Public Works of Art Project

Public Works of Art Project. It was a groundbreaking federal relief program established during the Great Depression to employ artists and decorate public buildings. Created under the New Deal and administered by the United States Department of the Treasury, it operated from December 1933 to June 1934. The project is widely regarded as a crucial precursor to the larger Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project and played a seminal role in defining the scope of public art patronage in the United States.

Background and creation

The economic devastation of the Great Depression left thousands of artists, including painters, sculptors, and graphic designers, without patrons or income. Inspired by similar programs like Mexico's mural movement and responding to widespread unemployment, advisors to President Franklin D. Roosevelt advocated for including cultural workers in relief efforts. The program was formally created on December 8, 1933, with funding allocated from the Civil Works Administration. Its primary mandate was to create artworks that would inspire and uplift the public while providing tangible wages to struggling artists, thereby integrating the arts into the national recovery effort spearheaded by the New Deal.

Administration and process

The project was directed by artist and lawyer Edward Bruce, operating from headquarters in Washington, D.C. under the supervision of the Treasury Department. A national committee, which included influential figures like George Biddle and Bruce himself, set overarching policy. Administration was decentralized through sixteen regional committees covering areas such as California, New York, and Illinois, which were responsible for selecting artists and approving projects. Artists were paid weekly wages, not commissioned fees, to complete works for designated public spaces including post offices, public schools, and municipal buildings, with all finished art becoming property of the United States government.

Artworks and themes

Artists produced a vast array of works including murals, easel paintings, sculpture, and prints. The prevailing style was American Scene painting, which encompassed both the gritty urban realism of Social Realism and the nostalgic views of Regionalism. Common themes celebrated American history, local industry, agriculture, and community life, deliberately avoiding overtly modernist or abstract styles deemed inaccessible to the general public. This "Americanism" in art was intended to foster national pride and unity, depicting scenes from the Dust Bowl to bustling cityscapes, thereby creating a visual record of the nation during a pivotal era.

Legacy and impact

The most immediate impact was the employment of over 3,700 artists who created approximately 15,000 works, proving that federal art patronage was viable and valuable. It directly paved the way for the much larger WPA Federal Art Project and influenced subsequent programs like the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture. The project helped democratize art, bringing it into countless communities across the country and legitimizing the artist as a worker. Its model established a lasting precedent for public art funding in the United States, influencing later institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Notable artists and projects

Many artists who later achieved significant fame participated in the initiative. Jackson Pollock created early works, while Diego Rivera's associate Ben Shahn produced powerful social commentaries. Other notable participants included Stuart Davis, Mark Rothko, and Ilya Bolotowsky. Willem de Kooning also worked on the project before gaining renown. A landmark project was the decoration of the Coit Tower in San Francisco, where artists including Victor Arnautoff and Bernard Zakheim executed a famous series of murals depicting California life, which sparked controversy for their perceived radical content. These works remain significant public attractions and historical documents.

Category:New Deal agencies Category:1933 establishments in the United States Category:1934 disestablishments in the United States Category:Art in Washington, D.C.