Colorado Springs, CO
Two WPA murals in the City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa, Colorado Springs were recently restored. They are located in the "lunettes" -- the arched walls above the ticket booths -- in the City Auditorium lobby. Both artists, Tabor Utley and Archie Musick, were members of the Broadmoor Academy (later the Fine Arts Center). Musick's mural is entitled "Hardrock Miners" and depicts the gritty mining industry that created much of the wealth in Colorado Springs. Utley's "The Arts" stands in contrast to Musick's scene as a portrayal of the arts as the foundation of Colorado Springs' "civilized community." The public can view these murals Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the City Auditorium 221 E. Kiowa, or call 385-6581

• http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2004-03-25/cover.html
• http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=738
• email questions about the Auditorium murals

• Cole Junior High School, Denver - located in the library - WPA mural by Kenneth Evett
• Fort Logan Military Base - easel paintings (missing)
• Lowry Air Force Base - easel paintings (missing)
• Fitzsimons General Hospital - easel paintings (missing)
• "The Beet Pickers" by Paul Pianfetti - (owned by artist's family)
• Morey Junior High School, Denver, CO - fountain statue located in the courtyard - "Neptune" by Marvin Martin - (missing)
• Morey Junior High School, Denver, CO - mural located in front hall - "The Picnic" by Pascal Quackenbush - (missing)
• Manual High School (old building) - Arthur Bradley murals - (missing)
• University of Colorado - murals by Pascal Quackenbush and John E. Thompson - (missing)

Colorado's Federal Art Projects, headed by Donald J. Bear, employed 116 artists, including three supervisors.

Golden, CO
Thanks to Rob Witwer who contributed his article, "WPA mural a slice of History," 1-5-05, The Canyon Courier. (see post office chart below)

Most of the Post Office works of art were funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts) and not the WPA.

"Often mistaken for WPA art, post office murals were actually executed by artists working for the Section of Fine Arts. Commonly known as "the Section," it was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. Headed by Edward Bruce, a former lawyer, businessman, and artist, the Section's main function was to select art of high quality to decorate public buildings if the funding was available. By providing decoration in public buildings, the art was made accessible to all people." from "Articles from EnRoute : Off The Wall: New Deal Post Office Murals" by Patricia Raynor

Unless indicated, works of art are located in the US Post Office building.

Source:
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
by Marlene Park & Gerald E. Markowitz

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