4 10 261 https://openvalley.org/files/original/ffc26dc648fb565efc9f0902061ecb73.jpg 3ce769b9ab397a274a58fa8f808389fa https://openvalley.org/files/original/ea506b94a518a7dd392040a7dd5a3b37.jpg 0b6c4c5ffd2036609749263f1d73c4b0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Oil on canvas Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Canvas: 29 1/2 x 23 1/2  Frame:  37 1/4 x 31 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bronx River and County Center, White Plains Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Worrall, W[illiam] H[enry], 1860-1939 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Nicaj, Angelea (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 815 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 2 MB jpeg, 1.2 MB Description An account of the resource Bronx River and County Center, White Plains is a scenic oil painting overlooking the eponymous landmarks the title suggests. Jumping past the absence of a foreground into the middle ground, half of the painting’s composition is taken up by billowing, soft trees to the left. To the right, in the distant background, lies the skyline of White Plains. Worrall uses the rule of thirds to divide existing nature and excavation of it for this city-adjacent community. Lying at the lower third of the painting is the Bronx River, reflecting both the closer, taller building and the trees in its clear, blue water. Above it is an even brighter sky from a cloudy sky, blanketing the painting in a comforting negative space. The painting has approached the scene with a unique tenderness, especially in the motion and texture of the trees, water, and grass. Color is used sparingly, Worrall limiting his palette to a selection of cool tones and a variation of green and blue. Much of the contrast is in the shadow cast by the trees, whereas the rest of the painting relies on midtones, achieving an overall calming, serene landscape just barely out of reach. About the Artist W.H. Worrall, born William Henry Worrall in Poughkeepsie, NY, was an American painter who spent brief moments in the limelight. Little is known about him, although his work was exhibited at the New York State Historical Association at Ticonderoga on June 13th, 1935, where an apparent series of his works depicting domestic labor tools, including cheese-making, spinning and weaving, and candle-making were displayed. This seems to be the only record of his exhibitions, although he worked as a professional illustrator, including projects like William H. Carson’s novel <a href="https://archive.org/details/fool00cars/page/n8/mode/thumb?q=%22w+h+worrall%22">The Fool</a> (1902) and drawings for <a href="https://archive.org/details/sim_field-stream_1901-01_5_12/mode/1up?q=%22w+h+worrall%22">Field and Stream</a>. His activities outside of art are captured on news articles, such as The Lake Placid News and The Adirondack Record, covering some of his life interests. He was a man who loved the outdoors and was active in several communities, drawing open-air scenes and often credited for participation in conventions for young working men, like the YMCA and Rochester Public Health Association. His was the first individual contribution to the Daily Reporter’s Summer Camp Fund, funding several boys’ outdoor experiences. As far as education, Worrall attended the Art Students League. Despite his obscurity, his death was noted in The New York Times, where he was referred to as a widowed water-color artist who favored landscapes. Like his grandfather William Henry Worrall, a pioneer settler of Poughkeepsie with whom he shared a name, this painter was a lover of the Hudson Valley. He passed away at White Plains Hospital from a heart ailment on October 8th, 1939. Works Consulted: “Water-Color Landscape Artist of White Plains Was 79” (New York Times 8 Oct. 1939: 49); W.H. Worrall, “But Now the Pack Are Upon Him” (Field and Stream Jan. 1901: 721) <a href="https://archive.org/details/sim_field-stream_1901-01_5_12/page/721/mode/1up">Link</a>; William Henry Carson, The Fool (1902) <a href="https://archive.org/details/fool00cars/page/n8/mode/1up">Link</a>. Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Federal Art Project New Deal Museum Painter W.H. Worrall https://openvalley.org/files/original/60eb7e04c296f2a7d5091e3480d7c57d.jpg 4421116368f20085a1aa47846e2dafb1 https://openvalley.org/files/original/5932d6c9d6436e718651c21df73f3d06.jpg 1e806769ea169d39fdda02bfd8f4b04a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Lithograph on paper Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Image: 11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. Frame: 18 x 15 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource I Am an American Description An account of the resource A Black man in an all-black suit, paired with a top hat just off center in the foreground of the image, pushes a loaded cart down what seems to be an alley. The cart sports two miniature American flags at the end, and the three-wheeled wagon’s path points perpendicular to the road and directly toward the audience, suggesting an unstable control over the man’s own belongings. There are too many obstacles--even the piece’s heavily imbued texture works to visually chip away at the man’s effort--but despite the difficulties, the title suggests this stubborn man persists, perhaps commenting on the “true American” qualities of the working class. He pays no mind to the only other person in the image, a crouched homeless woman who sits outside a small domicile, just behind the American. Perhaps Steth is paradoxically noting the “rugged individualism” mentality that comes with perceived American success. From his shaggy, worn coat, to his asymmetrical top hat, down to his patriotic display, he remains diligent about appearances. He wheels his cart down the uneven, textured path of the road, heaving his body forward in an asymmetrical tilt to gain leverage. The contrast in the man’s suit and his environment centers him and further brings to light his futile action. Neither suit nor patriotic homages