Rincon Annex Post Office - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 04:04, 18 March 2017

2017-03-18T04:04:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 17 March 2017
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	The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.(32)		The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.(32)

	In 1953 during the McCarthy period, Congress held hearings to determine if these offending murals in the San Francisco post office should be removed. Testifying for removal, a spokesman for the American Legion complained that "the murals do not reflect the romantic and inspiring history of California, and on the other hand tend to ridicule and slander the State and its pioneers.... These murals are not a matter of beauty or inspiration. They are depressing."(33)		In 1953 during the McCarthy period, Congress [[Trial of the Rincon Annex Murals\|held hearings]] to determine if these offending murals in the San Francisco post office should be removed. Testifying for removal, a spokesman for the American Legion complained that "the murals do not reflect the romantic and inspiring history of California, and on the other hand tend to ridicule and slander the State and its pioneers.... These murals are not a matter of beauty or inspiration. They are depressing."(33)

	[[Image:Artist Anton Refregier and C.I.O. longshoremen union members carrying a banner in protest for the covering up of a section of a mural at the Rincon Annex Post Office May 14 1948 AAK-0709.jpg]]		[[Image:Artist Anton Refregier and C.I.O. longshoremen union members carrying a banner in protest for the covering up of a section of a mural at the Rincon Annex Post Office May 14 1948 AAK-0709.jpg]]

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2014-07-07T23:36:40Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 7 July 2014
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	''Photo: John Horn''		''Photo: John Horn''

	The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32		The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.(32)

	In 1953 during the McCarthy period, Congress held hearings to determine if these offending murals in the San Francisco post office should be removed. Testifying for removal, a spokesman for the American Legion complained that "the murals do not reflect the romantic and inspiring history of California, and on the other hand tend to ridicule and slander the State and its pioneers.... These murals are not a matter of beauty or inspiration. They are depressing."33		In 1953 during the McCarthy period, Congress held hearings to determine if these offending murals in the San Francisco post office should be removed. Testifying for removal, a spokesman for the American Legion complained that "the murals do not reflect the romantic and inspiring history of California, and on the other hand tend to ridicule and slander the State and its pioneers.... These murals are not a matter of beauty or inspiration. They are depressing."(33)

	Ironically, this statement by an anti-communist conservative could easily have been uttered by most California New Deal artists who painted fifteen years earlier. With only the very few exceptions noted above, California artists did not paint "depressing" murals during the Great Depression. They painted romantic and inspiring historical scenes because they looked to America's history as a source of strength in the battle with pressing contemporary problems.34 Accordingly, they refrained from painting images of contemporary problems because they believed that art should be inspiring for people. Having faith that the New Deal would revive the system that had operated so well in the past, they preferred to paint the world as it should be or as it should have been, not as it was.		[[Image:Artist Anton Refregier and C.I.O. longshoremen union members carrying a banner in protest for the covering up of a section of a mural at the Rincon Annex Post Office May 14 1948 AAK-0709.jpg]]

			'''Artist Anton Refregier and C.I.O. longshoremen union members carrying a banner in protest for the covering up of a section of a mural at the Rincon Annex Post Office, May 14 1948.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

			Ironically, this statement by an anti-communist conservative could easily have been uttered by most California New Deal artists who painted fifteen years earlier. With only the very few exceptions noted above, California artists did not paint "depressing" murals during the Great Depression. They painted romantic and inspiring historical scenes because they looked to America's history as a source of strength in the battle with pressing contemporary problems.(34) Accordingly, they refrained from painting images of contemporary problems because they believed that art should be inspiring for people. Having faith that the New Deal would revive the system that had operated so well in the past, they preferred to paint the world as it should be or as it should have been, not as it was.

	''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2		''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2

Ccarlsson at 05:04, 28 May 2014

2014-05-28T05:04:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 27 May 2014
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	'''This panel depicts the Preparedness Bombing in 1916 and the railroading for [[TOM MOONEY\|Tom Mooney]] and Warren Billings to jail in its aftermath.'''		'''This panel depicts the Preparedness Bombing in 1916 and the railroading for [[TOM MOONEY\|Tom Mooney]] and Warren Billings to jail in its aftermath.'''

