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ART of the WPA ERA FROM collectors of THE SAN DIEGO REGION
Art of the WPA
ERA
Exhibit dates: January 28 through March
19, 2006 Artwork created during
the WPA era mirrored a period in American history when the country
was attempting to recover from hard times. Many artists contributed
to this effort and their work remains as an artistic reminder of
the hope and promise of the era. Curated by Bram Dijkstra.
Alfred Mitchell - El Capitan Dam - ca.1930
Artwork created during the WPA era mirrored a period in American
history when the country was attempting to recover from hard times.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a government program
enacted by executive order during the Depression to revitalize the
economy. Many artists contributed to this effort and their work
remains as an artistic reminder of the hope and promise of the era.
WPA artists received meager compensation for producing images that
depicted the nation’s progress and social concerns related
to their regional location. Many murals were completed as part of
the WPA program, as well as paintings, sculpture and architecture.
Artists that qualified for the WPA program were recognized professionals
who were unemployed at the time. Never before or since has the United
States government taken such an extraordinary measure to protect
the role of the arts in the nation’s life. Although much of
the art of the WPA era was destroyed when the politics of the country
changed, many fine examples still exist in the San Diego region.
The regional focus of the exhibition reflects OMA’s mission
to exhibit and collect the art of the San Diego region.
Curator Bram Dijkstra has drawn from several noted collections in
the area that will bring to prominence the legacy of artists like
Belle Baranceanu and Phil Dike. Dijkstra is
professor emeritus of comparative literature at the University of
California, San Diego and author of several books, most recently,
American Expressionism: Art and Social Change, 1920-1950.
A nationally recognized scholar and art historian, Dijkstra
presented an illustrated lecture and discussion on Thursday, February
16th at the museum.
