WPA Projects - Philadelphia & environs

[Colin P. Varga]

I was thinking about the WPA and some of the painters and paintings from this period. What came to my mind was the Upper Baugh Gallery in the U. Penn Museum which had a WPA piece on the ceiling which were Sumerian constellations to go with the items on exhibit. Of course they were painted over but I did see B&W photos of them. I know the U Mu has someone that posts here, could they post photos of these? Does anyone remember these?

I was curious as to other WPA pieces in Philly.

[Jayfar]

The granite bas relief carvings on the exterior of the 9th St Post Office/Courthouse building were WPA sponsored.

[CHIOSSO]

post office, at 9th and Dickinson in Philadelphia. Painted in 1938, it was signed, but I could only make out "Robert L. La..."

[Mr Morley]

post office, at 9th and Dickinson in Philadelphia. Painted in 1938, it was signed, but I could only make out "Robert L. La..."

That was the first one that came to mind. I've always wondered if it originally wrapped around over the counter area as well.

I'm pretty sure there's a book on the subject of WPA murals, but from what I remember, they were done under and for so many different agencies that there's no complete records.

I'm going to check this out: New Deal/WPA Art Project

Edit: well, there we go: the South PO mural was done "Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts) and not the WPA" by Robert E. Larter.

[Hector]

It's not a mural or public art, but in the Free Library's collection of maps of Philadelphia are some WPA works. The 1942 street map of the city fascinates me. Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network And, by the way, Mr. Varga, thank you for the diary and photos you submitted last week.

[CHIOSSO]

RobertELarter

[Colin P. Varga]

It's not a mural or public art, but in the Free Library's collection of maps of Philadelphia are some WPA works. The 1942 street map of the city fascinates me. Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network And, by the way, Mr. Varga, thank you for the diary and photos you submitted last week.

You are quite welcome.

[CHIOSSO]

The granite bas relief carvings on the exterior of the 9th St Post Office/Courthouse building were WPA sponsored.

PHILADELPHIA - February 6, 2010 -- All postal operations have been suspended in our area because of the snow.
That announcement covers Philadelphia, the suburbs, all of Delaware and New Jersey south of Trenton.

All postal operations, retail and delivery, are suspended.

Normal operations will resume Monday, the post office said.

[Mr Morley]

The granite bas relief carvings on the exterior of the 9th St Post Office/Courthouse building were WPA sponsored.

Actually, based on the link I posted earlier, all the WPA-style artwork for the Post Offices actually came through the Treasury Department, under a program they ran:

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.

Pennsylvania New Deal Art

Like I said, we tend to think of all this Social Realist art as "WPA", but only a small portion of it was actually created by or funded through the WPA.

When we do talk about WPA art in this region, the WPA Guide to Philadelphia should come up, as should the Rivers of America Series.

One of the early volumes in that series The Brandywine, is important in regional art history, as it represents Andrew Wyeth's first paid commission. (I just scored another copy; I made the mistake of selling the first one I had).