Jun 042012
Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower
WPA Murals
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California Industrial Scenes by John Langley HowardThis mural gives us several juxtaposed scenes indicative of any society, but especially poignant during such difficult times.
There are the solemn workers of the May Day demonstration, a woman doing laundry on the rocks, and an elderly woman sawing logs by hand, while the great symbols of hydroelectric power are there in her sight. There is a migrant family with their broken down Model-T next to a group of observers with chauffeur and furs. Notice the hobo on the train trestle, and the worker leaning on the culvert with newspapers around him that read “Relief Rolls Reach New All Time Peak” “I’m A Tough Guy, Franklin Roosevelt warns Congress” and “I learned a lot from the barracudas and the sharks, Roosevelt tells crowd at Station”.
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John Langley Howard (1902-1999) was the son of John Galen Howard, prominent architect, and brother Robert Howard, sculptor. He attended the University of California and the California School of Arts and Crafts as well as the Art Student’s League of New York. This is his only mural although he continued to paint, especially for sports magazines, depicting tools and machines in meticulous detail.
Wonderful details. Thank for showing all these murals from the tower.
This is the most wonderful mural telling of times gone by as well as of times to come. His style is especially appealing to my eye. The colors fit in perfectly with the message of the mural. genie
I love the art from the WPA era. I’m so glad you decided to do this series on the frescoes in Coit Tower. And to give us detailed information so we can better appreciate what we’re seeing. It’s a marvel how much the artists could fit into the tight space of the tower. Their themes still remain relevant to today, don’t they. Thanks for participating in Monday Mural, Principessa.
Those faces betray the hard life they were living.
A great mural series. What a lot of history is represented here!
fantastic series. i’ve been meaning to go see these for myself, almost did it a few years back.
This is a moving group of murals depicting migrant workers. I immediately thought of John Steinbeck’s novels.
Another great mural. Thanks for sharing.
I remember visiting this with you and memorable it was:) In fact I remember that entire visit fondly and would really love to do it again one day!
I have lots of catching up to do!
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