will grant him a place in the eyes of America’s racial majority. About the Artist Raymond Steth was an African American graphic artist born into a working-class farming family in Norfolk, Virginia before moving to Pennsylvania. He spent much of his childhood in North Carolina, where he worked on the farm his uncle sharecropped. In 1938, he began working for the graphics division of the Federal Art Project, where he shared a studio with colleague <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Clark">Claude Clark</a>, one of several artists Steth worked and exhibited alongside of. This allowed him the experience to work as a professional artist; he later furthered his education by attending the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art in 1941 and the Barnes Foundation in 1942. While working for the W.P.A., Steth made social realist prints and drawings depicting labor, poverty, and culture all intersecting with the Black experience in America. As in his lithograph <a href="https://www.philamuseum.org/objects/46659?keyword=Memberships" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I Am an American</a>, he can be seen both sympathetically and ironically depicting the abundant life and struggles of African American communities. <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/372049" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apostolic</a>, another lithograph, illustrates a lively room of black people rejoicing and praying, depicting, or even mocking, the importance of faith in African American identity, while highlighting communal uplifting and joy. <a href="https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/heaven-mule-23025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heaven on a Mule</a> is a scene of an impoverished family’s encounter with angels, commenting on how although religion may offer this family solace, it alone cannot change their circumstances. Fittingly, he was raised under the Pentecostal faith, being told by his mother and especially his aunt--who was an active participant and official at their church--that he could someday become great if he did as they told, went to church, and prayed. His works were exhibited at the Library of Congress in 1940, the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago in 1941, and Fort Huachuca in Arizona in 1943. Some of Steth’s prints were given to the Philadelphia Free Public Library in 1941, recognizing his usage of the carborundum print process invented by fellow Black artist, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dox_Thrash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dox Thrash</a>, that allowed for wider range and texture of tones in black and white, and thus depiction of varying black skin. Steth was the first to use the double print method for making color prints on a burnished plate. Steth also founded and directed the Philographic School of Art in 1948. Whether Steth remained religious in his later years as his family members advised, he certainly became an influential American artist in his time. 14 works at <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/372052" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Metropolitan Museum of Art</a>. 14 works at the <a href="https://collections.newarkmuseumart.org/search/steth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newark Museum of Art</a>. 8 at <a href="https://www.philamuseum.org/collection?artist=Raymond%20Steth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia Museum of Art</a>. 6 at <a href="https://www.slam.org/collection/constituents/2816/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saint Louis Art Museum</a>. 2 works at the <a href="https://www.nga.gov/artists/34307-raymond-steth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Gallery of Art</a>. Works Consulted: “Art Exhibit Comes to Philly,” The Villanovan (16 Feb 1990: 21) <a href="https://archive.org/details/villanovan65_01_reel01/page/n259/mode/1up?q=%22raymond+steth%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; “New Carborundum Print Process,” New York Age 1940 (Tuskegee Institute News Clippings) <a href="https://archive.org/details/per_tuskegee-institute-news-clippings-file_inventions_1940/page/n14/mode/1up?q=%22raymond+steth%22." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; Jerry Wood, “A New Print Process” (The Crisis Dec. 1940: 379+) <a href="https://archive.org/details/sim_crisis_the-crisis_1940-12_47_12/page/378/mode/1up?q=%22raymond+steth%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; Synatra Smith, “Raymond Steth” (Philadelphia Museum of Art 14 April 2022) <a href="https://philamuseum.libguides.com/blog/Raymond-Steth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; Marge Kline, “Clip of Oral History Interview With Raymond Steth” (Archives of American Art 28 April 1990) <a href="https://collections.si.edu/search/detail/edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_213643?q=steth%2C+raymond&record=4&hlterm=steth%2C%2Braymond." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; Lowery Stokes Sims, “Artists for Victory and the WPA at the Met: Catalytic Acquisitions of Work by African American Artists in the Early 1940s (115-121 in Denise Murrell, The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, 2024) <a href="https://archive.org/details/the-harlem-renaissance-and-transatlantic-modernism/page/114/mode/1up?q=%22raymond+steth%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>.   Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Steth, Raymond (1917-1997) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Nicaj, Angelea (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 1514 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 2.1 MB jpeg, 892 KB Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image African American Federal Art Project Great Depression lithograph Raymond Steth https://openvalley.org/files/original/8a5585bb8bfe612d3d0071f74da39610.jpg bdc1e421b738e3c2a54fe45befac35c1 https://openvalley.org/files/original/023df2ac26c9eceffc2815ba75efdb57.jpg 7896f5a007cbd3d4ad914d1155d94ded Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Lithograph on paper Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Window: 10 1/4 × 12 1/2 in Sheet: 11 3/8 × 15 7/8 in. Mat: 18 × 20 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 1.9 MB jpeg, 925 KB Title A name given to the resource Garment Workers Description An account of the resource Blacks and grays are used to create a scene of women working in a factory at sewing machines. Birkin uses this monochrome palette to create a sense of weariness: no light comes in through the dark windows, leaving miserly electric lights inside to shine down on the employees and their work. This dramatic disparity in lighting gives us the impression that they have spent hours inside the factory to earn what they can. Despite a feeling of weariness that the darkness conjures, there is also a strange calmness to the print, despite what would be a noisy and hectic factory. A grid of electric cords separates viewers from the workers, almost like looking in through a window. There is also a separation of the workers as well, through these wires as well as the lighting. We pick out individual workers and see them separately, rather than as a connected unit. While it's dark outside, the women do not seem to be panicked or worried about the passing time. They are calmly and stoically doing the work that needs to be done. About the Artist Born in Philadelphia, PA, Birkin was a talented artist who created pieces in many different styles and mediums. His studies kept him near home during the 1930s, learning first at the Fleischer Memorial Graphic Sketch Club for six years before attending the Philadelphia Museum College of Art. This education gave him a solid foundation in muralism, drawing, and painting; by 1939 he was exhibiting his tempera painting, Cotton Pickers, at the New York World’s Fair. Birkin was employed by the Federal Arts Project between 1940 and 1942. He worked in watercolors, oils, and prints, exhibiting mostly in the Philadelphia area: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Free Library, United Artists Gallery, Civic Theater, and various private galleries. Birkin also designed and painted several murals—at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Fort Meade, MD; at the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens; and one entitled “Juarez and Lincoln” at the Navy Department Building in Mexico City—none of which still exist, so far as we know. Over the next forty years, he continued both his own education (a master’s in fine arts from Temple University in 1952) and taught high school students in New Jersey for more than twenty years. Birkin’s works were shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Academy, and the Brooklyn Museum, along with various one-many shows at the Morris Gallery, New York. A detailed appreciation and extensive gallery of Birkin’s art is available at a <a href="https://www.mortonbirkin.com/">website</a> created by his son, David Birkin. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Birkin, Morton (1919-1984) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Secor, Caleb (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 190 Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Art Education Federal Art Project Morton Birkin https://openvalley.org/files/original/2070ad95bdeda96f7e333abbbfe17e29.jpg 21789ddee626e08c9af37a8e3f80907e https://openvalley.org/files/original/7afb48705013c1f260e4bb2fe2b13f51.jpg fecf7a901ab806c562b13b6c5cacafe8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Oil on canvas painting Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 36 x 30 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Evening in Crotona Park Description An account of the resource A tree serves as the central focus for this piece, dividing the left and right of the portions of Alshets’ painting. Its setting is Crotona Park, in the Bronx. The narrower left side of the painting shows a road going into the distance and vanishing; the road heading to the right past the tree holds most of the action, with people walking and biking through the park underneath electric lights—still a new innovation during the 1930s. Evening in Crotona Park is painted in a darker palette, with details fading out the deeper into the painting you go. In the foreground near the tree are two people, a man and a woman, sitting on the grass and talking to one another. The brushstrokes in this painting are light, in the upper portion used to give an impression of dim moonlight filtering in through the cloudy sky. This piece shows a calm evening and evokes a sense of community and peace, one that Alshets himself may have felt about the park since he lived nearby. He offers us a few moments there ourselves, under the electric lights. About the Artist Alshets was an artist for the Federal Arts Project based in New York, having immigrated from Sheffield, England as a young child. Although we know a several of his artworks, and even have <a href="https://openvalley.org/items/show/2105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a photograph</a> of him painting Deserted Farm (1938), there is little more about the man who created them. Historical records indicate a large family, including a twin sister, and a toymaker father who struggled financially. We also can trace how his paintings, through the FAP, travelled across the United States. In 1941 his painting <a href="https://openvalley.org/files/original/05b061aa9e6a60ee712e5e1ff65893af.