ADDRESS: 417 Des Plains Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130
ARTIST: Miriam McKinnie (Hofmeier)
TITLE: The White Fawn
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Forest Park post office is still an active, operating facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940
Ever walk into the Forest Park, Illinois Post Office and ask yourself… “I wonder who painted the mural?” or, “I wonder what title of it is?. Well look no further. You’ve come to the right place.
I was only able to get these two photos of the mural before the lady at the counter stop me from taking any more. I was taken backed that it didn’t even occur to me that I should have said more, but I kept my mouth shut. I gave her my card and also got the phone number for the postmaster. I was instructed to call and ask for permission before taking any more photos. I’m pretty sure this is not necessary and I don’t want to cause any trouble so I just left. I figured since I live in the Chicago-Land area it won’t be that big of a deal to get back here again.
However, if you are the postmaster, and you happen upon this article, would it be ok to continue with documenting your building and mural? I’d really appreciate it.
But I want to hear from you? Have you ever wondered bout this mural? Do you know more about it? Please leave a comment below, I’d really like to know more about what you think about it?
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 10/27/2013 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
- Parma Conservation
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Forest Park Review
