Sep 4, 2016

Celebrating Labor Day

Mural 
This is one of many murals painted by artists across the country as part of the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1934 to 1943 to celebrate the range and energy of the American labor force. 

If you're not familiar with the Federal Art Project category of the WPA's efforts at rebuilding the nation as we came out of the Great Depression -- or even if you are and haven't seen examples in a while -- you can find a lot of information online. And, you can find an 11-image slideshow here from The New York Times. 

Here in Rensselaer County, the main U.S. Post Office on Broadway in Troy has such art on its lobby walls. Seen below are "Legends of the Hudson" and "Rip Van Winkle," both painted in 1938 by Waldo Pierce.
Legends


Rip



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