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tri Boro Bridge</a> was exhibited at the the Salt Lake City Art Center and praised by the local newspaper as a lively scene reminiscent of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Marsh_(artist)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reginald Marsh</a>. That same painting appeared a few months later in Oregon, at the Salem Arts Center, where a reviewer thought that it showed a good understanding of the average American. Deserted Farm traveled to the Federal Art Gallery in Chicago; a still life traveled to Bradenton, FL. Unfortunatelyartists like Alshets are everywhere: gifted people who created art but never had anyone to record the day to day of their life. 12 images at <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-1-folder-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAP</a>. <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-1-folder-20"></a> Works Consulted:<a href="https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/202030969/person/212637303668/facts?_phsrc=xnF179&_phstart=successSource" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alshets Family Tree</a>, Ancestry.com; “Center Group Illustrates Realistic Art”( Salt Lake City Tribune 24 Feb. 1941: 9); “Art Center Notes” (Salem Statesman Journal (22 Jun. 1941: 12). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alshets, Simon (1908 - ?) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Secor, Caleb (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 20137 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 2.2 MB jpeg, 1.2 MB Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Crotona Park Federal Art Project Landscape Art New Deal Museum painting Simon Alshets https://openvalley.org/files/original/10af718ee26a938eecde964ac2e54541.jpg 075fb7cb2065d0153e7ba7a50618a117 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Photograph Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 10 x 8 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Simon Alshets at Easel Description An account of the resource The Federal Art Project sometimes photographed "artists at easels" in order to publicize that WPA program. Here, Alshets is shown at work on his oil painting Deserted Landscape. Because it traveled to Chicago for an exhibit in the Federal Art Gallery in that city, the photograph may have been conceived deliberately. Very little is known about Alshets himself, beyond a few striking artworks created during the late 1930s. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pollard, [Aubrey] Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938-08-22 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Archives of American Art Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection, circa 1920-1965, bulk 1935-1942 <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-1-folder-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box 1, Folder 20: Alshets, Simon, 1936-1941</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 656 KB Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Federal Art Project Painter Photo Simon Alshets https://openvalley.org/files/original/33e909e45b367c50c1bf6307da602eb5.jpg 1d85511103c531c299b3e19d6a9091ad https://openvalley.org/files/original/0a8bdaabaf8183552f9d194a524e719d.jpg 4749772f22cd83867ced1642c86232b6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Oil on canvas painting Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Canvas: 23 1/2 × 19 1/2 in. Frame: 31 1/4 × 27 1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gladioli Description An account of the resource Witten’s still-life painting depicts a vase of gladioli flowers with a framed nude portrait set next to and slightly behind the vase. The exact year of production is unknown, like much of Witten’s personal history. The flowers are bright red and gold, a sharp contrast to the deep blue-green vase and light green wall. The nude portrait shows a woman on her knees looking downward, apparently posing next to the edge of a bed. Her body language is soft, inviting comparison to the flowers.  Our immediate focal point is the flower vase, particularly its bright red flowers: most of them seemingly lean towards the portrait, creating a line of attention across the piece. By utilizing a contrast of hues and saturations, Witten also invites juxtaposition of the portrait and its surroundings. The pale figure, posed against a deep blue background and cool-hued colors, contrasts the warm-hued colors of its framing room. This shifts the initial focal point towards the picture frame and away from the flowers. Witten’s technique gives the painting a soft, romantic feeling. The visual brushstrokes and soft linework make the work feel familiar but not distinct, as though Witten were portraying a memory. About the Artist Mabel Alice Mary Azure was born in London, her exact birth year unknown, to an English father and Spanish mother. After the early passing of her parents, Witten attended an all-girls private school in Hampshire, England, thanks to family wealth.  During this time, she met her husband, George Walter Bond Witten, whom she married in 1912. George Witten was not only a writer, but also an army Major. The newlywed couple moved to New York, staying for a short time before relocating to Florida, where they remained the rest of their lives. She got the nickname “Bunty” from her husband and used it as a professional name throughout her career.  Witten spent a great deal of time on education. She attended 8 years of school in the U.S., some of them spent at the Metropolitan Art School of New York, one year in a school in England and another in Paris. She is mostly known as a painter, but also sketched, illustrated and created cartoons and personal portraits. Her illustrations appeared in books such as <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33333023737766&seq=7">A Merry Menagerie</a> (1924), <a href="https://archive.org/details/sim_parents_1928-02_3_2/mode/1up">Children: The Magazine for Parents</a> (1928) and <a href="https://openvalley.org/items/show/1332">Rip Darcy, Adventurer</a> (1938). In Florida, she helped run the Pen and Brush Club, later renamed The Galleon: A Pen and Pencil Club. She was a chair of the club and used her interior design skills to make the club space a gorgeous spot for artists and creators to create a better world for art and literature. Witten passed in 1968, an obituary determining her age to be 74, although her original birth year is unknown. Works Consulted: Paul Guzzo, “Crabby Bill’s CEO honors family’s benefactor” (Stuart News 29 Aug. 2021: 26A); Lillian Blackstone, “Artist and Husband Forget Their Proposed Trip to Guatemala As Soon as They Reach Here" (Tampa Bay Times 30 April 1939: 14); “Obituaries.” (Tampa Bay Times 18 Nov. 1968: 17); “Pen and Brush Club is Now Organized in St. Augustine" (St. Augustine Record 19 Jan. 1924: 1); “‘The Galleon’ New Name for Writers’ and Artists’ Club” (St. Augustine Record 23 Jan. 1924: 1). