Wednesday, February 3, 2010

2 local art institutions revisit art from 1934

1934... The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and war in Europe. This was also the year that Frankin Roosevelt's administration established the Public Works of Art Project. (Remember the movie "The Cradle Will Rock" about the similar Federal Theater Project, set around this time?) This month, both the Frick Art and Historical Center and the Westmoreland Museum of Art are exhibiting art created in 1934. The Frick has a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Westmoreland will have an exhibit from the private collection of Jason Schoen.

The Public Works of Art Program was the first federal government program to support the arts nationally. The program payed artists to embellish public buildings and maintain America's spirit in a difficult time through their work.

Link to a slide show of works from the exhibit at the Frick, 1934: A New Deal for Artists:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanartmuseum/sets/72157613558866320/show/

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