"A Raising in Early New Jersey" Mural- Washington N.J.

Art Survives Adversity
In 1935 during the Great Depression the Works Progress administration was created to relieve the economic burden of American citizens who were suffering, Among others, this program employed over 5000 artists during the years it was in place and created nearly a quarter of a million pieces of artwork. Although a great deal of that artwork is lost to us now, Its legacy lives on and a testament to the American governments at the time who had the foresight to keep the art alive.

The Following is a mural called "A Raising in Early New Jersey" Painted in the Washington New Jersey Post office. This Painting was completed in 1940. By a local artist named Frank D. Shapiro an internet source tells me it is Oil on Canvas

The Post office itself was built in 1939
Beyond that physical limitation I feel that the piece speaks very well for the time. The image depicts Colonial Americans Raising a Barn or a house. A building of something new for the young family set to inhabit it. Shapiro would paint something peaceful during a time when the world was on the brink of war, Just the past Year Germany invaded Poland and World War II was to begin. Though the conflict was far from the United States at the time It was only 11 years earlier that the First World war ended and soon enough, maybe Frank speculated, we would be at war again, so let me paint something of substance that will perhaps make swords back into plowshares in the minds of those who gaze upon this piece in years to come, let them remember not the war that was ravaging Europe but have them think upon a time when there was no war. And the only trouble to be had was a rainy day slowing down the work. And let my piece also be a testament to the Government program that is putting food on my table right now, let me show Americans hard at work building America as we are now rebuilding her.


Research By: David Brandes

Photographs by David Brandes

Photograph 1 Courtesy of anonymous his “Flikr” name is jimmywayne22








For other similiar art works-murals in New Jersey Go To to:http://www.wpamurals.com/newjersy.htm

Mural, Stockton, N.J. By: William "Billy" Selesnick

Stockton, New Jersey is quaint town located along the Delaware River, just across from Upper Bucks County, PA. The Mural is located at 13 Bridge Street and North Railroad Avenue on the Via Ponte Trattoria, Italian Restaurant. Just another reason to visit the area.

Artist: William "Billy" Selesnick.

For his biography and to view many of his famous works of art go to:

ADDITIONAL MURALS go To:

http://selesnick.com/mu_000.htm

http://selesnick.com/index.html

http://selesnick.com/bio.htm

Photograph By: John J. Kuczynski

Secret Garden, By Adrienne Crombie, Frenchtown NJ

These paintings are located on Harrison Street on the corner of Bridge Street, Frenchtown, Hunterdon, New Jersey. They are painted on the exterior of #29 Bridge Street. The artist utilized what appeared to be a former window and doorway to Harrison Street. The artist was able to incorporate the mural/paintings into the brick exterior providing depth, and dimension to the composition.

Artist: Adrienne Crombie

Town: Frenchtown, NJ

Year: 1998

Materials: acrylic on primed cement








To view Additional


Murals :http://www.muralsandmoldings.com/wall-murals.htm

Link to artist website:


http://www.muralsandmoldings.com/

Artists's Comments:

Inspiration:

I had recovered from Guillaime Barre Syndrome and moved back to my hometown at age forty. I had a vision of a healing garden and started collecting photos and imagery that corresponded with my vision. I met the owner of the building at 31 Bridge Street, David Miller, and told him what I wanted to do. We took got approval from the Planning Board to paint the mural because it was designedto camouflage an existing eyesore on the building (a door that had been removed at an earlier date and bricked over.) Dave had a mason create a smooth surface for me over the brick and I painted the mural in the summer of 1998. I feel I have contributed something to the town that is deeply appreciated, expresses my love of nature and will endure.


My bio can be found on our website.http://www.muralsandmoldings.com

Mural City of Pittsburgh, P.A., The Strip District

The scale of this mural is enormous.

Located in the Famous Strip District. The Strip District was formally the factory, warehouse/packing district vital to Pittsburgh's commerce.

The Strip hosts now open markets, Open Stage Theater, Arts, and Dining.
The Strip District is a prime example of urban renewal. This mural can be see as you travel Northeast into the district on Penn Avenue. The mural incorporatesthe theme that Pittsburgh is also known as the "City of Bridges". There is only one other city Venice, Italy that has more bridges.
Photograph by John J. Kuczynski, November 9th, 2008.

The Farnsworth House, Bordentown, New Jersey

The Farnsworth House located on Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown (City) NJ.
Attached is a picture of an al fresco mural painted on the side of a restaurant, The Farnsworth House. The current owner had this painted in 1995 to provide coverage for the side of the building, and also as marketing for the restaurant. Bordentown is a very historical city and the owner wanted to mural to reflect this. Peter Beiling, the artist, put this mural together using a rendition of Thomas Farnsworth. Thomas Farnsworth was a Quaker and acquired land in 1682 in Farnsworth Landing. This is now known as Bordentown. Since a picture of Thomas Farnsworth couldn't be found, the artist used what he considered to be Quaker. Rumor has it he may have used the picture from teh Quaker Oats box, but that can't be confirmed. The second picture is just a closer image of the bottom of the mural, featuring the city of Bordentown.
Photographed by:Christine Lachmanowicz