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Witten, Bunty (1895? - 1968) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource c.1935 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Pasiak, Olivia (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 826 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 2 MB jpeg, 1.2 MB Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Bunty Witten Federal Art Project New Deal Museum painting still life https://openvalley.org/files/original/1fcf5d209e71f3a950b62fa2b013541e.jpg 3ebf94a2c3030a48bd25123fe046f124 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Lithograph Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Image: 11.5 x 9.75 in. Framed: 21 x 17 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Balcony Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 2.1 MB Description An account of the resource Anchel’s lithograph depicts a large balcony appearing to be located in a theater. Figures stand above and below it, all in groups except for one. Most of the figures hold happy or neutral expressions, whereas the lone figure is almost brooding. He looms over the edge of the balcony, looking below. The balcony and ceiling are not rendered in a uniform perspective; they curve and seem to create a bubble around the second floor. The linear quality of the piece parallels its architecture: railings, windows, and building edges create a geometric framework that contrasts with and surrounds the organic shapes of the human figures. Anchel draws our focus towards the private balcony, his line work flowing towards isolated box seats at lower right. The value of the figures is much darker than the rest of the work, emphasizing their faces against the background. This private section sits closer to the stage, in contrast to a bunched group, at lower left, on the theater’s lower level. “Balcony’s” asymmetry and theme of isolation may have resonated with feelings of uncertainty during this era, reflecting confusion and loneliness in a place that represents collective enjoyment. If “All the world’s a stage,” as Shakespeare suggested, we never see the drama to which Anchel’s audience is reacting. About the Artist Anchel Harold Rosenberg was born in 1912 on the lower east side of Manhattan, New York City. He was artistic from a young age, creating many pieces for his mother as a teenager before attending the National Academy of Design, 1930-32. Anchel joined the innovative <a href="https://www.americandanceguild.org/ndghistory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Dance Group</a> in 1932, founded by six Jewish women whose motto became “Dance is a Weapon of the Class Struggle.” He performed in pieces with titles like On the Barricade and Hunger. Anchel joined the WPA in 1937, forced to drop his last name and switch the others since only two family members could apply: thereafter, he was Harold Anchel. He joined as one of the youngest employees at the FAP’s Graphic Arts Division, developing a dramatically composed, high-contrast style for depicting ordinary people in works like “Cafeteria”, “City Playground” and “Summer Afternoon.” His background in dance made him especially sensitive to the power of physical gesture. Anchel also executed at least one work for the FAP’s Index of American Design, entitled “Hitching Post.” In 1943, Anchel was drafted for the Second World War, assigned to paint insignias on buildings and planes. He was later relocated to Walterboro, SC where he utilized puppets to teach camouflage techniques. After WWII his style transformed from stark, black-and-white lithographs to<a href="https://david-anchel.format.com/5754895-40-s-and-50-s-paintings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> abstract paintings</a>. Anchel’s works were exhibited in the Miami Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art and the Riverside Museum in New York throughout the 1960’s. Anchel passed in 1980. 63 works at <a href="https://art.gsa.gov/artists/824/harold-anchel/objects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GSA Fine Arts Collection</a>. 17 works at <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?q=Harold+Anchel&searchField=ArtistCulture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Metropolitan Museum of Art</a>. 2 works at <a href="https://americanart.si.edu/artist/harold-anchel-89" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian American Art Museum</a>. 6 images at <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-1-folder-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAP</a>. Works Consulted: “Also Anchel Abstracts: Neijna Sculpture Exhibit Opening” Miami Herald 8 Nov. 1959: 121. A special thank you to David Anchel for his website <a href="https://david-anchel.format.com/homepage-gallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Art of Harold Anchel</a>. