In 1935, under President Frank D. Roosevelt's New Deal, the Federal Art Project, a federal economic relief effort organized under the Works Progress Administration, put unemployed artists on the government payroll to paint public murals in post offices, hospitals, and schools. In this course, we will discuss The Federal Art Project and the murals that explored the intersection of politics, economics, and community identity, creating an unprecedented explosion of public art that transformed public spaces into lasting monuments of American history. The Federal Art Project was instrumental in promoting the careers of artists such as Jackson Pollock, Thomas Hart Benton, Jacob Lawrence and others, with the murals focusing on themes of community, labor, local history, and industry.

This course takes place on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30pm (PT) on Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.