- City:
- San Francisco, CA
- Site Type:
- Art Works, Murals
- New Deal Agencies:
- Federal Arts Project (FAP), Arts Programs, Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Completed:
- 1939
- Artists:
- Hilaire Hiler, Lawrence Holmberg, Richard Ayer, Thomas Dowley
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Marked:
- Yes
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
The oil-on-plaster “Prismatarium” mural at the National Maritime Historical Park visitors center was designed by Hilaire Hiler to give “striking demonstrations on the relationship of color and light.” It represents Hiler’s fascination with color and his idea that he had found the perfect color palette.
It covers the walls and ceiling of a circular room on the west side of the building. Originally, the light fixture revolved.
Several other artists worked under Hiler on this mural, which was completed in 1939 and paid for by Federal Art Project (FAP) funds.
This and other murals in the building have been restored by the National Park Service in recent years.
The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park visitors center was originally the bathhouse for the San Francisco Aquatic Park, created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) 1936-39.
Source notes
Site originally submitted by Originally posted in the New Deal Art Registry on December 7, 2023.
Additional contributions by Richard Walker.
At this Location:
- Maritime National Historical Park (Aquatic Park) - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Blue Room - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Johnson Tile Mural - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Hiler Atlantis Murals - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Nunemaker Mural - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Bufano Sculptures - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Johnson Reliefs - San Francisco CA
- National Maritime Historical Park: Ayer Murals - San Francisco CA
View all sites at National Maritime Historical Park - San Francisco CA (9 Sites)
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