ADDRESS: 549 Madison Avenue, Madison, Illinois, 62060
ARTIST: A. Raymond Katz
TITLE: Assimilation and Immigration into Industrial Life of Madison
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Madison 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
I arrived in Madison in the early morning of May 3, 2015. The sun was just starting to rise. I was on a mission to visit a number of New Deal buildings. Madison was my first stop during this road trip.
The best thing about early morning road trips is that for the most part the roads are clear and not a lot of people are out. This makes it easy to get my photographs of the exteriors of the buildings. Since is was so early I wasn’t expecting the building to be open, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to enter the lobby.
I took my time viewing and enjoying the mural. I took my photographs and was on my way. I have lots to see today and it started off with a great visit to Madison.
What do you like about this mural? I think is kind of busy with a lot going on. What do you know about the artists? This particular piece is also dark. What I mean is the colors of the mural, not the feeling. Please comment and share below.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 5/03/2015 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
- The Gentle Art of Wondering
