In 1933, the American economy was in utter turmoil. The Great Depression was raging after the stock market crash of 1929, and close to 25% of Americans were unemployed. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, he immediately set to work. Roosevelt’s administration created “The New Deal” which developed programs to stabilize the nation, provide jobs, and supply relief for those who were suffering.

Created on May 6th, 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was one such program that provided reprieve for American citizens. This program particularly piqued my interest because it included artists. Artists aren’t usually the first to benefit from unemployment plans. Thankfully, politicians like Harry Hopkins believed that everyone should be included in The New Deal programs. In Hopkins’ words, “Hell, they’ve got to eat just like other people!”

Reviving the Economy through Public Works of Art

Not long after the WPA began, the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) was up and running. As a division of the WPA, the PWAP produced pieces of art for government buildings across the country. These pieces were created by 3,749 artists, who not only had to wait in long lines outside government buildings but had to prove they were, indeed, professional artists. They were to be held to the same standards of public value and production as those performing physical labor. In order to be hired, each artist had to pass a test, giving them a ranking of “Level One Artist, Level Two Artist, or Laborer.”

After only 4 months, the artists had created 15,663 paintings, murals, prints, crafts and sculptures, netting a pretty nice income- a total of $1,184,000, or $75.59 per piece. Eventually, the PWAP dissolved and was replaced by the Federal Art Project (FAP).

Keeping the Luminaries Going

The FAP was a little more selective about who was hired to produce art. In fact, you may recognize a couple of the artists that created pieces for the FAP, namely Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. This particular program had a significantly bigger reach than the PWAP, employing over 5,000 artists and producing more than 225,000 pieces of art for the American people.

A Legacy that Inspires

Because of mismanagement and the ramping up of wartime employment, the Work Projects Administration was dissolved in 1943. While some of the art from that time is still around today, many pieces have been lost or stolen. The remaining few are now under the regulation of the General Services Administration (GSA). Most remain in the hands of private collectors, but some can be seen in government buildings or galleries across the country. If you’d like to visit a collection of WPA art, the Treasury Department has a wonderful compilation.

Even though the WPA had its critics, it also had its supporters. There is no denying the fact that it provided our nation with beautiful artwork, but also economic relief for the American people.

Add to Your Collection

If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy, Vincent Raney, and others.

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Living through the Depression Era in full effect, Frank Lloyd Wright reimagined city life in a way that would allow its residents to truly survive. Based on the automobile, Broadacre City was a new, democratic city that focused on the growth of the individual.

“[A] city is not an arrangement of roads, buildings and spaces, it is a society in action. The city is a process, rather than a form.” Lionel March on Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision for Broadacre City

Urban Development Problems Persist

Urban development has experienced difficulties. Even as Broadacre City was being dreamt up, urban America was deteriorating. Presently, many of our large cities are declining and being abandoned. According to Dean John Meunier, urban life is being destroyed by the lack of meaningful theory of urban land use and unrestrained private development. Meunier says, “What is needed more than theory is a reintroduction of value, and it was in just that area that Broadacre City had its strength. As Wright well knew, only when values are put first will technology become a tool rather than master.”

Broadacre City Values

Evidently, Wright wanted to give architectural and urban form to the ideas of his contemporaries. Along with these economists, pragmatists and political progressives, Wright believed democracy to be a way of life more than a form of government. Value should be placed on the individual, not the government.

“The Old City”, with its pockets of undeserved power and privilege, was being reorganized. A new democratic city, one that would utilize modern technology to its advantage, was coming. Instead of absentee ownership, residents of Broadacre City would own their home, land, and place of work. Also, things like utilities and transportation would be owned by the public, not corporations.

Land and Freedom for All

One feature of Broadacre City was that each freestanding home would have some land attached to it. Every family would have a plot to garden and grow their own food, which was very much at the top of their minds during the Great Depression. Another interesting fact to note is that Wright knew the importance of families spending as much time together as possible. In Broadacre City, many of the residents would work from home. In this aspect, Wright’s vision is coming to life with many jobs now being done remotely.

A Vision Never Completely Realized

Even though Broadacre City ever came to fruition, Wright was able to complete individual projects that addressed his concepts.  Until his death in 1959, Wright worked to add what would have been the exemplification of the new city to his work. This included moderate cost housing, community, and public facilities, commercial and manufacturing buildings, which were all designed to enhance life and showcase beauty and excellence.

Add to Your Collection

If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy and several other artists.

The post Broadacre City: Democracy in City Form appeared first on Form Function Art.