New Deal/WPA Art in Montana
Post Office New Deal Artwork
Most of the Post Office works of art were funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts) and not the WPA.
"Often mistaken for WPA art, post office murals were actually executed by artists working for the Section of Fine Arts. Commonly known as "the Section," it was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. Headed by Edward Bruce, a former lawyer, businessman, and artist, the Section's main function was to select art of high quality to decorate public buildings if the funding was available. By providing decoration in public buildings, the art was made accessible to all people." from "Articles from EnRoute : Off The Wall: New Deal Post Office Murals" by Patricia Raynor
Unless indicated, works of art are located in the US Post Office building.
Location |
Artist |
Title |
Date |
Medium |
Billings, |
Leo J. Beaulaurier |
"Trailing Cattle" |
1942 |
oil on canvas |
Deer Lodge |
Verona Burkhard |
"James and Granville Stuart Prospecting in Deer Lodge Valley - 1858" |
1939 |
oil on canvas |
Dillon |
Elizabeth Lochrie |
"News from the States" |
1938 |
oil on canvas |
Glasgow |
Forest Hill |
"Montana's Progress" |
1942 |
oil on canvas |
Hamilton |
Henry Meloy |
"Flat Head War Party" |
1942 |
oil on canvas |
|
J. K. Ralston |
"General Sully at Yellowstone" |
1942 |
oil on canvas |
All mural images depicted
on this site are used with permission
of the United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
Source:
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
by Marlene Park & Gerald E. Markowitz
"Made in Montana: Montana's Post Office Murals" by Elizabeth
Mentzer, Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Vol. 53, Number
3 (Autumn 2003) article
(pdf copy of article - 453kb)
© 2004 Nancy Lorance
All Rights Reserved.