New Deal Art: A Rich Mix of Programs

 

Above: A WPA poster advertising an exhibition of paintings by William Sommer. Sommer (1867-1949) was a popular artist whose work can be seen today (see here). The poster above was created by WPA artist Stanley Thomas Clough, in Ohio, 1938. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

 

Above: Another poster by WPA artist Stanley Thomas Clough, created in Ohio, circa 1936-1940. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

While trying to find out more information about WPA artist Stanley Thomas Clough, I came upon an interesting document produced by the Cleveland Artists Foundation: "Covering History: Revisiting Federal Art in Cleveland, 1933-1943." Dr. Sharon E. Dean highlights the fact that there were many New Deal art programs, including the Public Works of Art Project; art programs within the Works Progress Administration; the photography project of the Farm Security Administration; and the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture. And, according to Kathleen Duxbury, the Civilian Conservation Corps also had an interesting art program (see here).

There was a rich mix of art programs during the New Deal. Compare that to today, where creativity--especially in the design and decoration of public buildings--is sorely (or completely) lacking.