WPA murals

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Wayne Gallant

Location: Morriston, Florida,
Birthday: April 09

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JANUARY 13, 2009 3:37PM

Rate: 5 Flag

Works Progress Administration (WPA) Art

During the Depression, from 1935 through 1943, the federal government subsidized thousands of American artists. Murals, paintings, and sculptures were all commissioned and paid for by the Works Progress Administration. In this manner, young artists of the Depression era were able to further their craft instead of giving up art to look for “paying” jobs. In the budgets for public buildings erected during 1935-1943, one percent of the money was reserved for decoration. Most WPA oil painters were paid a weekly salary ($22.50) for their work.

So here are some Post Office murals from around the country.

Burns, OR Post Office
(mural located in the Harney County Courthouse)
"Cattle Roundup" - oil on canvas
by Jack Wilkinson (1941)

Way of Life (study for Chelsea, MI Post Office mural)
1938
George Harold Fisher

Threshing Barley

(mural study, Chilton, Wisconsin Post Office)
1939
Charles W. Thwaites

The Underground Railroad

(mural study, Dolgeville, New York Post Office)
ca. 1940
James Michael Newell

Van Ausdals Trading Post

(mural study, Eaton, Ohio Post Office)
1939
Roland Schweinsburg

Falmouth, MA Post Office
"Recapture of Corn Schooner from British" - oil on canvas
by Karl Oberteuffer (1943)

Hamilton, IL Post Office
"On the River" - mural
by Edmund D. Lewandowski - (1941)

Western Town (mural study,
Helper, Utah Post Office)
ca. 1939-1943

Winter Sports

(mural study, Kewaunee, Wisconson Post Office)
1939
Paul Faulkner

Los Banos, CA Post Office
"Early Spanish Caballeros" - tempera
Lew E. Davis (1940)

Tobacco Auction (mural study,
Louisburg, North Carolina Post Office)
ca. 1939
Richard Hay Kenah

Town Store and Post Office (mural study,
Vidalia, Georgia Post Office)
ca. 1938
Daniel Celentano

Transportation of the Mail
mural study, U. S. Post Office Department, Washington, D.C.
1935
Alfred D. Crimi

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wpa, art murals, post office

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Comments

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It would be grand if the new administration includes something like the WPA Arts project, instead of just throwing money at banks.

Wayne Gallant

January 13, 2009 03:39 PM

Yes, I admire these WPA works on the buildings of Rockefeller center among others. We can always use more beauty and art. Thanks for showing us this.

Lea Lane

January 13, 2009 04:02 PM

Jesus, everything is making me cry today. They are beautiful. I wish the powers that be would hire artist to make things beautiful again and give them jobs that utilize their talents.

hyblaean- Julie

January 13, 2009 04:19 PM

I grew up in a house that always had a picture of FDR hanging somewhere in it and he died nearly nine years before I was born. His influence will still be felt in this country 100 years from now. God bless him.