- City:
- New York, New York City, NY
- Site Type:
- Art Works, Murals
- New Deal Agencies:
- Arts Programs, Work Relief Programs, Federal Arts Project (FAP), Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Completed:
- 1940
- Artist:
- Charles Alston
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
Harlem Hospital murals include two 1940 pieces by Charles Alston, “Magic in Medicine” and “Modern Medicine”, painted under the auspices of the Federal Arts Project of the WPA in 1936. As the New York Times notes, “Harlem Hospital’s were perhaps the first major federal government commissions awarded to African-Americans.”
“Charles Alston’s Magic in Medicine is situated opposite his Modern Medicine, offering contrast and dialogue between traditional and modern healing practices. The diptych imagines the history of healing and medicine in Africa and the United States. The sepia-toned Magic in Medicine incorporates a Fang reliquary sculpture, a type of ritual art piece from Gabon that was widely collected by Alston’s contemporaries. The Fang sculpture, perhaps representing Africa, is juxtaposed in Modern Medicine to symbols of the West, such as the microscope, fathers of ancient Western medicine, and modern medical practitioners, nurses, and doctors…” (https://iraas.columbia.edu)
This and the other murals, originally in the old hospital and visible only to staff, have been restored for over $4 million and hung in the lobby of the new Mural Pavillon, opened in 2012. In a lovely gesture of respect, the hospital now projects African-American artist Vertis Hayes’ “Pursuit of Happiness” onto the enormous glass facade of the pavillon, where it is visible to all.
Source notes
National Archives and Records Administration, Negative 12710-C
"At Harlem Hospitals, Murals Get a New Life", New York Times, Sept. 16, 2012
https://iraas.columbia.edu/wpa/modernmeds.html
https://iraas.columbia.edu/wpa/magicmeds.html
Site originally submitted by Evan Kalish on November 10, 2015.
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First paragraph on Alston murals has minor typo — should be painted not pained.
What medium did he use? Acrylic, Tempera, Oil or other?