem to “give birth” to the great documents of freedom; the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. A woman holds the scales of Justice, and a speaker stands by a podium expressing his views. “Like the Mexican muralists, Brown often used tightly composed images to include more narrative,” says Berg.

About the artist
Elmer W. Brown (1909 – 1977) came to Cleveland at the age of twenty and studied at the Cleveland School (now the Cleveland Institute of Art). He taught at Karamu House, where he befriended writer Langston Hughes, eventually illustrating some of his books. As an employee of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the early 1940’s, Brown created a series of murals including “Freedom of Speech,” commissioned for The City Club of Cleveland.

Elmer Brown was one of the first African American artists to enjoy critical acclaim from all segments of the community and “Freedom of Speech” has been called the single most important work by a Cleveland-trained black artist.

Brown spent the last 18 years of his career working for American Greetings Corporation.