- City:
- Monterey, CA
- Site Type:
- Art Works, Murals
- New Deal Agencies:
- Federal Arts Project (FAP), Arts Programs
- Artist:
- Gus Gay
- Quality of Information:
- Minimal
- Marked:
- Unknown
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
Gus Gay painted this mural for the Federal Art Project, part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Gay was one of what Nancy Boas calls “the California Colorists” of the era.
Nancy Boas notes that, “His mural for Monterey High School uses his characteristic late palette, strong on deep cerulean blue and chalky reds and pinks. The solid forms and simple architectural backgrounds reveal Gay’s clarity of design.”
There may be two other murals in the high school whose provenance is also New Deal. More information is needed on those.
Source notes
Nancy Boas. The Society of Six: California Colorists. University of California Press, 1988: 162.
Site originally submitted by Originally posted in the New Deal Art Registry on July 24, 2013.
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Peter Hiller
There are actually three Federal Art Project murals at the high school – two by Gus Gay and one by Bruce Ariss. Their exact designation to the WPA needs to be verified as I read conflicting information but the murals are there and certainly appear to be WPA related.
Permission from the front office is required to see them as it is a functioning school site.