2023 New Deal WPA & CCC Calendar Art

2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the New Deal

90th anniversary of the WPA and & CCC in 2023

2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the 1930’s New Deal. To celebrate this milestone two unique calendars are offered highlighting the art of the
Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  Revenues from both calendars will support the organizations and endeavors that  keep this Great Depression New Deal history relevant.

2023 New Deal art calendars by Kathleen Duxbury are $19.33, plus tax and shipping and are available here.

2023 – New Deal 1939 WPA Federal Art Project Poster Division Calendar

2023 New Deal CCC Art – Marshall Davis – Artists of the Civilian Conservation Corps

Thank you for your support.

2023 calendar – repurposed 1939 WPA Federal Art Project calendar originally created in 1938 by the NYC Poster Division of the FAP
B&W illustration by CCC artist Marshall Davis
2023 New Deal CCC Art – Artists of the Civilian Conservation Corps – Marshall Davis

Calendar orders will be accepted and fulfilled by the LULU print-on-demand

Women and the Spirit of the New Deal

Contributions made by women of the New Deal era profoundly reshaped the relationship between the government and American citizens.

Women and the Spirit of the New Deal, published collectively by the National New Deal Preservation Association, the Frances Perkins Center and the Living New Deal is a narrative which highlights the extensive role of 100 women in the programs and operations begun during the 1930’s administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Woman and the Spirit of the New Deal cover image
100 women who contributed to the transformation of American during the Great Depression and FDR’s New Deal. Photo by Susan Ives Communications

Images and brief biographies include politicians, administrators, lawyers, social workers, authors, journalists, painters, sculptors, musicians, secretaries, national park rangers, clerks and scientists.

Some individuals were known to the public during the Great Depression era,  1933-1945, and remembered by historians. While others operated behind the scenes and have been virtually forgotten.  Most played significant roles in the numerous agencies, projects and New Deal programs of the federal government during a time of great adversity.

To better understand New Deal history  the contributions made by these woman must be acknowledge. Through their efforts, big and small, they collectively and profoundly reshaped the relationship between the government and American citizens.

We owe them a debt of gratitude and recognition.

Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ingram and many other online retailers.

 

 

Frank Cassara – Last of the New Deal CCC artists

During the Great Depression persistence and talent earned Frank Cassara a young, untried artist his place among the greats in New Deal art history.

The last of the New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) artists, Frank (Francesco) Cassara, born March 13, 1913 in Partinico, Sicily died January 13, 2017, in Ann Arbor, Michigan – two months shy of his 104th birthday.

Frank Cassara CCC artist 2010
During a September 2010 interview Frank Cassara, a former CCC and WPA artist, graciously shared recollections of his New Deal assignments. ©2010 Kathleen Duxbury.    All Rights Reserved

In the fall of 2010, Frank Cassara and his daughter, Francisca, graciously welcomed me into his Michigan home and studio. While giving me directions they voiced concerns with traffic I might encounter en-route; a football game was scheduled at the University of Michigan. If there was traffic I never noticed, but do recall the Spartans were not the only winners that weekend.

Frank was then 97 years old, in a wheelchair, soft spoken and was quietly reflective as I questioned him about his time and special circumstances as an Artist/Enrollee with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Illinois during the Great Depression years.

Initially we sat in the living room of his home. Frank watched as I arranged my papers, camera equipment and hooked up the audio recorder all while explaining the who and whys of our New Deal research, extensive travels and how we search for CCC art, artists and stories.

Frank apologized for what he believed would be unproductive time and wasted travel for me; explaining it had been years (authors note – 75+ years) since his assignment to a CCC camp and he really couldn’t remember much.

Truthfully, I didn’t know what to expect as I handed Frank copies of CCC camp photographs and letters. The documents were dated 1934 – 1935, years when Frank was 21 years of age, living in Detroit, Michigan and desperate for work. He was writing or approaching anyone or any agency he thought might be of assistance, repeatedly.

Continue reading “Frank Cassara – Last of the New Deal CCC artists”

Federal Art Project (FAP) Calendar Revitilized

In 1939 the Federal Art Program Poster Division utilized a revolutionary printing process to produce a historic calendar. 78 years later the calendar dates are the same. Presenting a timely opportunity to enjoy a years worth of New Deal American art once again.

1939 Federal Art Project Calendar

National New Deal Preservation Association 2017 calendar - repurposed 1939 WPA Federal Art Project calendar originally created in 1938 by the NYC Poster Division of the FAP
National New Deal Preservation Association 2017 calendar -A revitalized version of the original 1939 WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) calendar. Featuring the work of eight artists employed by the NYC Poster Division.

At times New Deal research will go off in unexpected directions such as the Federal Art Project (FAP) administered by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Because several CCC artists would later find employment with other government art programs searching selected records from these federal agencies can provide a better understanding of an artists journey.

On a recent trip to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland multiple boxes were requested from WPA Record Group 69. Midway through a container labeled FAP State Offices New York was a folder marked 1939 FAP. Inside this archival envelope were original poster prints from a FAP calendar for 1939; considering their age the paper stock was still firm and the images remained bold and impressive.

A revolutionary new silk screened process, designed by a WPA artist, was used for these poster prints. Enabling mass production with results considered, in the 1930’s, to be technically superior and artistically pleasing.

A quick check revealed that the calendar dates for 1939 are the same for 2017. How fortunate to find these vintage 78 year-old federal art prints and how fitting to revitalize these images for another years use.

2017 NNDPA FAP Calendar

Now available is a vibrant and historic 2017 calendar, 8.5″ x 11″ full color, 14 month wall calendar offered exclusively through the National New Deal Preservation Association (NNDPA) website.

“A perfect gift for the history, preservation and art buffs in your world. After all, New Deal art is uniquely American.” NNDPA

National New Deal Preservation Association 2017 calendar - repurposed 1939 WPA Federal Art Project calendar originally created in 1938 by the NYC Poster Division of the FAP
National New Deal Preservation Association 2017 calendar

But, the story doesn’t end there.

Working with these vintage images created a flood of questions . . .
What was the FAP? Who were these eight artists? What is the story behind this calendar – for whom, why and how was it printed?

1939 was a year that changed world history.

The publication of the original 1939 WPA/FAP calendar was done in a spirit of a good will. Unfortunately, this well meaning gesture was ill-timed and ill-fated.

But that’s another story . . .