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Anchel, Harold (1912-1980) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource c. 1935 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Pasiak, Olivia (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography0 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 271 Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Federal Art Project Harold Anchel lithograph New Deal Museum https://openvalley.org/files/original/458151059727d7faefe395e2bc0a2ea4.jpg ac53f27af5ee69e554fd97a00ba5ed76 https://openvalley.org/files/original/0734b16e39a9dff1d3f7c930d34164c3.jpg b17e327a682a6676630b9e13a6755f5c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Lithograph Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Christmas Trees Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dwight, Mabel (1876-1955) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 1.9 MB jpeg, 1.9 MB Description An account of the resource Several people gather Christmas trees in a snowy, urban setting. The foreground includes two men, a woman and a baby, a young child, and (incongruously) a cat all gathered around a pile of Christmas trees. In the background we see a butcher at work, with a woman and a child looking into the store’s window. Dwight’s use of tonal value helps the viewer differentiate Christmas trees in the foreground from those in the background, and the surrounding buildings. Her handling of form helps create a three-dimensional space that gives the trees and background contents shape: they’re desirable even to us. The scene is composed asymmetrically, with more negative space to the right and positive space to the left, filled with people and Christmas trees. The lack of an obvious focal point allows the viewer to understand a subtle disorder to the scene, encapsulated by citizens dragging large trees with children and pets running through the area. Dwight’s work provides a commentary on the natural world’s bounty being hauled into an industrialized urban setting—a seemingly prosperous one, at that. Outside of the frame, or perhaps hinted at via a shadowy figure at right, are Americans unable to afford the material accoutrements of Christmas.  About the Artist Born Mabel Jacque Williamson in Cincinnati, OH, Dwight was one of the more controversial and prolific lithographers of her time. She studied painting at the Hopkins School of Art in San Francisco, CA in her twenties, travelling to Paris, Egypt, India, and other destinations after her studies. She married Eugene Higgins in 1906 before divorcing in 1921, when she changed her last name to Dwight (for reasons unknown). Even before making art full time, she had become a champion of socialist art and ideals, inspired by her time in college. “I was born with a hatred for the duality of poverty and riches,” she recalled. In 1926, at the age of fifty, Dwight began making her first lithographs and by 1928 her work was displayed at the Weyhe Gallery in New York City. Dwight’s main subjects were the ordinary residents of New York City, depicting their lives during 1920s opulence and then the Great Depression. Dwight’s lithographs offered an unflinching, documentary view that was suffused with social commentary. As she later explained, “There are always artists who cannot be satisfied with the credo of art for art’s sake. They must tell stories, express opinions, and ‘take sides’” (“Satire in Art” 151). Dwight observed, however, that the great satirists like William Hogarth rarely made use of “arbitrary distortion,” and her lithographs usually had realistic and inclusive features—such as rounded forms and subtle lighting—that create unity among its subjects. Dwight brought complex social issues to an accessible medium with subtlety and artistic integrity. Dwight was employed by the Federal Art Project (1935-1939) and was a member of the American Artists’ Congress, which championed socialist policies and promoted artists’ rights. By the end of her career in 1941, she had created more than a hundred lithographs collected at a variety of museums and universities. 27 works at <a href="https://whitney.org/artists/388" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitney Museum of American Art</a>. 19 works at <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?q=%22mabel+dwight%22&offset=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Metropolitan Museum of Art</a>. 20 works at <a href="https://americanart.si.edu/search/artworks?content_type=artwork&persons%5b%5d=2611" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian American Art Museum</a>. 23 works at <a href="https://www.cartermuseum.org/artists/mabel-dwight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amon Carter Museum</a>. 20 works at <a href="https://www.nga.gov/artists/6498-mabel-dwight/artworks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Gallery of Art</a>. 10 images at <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-6-folder-37" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAP</a>. Works Consulted:Mabel Dwight, “Satire in Art," in Art for the Millions: Essays from the 1930s by Artists and Administrators of the WPA Federal Art Project, ed. Francis V. O'Connor (1973) <a href="https://archive.org/details/artformillionses00ocon/page/151/mode/1up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; David Herman. “Mabel Dwight: Art as a Living Influence on the World,” Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (2026) <a href="https://www.villagepreservation.org/2026/03/18/mabel-dwight-art-as-a-living-influence-on-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>; Library of Congress, Life of the People: Realist Prints and Drawings from the Ben and Beatrice Goldstein collection, 1912-1948 (1999) <a href="https://archive.org/details/lifeofpeoplereal0000unse/mode/2up?q=%22mabel+dwight%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Scamardo, Sam (description and biography) Helquist, Morgan (photography) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 1203 Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Artists Union Federal Art Project lithograph Mabel Dwight New Deal Museum Satire socialism https://openvalley.org/files/original/f1a2351b45a040feaf4a22d44b5240ee.jpg ecf410230d86390964eb37393f4dba44 https://openvalley.org/files/original/1d289b44cb43c1b8b95b52b99b3ec955.jpg 2f39ac13609db35ec343169e89ae06a2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Oil painting on canvas Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 24 x 30 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Autumn Landscape Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 1.5 MB jpeg, 1.7 MB Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rites, Marion B[ushanse] (1900 - ?) