I recently visited a post office branch in the Norristown area, and was in awe at the WPA paintings within the building. While the employee at the counter didn’t know much about them, I couldn’t help myself but to do a little online research for United States post office murals. The paintings in the Norristown location, are indeed part of the WPA project, and were painted by Paul Mays. They are amazing!
…the murals were intended to boost the morale of the American people suffering from the effects of the Depression by depicting uplifting subjects the people knew and loved.[1] The purpose of this federal project was in contrast to other government arts projects that were intended to provide economic relief,[1] including the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (1935–1943), the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) of the Civil Works Administration (1933–1934), and the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP) (1935–1939).
And nearly on the same day, I found a project called Post Script which is a photo series on the decline and closures of rural post offices. It’s depressing that not only are they closing down, but the loss of jobs and services in those areas. But what are we to do in a time where mail is declining and digital is on the rise? The artist emphasizes that it’s not just the loss of a building or an inconvenience, it’s the address, the zip code, and an identity of a town that is being lost.
