March 8 – June 9, 2012
Inspired by New London’s local treasures—the 1938 Post Office murals by Thomas La Farge—America @ Work: New Deal Murals in New London and Beyond features mural studies by La Farge (from the museum’s permanent collection) and other artists working on Roosevelt’s New Deal art projects across the country. Countering the stark realities of life during the Great Depression, the artists express pride in American ingenuity and a belief that economic woes could be overcome through hard work. These works resonate with today’s economic climate as Americans face comparable challenges.
Guest Curated by Barbara Zabel, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Connecticut College.
Cornfield (Preparatory drawing for mural Georgia Countryside, Summerville, Georgia, 1939)
1938
Pencil on Paper
15 ¼ x 18 ½ inches
Courtesy D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc. and the Estate of Doris Lee
Aloft (Preparatory drawing for mural on East wall in New London Post Office)
20th Century
Charcoal on Paper
15 x 71 inches
Gift of Mrs. Thomas LaFarge
Story of Cotton (Mural Study for Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Post Office)
1937
Oil on Canvas
16 ½ x 24 ½ inches
Courtesy D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc. and the Estate of Charles Ward