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Harrington, Gwenyth Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY Object #FA 819 Description An account of the resource In Autumn Landscape, at first glance, the viewer appears to be standing on a riverbank, looking into a dense and active landscape. The foreground is filled with thick foliage, where leaves are depicted through repeating oval shapes and emphasized with strong, dark outlines. These energetic brushstrokes suggest movement, as if wind is passing through the trees. In the middle ground, partially hidden by the leaves, a wooden cabin and small boat with a fisherman come into view. Although obscured at first glance, these elements remain present and distinct, encouraging closer observation. In the background, the sky is soft and muted, providing contrast to the vivid colors of the surrounding foliage. Rites’ composition is evenly arranged, with trees and plants spread across the scene creating a calm and peaceful setting. The bright greens, oranges, and blues maintain their intensity throughout the painting, rather than fading into the distance. This approach reflects the influence of Paul Cézanne, particularly in the use of color to build form and create this seasonal scene. Furthermore, the dense layering of leaves and overlapping forms fills out nearly the entire picture, leaving little space to spare. Overall, the work presents an upbeat and immersive view into the nature of an organic Autumn Day. About the Artist Unfortunately, little information is known about this artist. He was born in 1900 in Ithaca, NY, the son of <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2632388&seq=555&q1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a renowned engineer</a> who had become wealthy from his patents. Rites’ parents separated, however, and his father died while Marion was still a teenager. He attended Ithaca High School and graduated from Cornell University in 1922. There are indications that he studied art in Paris and painted in Touraine, the Riviera, and Northern Africa (“Paintings”). His works were exhibited in 1932 at the <a href="https://www.mahj.org/en/decouvrir-collections-betsalel/galerie-de-la-renaissance-6585" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Galerie de la Renaissance</a> and received favorable mention for their cosmopolitanism and “painterly temperament” (Dictionaire). Rites was influenced by the French Impressionist <a href="https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/paul-cezanne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Cézanne</a>, including his bold brushstrokes; use of muted and earthy tones, greens and blues; and his thick application of paint. Along with another artist, David Dorfman, Rites illustrated a 1941 WPA children’s book titled <a href="https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/in00000129820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tales of Old New York,</a> published by the New York Board of Education. Little is known about this artist beyond the works he left behind. His date of death is also unknown. 4 works at the <a href="https://art.gsa.gov/artworks/725/still-life-with-cigarette?ctx=937f730ef375fb1b8257b0d4fd42b9f8faf23648&idx=307" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. General Services Administration</a>. 2 images at <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-19-folder-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAP</a>. Works Consulted: “Paintings of Marion B. Rites, Former Ithaca Resident, Are Favorably Mentioned Abroad,” Ithaca Journal 19 Dec. 1933: 7; <a href="https://archive.org/details/bwb_S0-BKW-886/page/211/mode/1up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dictionaire Biographique des Artistes Contemporains</a> (1934). Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1937 Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Federal Art Project Landscape Art Marion Rites New Deal Museum https://openvalley.org/files/original/48e7bcfa6581e61a0f5291af7907cdc9.jpeg ae2eaae5d6b5d35d31b6c699038c74ee https://openvalley.org/files/original/0bec7e8390671ebb257edcaf63eed45c.jpg c7d820da3a3a8967119136a01822b194 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Deal Gallery Description An account of the resource This collection of more than 200 paintings owes its existence to two primary causes: allocations from the Federal Art Project to a New York state tuberculosis sanatorium located at Mt. Morris--the landscapes and still lifes were thought to be restful--and to the committed volunteers who helped preserve the paintings after the hospital closed. For several decades the canvases were stored in non-climate-controlled basements; it appears that doctors and staff removed at least three dozen works as "keepsakes." Despite the seeming tranquility of the paintings, they were created by artists primarily from New York City whose background was more political and aesthetically adventurous than this rural location would indicate. <a href="https://openvalley.org/exhibits/show/green-new-deal/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow this hyperlink to a short introduction to the New Deal Gallery collection</a>. We're grateful to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts for access to their collection, which has been re-photographed and appears here at two resolutions: a cropped, web-friendly file size of around 1 MB; and a high-resolution file including the painting's frame. Items in this collection were created according to a consistent format: a short description of each painting in formal terms, followed by a biography of each artist. Where possible we have supplied hyperlinks relevant to their lives and to other examples of their art. In order to better view them using the Omeka program, click on the "View All" option at the bottom of this page to access various sorting options. