Charlotte High School Murals – Rochester NY

Description

Rochester, New York’s Charlotte High School contains a series of murals commissioned by the federal Works Progress Administration.

“The eight murals, each 19 feet tall, were painted in oil on canvas in 1942 by Carl Peters for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).” (rochesterpublicart.com)

“Peters’ series captures his understanding of the history of the Lake Ontario region, starting from the Native Americans who originally inhabited the land, to the final scene he called the “Triumph of the American Ideal.” (https://mag.rochester.edu/murals/charlotte-high-school/)

“In 1937, Rochester’s WPA art project was called “the most interesting and effective outside of New York City” by the regional director of the Federal Art Project. Rochester’s model program—hosted and administered by the Memorial Art Gallery—funded several mural groups by the artist Carl W. Peters.” (https://mag.rochester.edu/murals/)