Thomas Starr King Middle School: Napolitano Murals – Los Angeles CA

City:
Los Angeles, CA

Site Type:
Murals, Art Works

New Deal Agencies:
Federal Arts Project (FAP), Arts Programs

Completed:
1936

Artist:
P. G. Napolitano

Quality of Information:
Moderate

Marked:
Unknown

Site Survival:
Unknown

Description

Artist P. G. Napolitano painted a pair of murals, titled “Spirit of the Fiesta,” at Thomas Starr King Middle School in Los Angeles, CA. The two 9′ by 12′ panels—featuring a male and female figure—are located above the north court balcony. Napolitano received funding from the Federal Arts Project (FAP).

“Mr. Napolitano’s main interest has always been in murals, which he executes in tempra (egg white), in frescoes, and in Sgraffito [a technique by which a picture is created by scraping through top coats of colored mortars while still fresh, revealing underneath the color desired] which he introduced here in creative work. Much of his work is marked by the omission of pretty detail and mere decorativeness until only the essential stand out; economy of line, rhythm, and strength are the three uppermost qualities” (Wells, p. 22).

Napolitano’s other New Deal–funded works in the region include two murals at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, CA.

According to a 1937 article in the Los Angeles School Journal, “The greatest single patron of Federal art among the schools of the Los Angeles system is Thomas Start King Junior High School, whose principal is Dr. Alice Ball Struthers. The possessions of that school could well serve as a model and be the envy of every other school in the country” (Wells, p. 25).

Source notes

Wells, N. W. “Federal Art Project and the Schools.” Los Angeles School Journal XX, no. 29 (April 26, 1937): 17–25.

Site originally submitted by Natalie McDonald on February 11, 2023.

Location Info


4201 Fountain Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Coordinates: 34.0969, -118.2809

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