			[[Image:Rincon Exterior Horn 0034.jpg]]

			'''Rincon Annex exterior, 2014.'''

			''Photo: John Horn''

	''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''		''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''
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	[[Bay Bridge Work \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]		[[Bay Bridge Work \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]

	[[category:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1970s]]		[[category:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:downtown]]

Ccarlsson: swapped in John Horn photos

2014-05-28T04:45:58Z

swapped in John Horn photos

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:45, 27 May 2014
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	''by Steven M. Gelber''		''by Steven M. Gelber''

	[[Image:~~art1$rincon~~-~~mural~~-~~2----civil-war~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Rincon Civil-War-riot Horn 0113.jpg]]

	'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War'''		'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War'''

	''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by ~~Chris Carlsson~~''		''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by John Horn''

			[[Image:Rincon Lobby-long-shot Horn 0123.jpg]]

			'''Rincon Annex lobby, restored and open 24 hours but no longer a post office. The murals encircle the upper walls of the lobby.'''

			''Photo: John Horn''

	The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32		The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32
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	''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2		''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2

	[[Image:~~Soma1%24mooney~~-~~mural-at-po~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Rincon Mooney-bombing Horn 0072.jpg]]

	'''This panel depicts the Preparedness Bombing in 1916 and the railroading for [[TOM MOONEY\|Tom Mooney]] and Warren Billings to jail in its aftermath.'''		'''This panel depicts the Preparedness Bombing in 1916 and the railroading for [[TOM MOONEY\|Tom Mooney]] and Warren Billings to jail in its aftermath.'''

Lisaruth at 08:00, 16 January 2009

2009-01-16T08:00:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:00, 16 January 2009
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Steven M. Gelber'		''by Steven M. Gelber''

	[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]		[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "Rincon Annex Post Office": excerpted essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-04T09:12:17Z

Protected "Rincon Annex Post Office": excerpted essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 02:12, 4 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-04T09:12:03Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:12, 4 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Steven M. Gelber'

	[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]		[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 07:35, 14 August 2008

2008-08-14T07:35:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:35, 14 August 2008
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	[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]		[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]

	'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War''' ''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by Chris Carlsson''		'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War'''

			''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by Chris Carlsson''

	The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32		The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32
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	[[~~Indoor Public Murals~~ \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]		[[Bay Bridge Work \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]

	[[category:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1970s]]		[[category:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1970s]]

Ccarlsson at 23:58, 10 August 2008

2008-08-10T23:58:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 10 August 2008
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	''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2		''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2

			[[Image:Soma1%24mooney-mural-at-po.jpg]]

			'''This panel depicts the Preparedness Bombing in 1916 and the railroading for [[TOM MOONEY\|Tom Mooney]] and Warren Billings to jail in its aftermath.'''

	''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''		''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''

Ccarlsson: fixed category

2008-07-23T07:10:35Z

fixed category

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:10, 23 July 2008
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	[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]		[[Image:art1$rincon-mural-2----civil-war.jpg]]

	'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War'''		'''Rincon Annex Post Office Mural -- The Civil War''' ''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by Chris Carlsson''

	The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32		The era of federal art in California closed as it began--with a fight over radical imagery in murals. In 1943, New Yorker Anton Refregier received a commission to paint the "History of San Francisco" in the Rincon Annex Post Office in San Francisco. The year was the last year of federal art sponsorship, and the murals themselves were not painted until after World War II. No longer feeling compelled to illustrate how hard work could end the economic depression, Refregier instead showed the past with all its blemishes, including vigilantes, anti-Chinese riots, and the waterfront strike of 1934.32
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	''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2		''--excerpted from ''"Working to Prosperity: California's New Deal Murals" by Steven M. Gelber in'' California History magazine,'' Summer 1979, Vol. LVIII, No. 2

	~~''Mural by Anton Refregier, photo by Chris Carlsson''~~

	''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''		''article excerpted with permission of California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA''
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	[[Indoor Public Murals \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]		[[Indoor Public Murals \| Prev. Document]] [[Coit Tower \| Next Document]]

	[[category~~:Neighb~~:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:~~1940-1950~~]]		[[category:SOMA]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1970s]]