Bellevue Hospital: Karp Mural - New York NY

: William Karp at work on The Normal Pursuits of Man.jpg

Project type: Art Works, Murals

Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP), Works Progress Administration (WPA), Arts Programs, Work Relief Programs

Completed: 1937

Site Survival: Unknown

Description

In 1936 and 1937 William Karp painted a mural entitled “Normal Pursuits of Man” for the occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital. It was one of over a dozen murals painted by artists for the psychiatric building at Bellevue Hospital with funds provided by the Federal Art Project arm of the Works Progress Administration.

With funding from the W.P.A., Karp also produced the mural entitled “Armed with Learning and Reality, Looking from the Past to the Future” in 1938, for the Hebrew Orphans Asylum, NYC.

We know that one of the murals at Bellevue hospital entitled “Materials for Relaxation” by David Margolis has been restored. However, The Living New Deal needs further information to determine the current status of the other WPA murals painted for Bellevue Hospital.

William Karp worked as a master mural artist and administrator with the WPA Federal Art Project.

Also included are images of Karp with friends at his home in Yonkers NY, photographed in 1972 by Frank da Cruz (Frank da Cruz Kermit collection).

: William Karp at his home in 1972

William Karp at his home in 1972
Photo: Frank da Cruz Creative Commons 1972

William Karp at his home in 1972

: billkarplaurajudy1972

billkarplaurajudy1972
Photo: Frank da Cruz Creative Commons 1972

billkarplaurajudy1972

: William Karp sculpture at his home in 1972

William Karp sculpture at his home in 1972
Photo: Frank da Cruz Creative Commons 1972

William Karp sculpture at his home in 1972

: William Karp's work table i in 1972

William Karp's work table i in 1972
Photo: Frank da Cruz Creative Commons 1972

William Karp's work table i in 1972

: William Karp at his home in 1972

William Karp at his home in 1972
Photo: Frank da Cruz Creative Commons 1972

William Karp at his home in 1972

: Normal Pursuits of Man, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital
photograph by Nadir for the WPA/FAP Photographic Division on March 19, 1937, series 127, exhibit HK, approved April 13, 1937.

Normal Pursuits of Man, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital
Photo: Nadir, WPA Photo Source Public Domain

Normal Pursuits of Man, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital

: Normal Pursuits of Man.jpg
photograph by Nadir for the WPA/FAP Photographic Division on March 19, 1937, series 127, exhibit HK, approved April 13, 1937.

Normal Pursuits of Man.jpg
Photo: Nadir, WPA Photo Source Public Domain

Normal Pursuits of Man.jpg

: Normal Pursuits of Man detail
Photograph by Nadir for the WPA/FAP Photographic Division on March 19, 1937, series 127, exhibit HK, approved April 13, 1937.

Normal Pursuits of Man detail
Photo: Nadir, WPA Photo Source Public Domain

Normal Pursuits of Man detail

: Section of Normal Pursuits of Man
Photograph by Nadir for the WPA/FAP Photographic Division on March 19, 1937, series 127, exhibit HK, approved April 13, 1937.

Section of Normal Pursuits of Man
Photo: Nadir, WPA Photo Source Public Domain

Section of Normal Pursuits of Man

: “Normal Pursuits of Man” by William Karp, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital
Photograph by Nadir for the WPA/FAP Photographic Division on March 19, 1937, series 127, exhibit HK, approved April 13, 1937.

“Normal Pursuits of Man” by William Karp, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital
Photo: Nadir, WPA Photo Source Public Domain

“Normal Pursuits of Man” by William Karp, occupational therapy exhibition room in the Psychiatric Building of Bellevue Hospital