New Deal/WPA Art in Rhode Island
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 |
|
|
Paul Sample |
"Apponaug Fishermen" |
1942 |
oil on canvas |
|
|
Eugene Kingman |
"The Hurricane," "Seeconk River," "East Providence," "The Map," and "After the Storm" |
1939 |
oil on the wall |
|
|
Raymond Barger |
"After the Storm," "Eagle," "Transportation," and "Distribution of the Mail" |
1940 |
stone |
|
Wakefield |
Ernest Hamlin Baker |
"Activities of the Narragansett Planters" |
1940 |
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
Hoxsie - Lakeside Sanitarium - WPA project (from "Federal Art in New England")
Kingstown - Rhode Island State College - WPA project (from "Federal Art in New England")
Providence:
Public Library - WPA project (from "Federal
Art in New England")
Providence Tuberculosis League - WPA project
(from "Federal Art in New England")
© 2006 Nancy Lorance
All Rights Reserved.