Miguel Covarrubias painted six murals on the theme “Pageant of the Pacific” for the Golden Gate International Exposition. They were displayed on Treasure Island along with other art objects on the theme of “Pacific Unity” from 1939-1940. The murals have… read more
The WPA worked on Twin Peaks Blvd. between Clayton St. and Palo Alto Ave.
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted heavy renovation and repair work at San Francisco’s Twin Peaks Reservoir during the Great Depression. Repaired reservoir leaks and water proofed. Cut new expansion joints, painted and thoroughly renovated old reservoir.–Healy, p. 65.
This WPA angel fresco sits in the Richardson Hall administration building at the Southwest corner of the campus at Hermann and Laguna. With the recent plans for demolition, parts of the building have been demolished and access to this fresco… read more
San Francisco State University (then, the Normal School) moved here from its original location at Powell and Clay Streets after the 1906 earthquake. In 1936, the Woods Hall Annex science building was completed in the Northwest corner of the campus… read more
The WPA contracted an Italian mosaic setter for this project to teach Albro and other involved artists how to work with marble mosaics. The mosaic was built over the main entrance to Woods Hall. Unfortunately the mosaic appears to have… read more
The Annex contains a 1937 WPA fresco, “A Dissertation on Alchemy”, by Reuben Kadish and Urban Neininger. The fresco is 9′ x 11′ and is located in the stairwell in the northeast corner of the Woods Hall Annex.
This walnut relief “Joy of Life” by Michael von Meyer depicting a mother and child was completed in 1937 with FAP funds.
A ten panel fresco depicting the “History of Medicine in California” was completed by Bernard Zakheim in 1936 with FAP funds. The mural is located in Toland Hall. Zakheim also painted another pair of murals in 1935 for Cole Hall:… read more
‘The United States Mint at San Francisco occupies an imposing site on the summit of a rocky hill overlooking Market Street, the main thoroughfare of the city. The southern approach consists of a double flight of winding stone steps to… read more
An 840 x 965 ft reservoir that added 82 million gallons of storage to the existing 60 million gallon reservoir that was already on site. The reservoir is lined with 6″ of reinforced concrete and the roof has 21/2″ slab… read more
This 1′ x 3.5′ cast-concrete sculpture of an owl was produced with the help of the WPA Federal Art Project. The artist is unknown.
From the New Deal Art Registry: “At the Valencia Gardens Housing Project, Beniamino Bufano’s glistening statue of a mother bear nursing two cubs, in smooth red granite, is a joy to the eye. Nearby are two granite seals, a granite… read more
“At the Valencia Gardens Housing Project, Bufano’s glistening statue of a mother bear nursing two cubs, in smooth red granite, is a joy to the eye. Nearby are two granite seals, a granite cat with a mouse, and a granite… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed San Francisco’s old Visitacion Nursery School during the Great Depression. The agency: Built a new community center with facilities for a nursery school.–Healy, p.72.
“In later audits ‘school’ and ‘auditorium’ listed separately. Could be separate buildings?” Contributor note: The auditorium is attached to the school. The structure was renovated a few years prior to 2018.
"18 classrooms. Includes auditorium; in later audits 'school' and 'auditorium' listed separately. Same year as Glen Park. Could be separate buildings?"
In 1933, David Park painted the watercolor, “200 Men Making Trails on Cliff Face, Lands End—San Francisco,” for the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP). This is among a series that were likely meant as studies for murals depicting Civil… read more
“The first West Portal Branch Library was built on a parcel of land which had been transferred from the Board of Education to the San Francisco Public Library in February of 1936. The Branch was opened to the public on… read more
An 8' x 6' black granite sculpture of "St. Francis on Horseback" by Beniamino Bufano located in the central courtyard of the project. It was made in 1935 but not placed here until 1945.
WPA work involved "Landscaping and planting various cut slopes and excavated areas which have been opened up during the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge"–Mooser, p. 84.
