March 8 – June 9, 2012

Inspired by New London's local treasures—the 1938 Post Office murals by Thomas La Farge—America @ Work: New Deal Murals in New London and Beyond features mural studies by La Farge (from the museum's permanent collection) and other artists working on Roosevelt's New Deal art projects across the country. Countering the stark realities of life during the Great Depression, the artists express pride in American ingenuity and a belief that economic woes could be overcome through hard work. These works resonate with today's economic climate as Americans face comparable challenges.

Guest Curated by Barbara Zabel, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Conn College.

Above artwork by Charles Ward
Story of Cotton (Mural Study for Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Post Office)
1937
Oil on Canvas
16 ½ x 24 ½ inches
Courtesy D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc. and the Estate of Charles Ward

Location: Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams Street, New London