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1935-1940 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cooper, Ken (project director) Ritz, Abigail (photography and project assistant) Additional research: Justin Anderson, Jessica Apthorpe, Jay Bang, Kristopher Bangsil, Julia Caldwell, Sydney Cannioto, Sabrina Chan, Paige Closser, Victoria Domon, Elana Evenden, Yadelin Fernandez, Michael Griffin, Madison Jackson, Niamh McCrohan, Ben Michalak, Ricky Noel, Elizabeth Ramsay, Skye Rose, Samantha Schmeer, John Serbalik, Marianna Sheedy, Emily Spina, Alison Stern, Ravenna VanOstrand, and Nicholas Vanamee. Special thanks to: Deborah Bump, Mark Calicchia, Elizabeth Harris, Melissa Moody, Rebecca Lomuto, and Mai Sato. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as photograph, map, drawing, painting, etc., and any additional data Lithograph on Woven Paper Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Canvas size: 13.5 x 20 in; Framed: 23.5 x 29.5 in Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Angler Description An account of the resource A large and elegant boat dominates this scene, immediately drawing the viewer’s attention. Those few people visible in Jacks' print, scattered around the docks, appear almost ghost-like, as if incorporated into the backdrop. Their small number and otherworldly quality give the setting a sense of emptiness, making the composition feel mythical or even ominous. The Angler sits at a dock that is otherwise barren, and it is the only vessel present, further emphasizing the isolation of the scene. Jacks' use of space in her lithograph is particularly interesting, as it highlights the relationship between different elements. Small figures on an empty dock draw attention to the surrounding desolate space, creating a tension between isolation and the expansive landscape. The boat’s overwhelming size compared to the people suggests visual weight, whereas the figures appear vulnerable and hidden in the background, reinforcing the boat’s symbolic importance. The Angler itself floats on what appears to be windy water, with small, calm ripples outlined in sharp black. Overhead, the sky shifts from light to dark, moving from the top left to the right side and guiding the viewer’s gaze across the scene. This shift in tone moves the mood from calm to ominous.  About the Artist Mabel Wellington Jack was born in 1899 in New York City. During her early life, she lived in Ohio and traveled frequently with her parents on one of the last showboats to sail down the Mississippi River.  She was educated in Midwest private schools, where she received several art scholarships. From roughly 1935 to 1943, she worked as an artist for the New York Art Project and the Federal Art Project (FAP), also creating artworks for the New View Hospital and Home during this time. She was mainly a printmaker who experimented with bold and dramatic nautical themes during the WPA era. Like another of her works from this period, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swan_dive_-_Mabel_W._Jack._LCCN2002706837.jpg#/media/File:Swan_dive_-_Mabel_W._Jack._LCCN2002706837_(cropped).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swan Dive</a> (1935), they can be appreciated as “representative of a new world into which women were propelling themselves” (Adams and Keene 54). During World War II, Jack was involved with the Red Mask Players, a Red Cross Circuit troupe, where she designed scenery and danced in performances, although further details of her roles are not recorded. Jack was married twice during her life, though not much is known about her late husbands; she preferred to use her maiden name publicly. In 1946, she moved from Greenwich Village to Staten Island, NY. There, she became an active member of the <a href="https://southshoreartistsgroup.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Shore Artist Group</a>, an important art community that showcased both amateur and professional artists through frequent exhibitions and outdoor shows. She regularly exhibited her work at the Staten Island Museum and in various outdoor events, eventually earning the distinction of honorary lifetime member. Before her passing, she lived at Richmondtown Treasure House and later at Annadale Beach. Mabel Wellington Jack passed away at the age of 80 on July 12, 1975. 5 works at the <a href="https://americanart.si.edu/artist/mabel-wellington-jack-2415" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian American Art Museum</a>. 3 works at the <a href="https://collection.artbma.org/people/9691/mabel-wellington-jack/objects?_gl=1*17m8k71*_ga*MzkxMDk0NTgwLjE3NzIxMjc4NDI.*_ga_Z89PXM15R3*czE3NzIxMjc4NDIkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzIxMjc4NTAkajUyJGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baltimore Museum of Art</a>. 2 works at the <a href="https://www.nga.gov/artists/33591-mabel-wellington-jack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Gallery of Art in Washington</a>. 1 work at the <a href="https://www.fdrlibrary.org/art-detail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum</a>. 1 work at the <a href="https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/art/collections/objects/3674" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Princeton University art Museum</a>. 1 image at <a href="https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/federal-art-project-photographic-division-collection-5467/series-1/box-11-folder-38">FAP</a>.  Works Consulted: “Miss Mabel W. Jack, Island Artist,” Staten Island Advance 23 July 1970: 19; Katherine H. Adams and Michael L. Keene, Women, Art, and the New Deal (2015). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jack, Mabel Wellington (1899-1975) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Federal Art Project Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource c. 1936 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Harrington, Gwenyth Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived New Deal Museum, Mt. Morris NY Object #FA 48 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg, 693 KB Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Federal Art Project lithograph Mabel Wellington Jack New Deal New Deal Museum