- City:
- Norwalk, CT
- Site Type:
- Murals, Art Works
- New Deal Agencies:
- Federal Arts Project (FAP), Arts Programs
- Artist:
- Alexander Rummler
Description
“The city of Norwalk, Conn., has one of the nation’s largest surviving collections of W.P.A. murals, thanks to a restoration effort in the 1980s that preserved nearly two dozen in the old Norwalk High School, now City Hall. The rescued artwork is on display there, while other murals decorate Norwalk Community College, the city’s public library and maritime aquarium, and other public places.
Though many of the murals depict scenes from local history, several are more exotic: Five murals by an artist named Arthur G. Hull illustrate imagined scenes from the travels of Marco Polo. The Hull murals are on permanent display in the Norwalk Transit District’s headquarters. A spokesman for the Transit District, Louis Schulman, said the agency ‘persuaded the city to twist our arm to use some federal money to document the city’s mural collection.’ The agency photographed each mural and published a book about the collection several years ago.” (NY Times)
Among the collection are several impressive WPA Federal Art Project murals by Alexander Rummler. The murals were all restored circa 1986.
“Circus Act”- 3’4″ x 3’9″
“Mopping for Starfish” – 9’9″ x 6’4″
“Rummler Self-Portrait” – 3’8″ x 6’4″
“Roadside Stand” – 15’5″ x 6’4″
“Farm Scene” – 3’11” x 3’3″ (originally an over-the-door panel connecting two other Rummler murals)
“Apple Harvest” – 10’x” x 6’4″
“Dairy Farm – Grade Herd” – 22’3″ x 6’3″
“Calf Pasture Beach” – 22’7″ x 6’3″
“Oyster Houses” – 16’1″ x 6’6″
“Dredging for Oysters” – 5’10” x 6’3″
“Shell Pile for Planting” – 3’11” x 6’4″
“Danbury Fair” – 15’5″ x 6’5″
“Trotting Races” – 10’5″ x 6’4″
“Washing Oysters” – 5’5″ x 6’4″
Source notes
Norwalk Historical Society, https://norwalkhistoricalsociety.org/wpa-murals-norwalks-hidden-treasure/.
Site Details
Contribute to this Site
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.
Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site
I am interested in purchasing the book that contains the murals…especially the ones with the oysters. Is it possible to buy this book still?
Thank you,
Mary Morant
[email protected]
203-656-1439
We’re not sure. But the Norwalk Historical Society likely has more info: https://norwalkhistoricalsociety.org/norwalk-wpa-mural-tours/