WPA Murals On US Postage Stamps A Weird Idea

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Scott M. Haskins

As you read this, our team is working to preserve and restore an “environmental mural” painted on the side of a freeway that is 1/2 mile long!!! (not the freeway, the mural!) in Grand Prairie, Texas (Dallas – more on this next week).

Which got me thinking how weird- stupid it is to take a picture of a mural… which is a giant painting… and shrink it down to an US postage stamp! Artwork created to be huge, shrunk down to postage stamp size! But then I was thinking…

If you lick the stamp and stick it on a wall… its a mural again!!! That’s twisted.

Fine Art murals funded by the Works Project Administration during the 1930s are one of our favorite types of historic paintings to save, preserve and restore. I’ve worked on the preservation and restoration of more than a dozen… maybe two dozen… WPA (Depression Era) murals over the last 40 years all over the USA.

Here’s a quick vid of mural conservation work done on WPA public library murals for the City of Long Beach CA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJ7C7edoLs

A WPA mural in West Texas was saved from the demolition of an antiquated US Post office, preserved, restored and reinstalled into a community building. In fact, I was a bit nostalgic when we drove to Dallas for the project we are actually undertaking at this moment and we drove through Lamesa where this mural is located, The Horse Breakers by Fletcher Martin 1939: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/travel/cowboy-rodeo-wpa-mural-to-be-removed-conservation-consultation-and-restoration-in-lamesa-texas/

We look forward to discussing with you your project!

Click here for a video of examples of several different kinds of mural removal projects: https://youtu.be/9iOiL2urctM

For more information on our background experience with murals click here: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/mural/

For testimonials, click here: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/testimonials/(some mural testimonials towards the bottom of the page)

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins

805 564 3438 

faclartdoc@gmail.com

#WPAMurals  #NewDealArt  #DepressionEraArt, #RegionalismArt  #ArtConservation #MuralConservation  #ArtRestoration  #MuralRestoration  #HistoricPreservation

About Scott M. Haskins

Scott Haskins has been in professional art conservation since 1975, specializing in the conservation/restoration of easel paintings, murals and art on paper. FACL, Inc. is known nationally for doing A+ work no matter the size or difficulty of the project. We are happy to do a quick cleaning on a family heirloom. Our client list and resume is also full of very satisfied clients of large, difficult/complicated projects at remote locations. Excellent services are also available as an Expert Witness/Legal Testimony in art related matters. Consultation on art related projects occur regularly including extensive insurance evaluations for insured or insurer. Services are offered worldwide. Scott M. Haskins is also author of the "Save Your Stuff" series, educational information, materials and supplies to help people protect and save their treasured family heirlooms and collectibles at home and office. He can be reached at 805 564 3438. Video and written testimonials at https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/testimonials/
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