Archives for December 2014

Gatlinburg Tennessee Post Office

December 27, 2014 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 1216 E Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

This was my first time to Gatlinburg, so its funny when I explain to people I only went to see the post office. I had no idea how touristy this town is. I had heard stories, but until you actually find yourself driving 5 miles per hour through town because of all the pedestrians and traffic it doesn’t see real.

We ate at one of the pancake houses and were on our way. After spending solitary time hiking in the woods this town seems overwhelming.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 9/1/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service

Plano Illinois Post Office

December 20, 2014 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 102 North Center Street, Plano, Illinois, 60545
ARTIST: Perterpaul Ott
TITLE: Harvest
MEDIUM: Wood (carvings)
STATUS: The Plano post office is still an active, operating facility, and the carving can be viewed by interested members of the public. They reside in the lobby on the wall above the bulletin boards.
YEAR: 1941

Were you looking for a mural? Did you think to yourself, “oh cool another old period looking building”, I bet they have a cool mural? Guess again. This one does have art, but just not a mural. It happens to have not ONE but TWO wood carvings. Pretty cool considering there are more murals than wood carvings that were commissioned during the depression era.

I like the change things up so viewing, photographing art other than a murals was a real treat. I love the look and appearance of the wood carvings. I wondering if they have been treated, if so with what? I’m glad they have not painted over or removed. What are your impressions of the wood carvings? Do you know the artist or any interesting facts about them? Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Top

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Signature

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Full

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Bottom

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Center

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Detail

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Lobby

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Full

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Signature

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Top

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Center

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Full Bottom

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Detail

Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Wood Carvings

Sources

Personal visit on 7/05/2014 and 04/26/2023 by David W. Gates Jr.
Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
United States Postal Service
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

La Follette Tennessee Post Office

December 13, 2014 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 1221 E Central Ave., La Follette, Tennessee, 37766
ARTIST: Dahlov Ipcar
TITLE: On the Shores of the Lake
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The mural no longer reside in the original building. It was moved to the newer post office building on Central Ave (Shown here). The mural is on display in the lobby and is accessible to members of the public during business hours.
YEAR: 1939

Welcome to La Follette, Tennessee. I’m trying to remember if we visited this building first or the original building on Tennessee street. Either way when I stepped into the lobby of this newer building I wasn’t expecting to find the mural here. I’m really glad it has been preserved and moved. But it seems out-of-place. I’m trying to decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

When the murals were original installed, they were often times installed up hight above the postmasters office door. However, since this one was moved it was installed at a lower level, closer to the floor. The benefit of this, is the observer has a much closer and eye level view of the mural. Patrons are able to get an close look at all the detail. The drawback is that it looks awkward so close to the floor.

Additional notes, when I run into situations like this. Where the building is newer and it has artwork. It becomes difficult to categorize this article. Here is my dilemma. When I initially setup the categories, the “New Deal” category was meant to classify an older building with corner-stone and have been built during this time period. Since this is a newer building, I can’t classify it as “New Deal”. However, this location does have artwork from the this time period. Thus you can see my dilemma when classifying this type of building and article.

What do you think? Were you involve in moving this mural? What were some of the discussions involved in installations of this artwork? Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.