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Wood carving artwork

Wood carving artwork

Paulding Ohio Post Office

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Paulding OH Post Office 45879
Paulding OH Post Office 45879

ADDRESS: 121 West, Jackson Street, Paulding, Ohio, 45879
ARTIST: Charles Umlauf
TITLE: Industry
MEDIUM: Wood (relief)
STATUS: The Paulding post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

Thanksgiving 2015 was spent with my wife’s side of the family. This involved driving out to Ohio. Since I like to make the most of my long distance trips I selected Paulding, Ohio as one of our stops on the way home. Honestly, it was just on my list of buildings to visit. I had no idea it had a wood caring let along a very large wood carving.

I was completely surprise and I guess that is another reason I took 75 pictures during this visit.

I only know of a few large wood carvings. Greenville, Tennessee and now Paulding, Ohio. I have to say this adds a very nice variety to our collection of artwork.

There are several reason I like the carvings. First I don’t think they need to be refinished or restored like a mural. Murals tend to fade and become discolored over time. Where as a wood carving tends to just age slowly. If that makes any sense.

What do you know about large wood carvings? Do you like this one? What can you tell use about it? Please comment and share below.

David W. Gates Jr.

Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879
Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879 Lobby
Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879 Cornerstone
Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879
Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879
Paulding Ohio Post Office 45879
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Center
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail
Paulding Ohio Post Office Carving 45879 Detail

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“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

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Kankakee Illinois Post Office

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Kankakee IL Post Office 60901
Kankakee IL Post Office 60901

ADDRESS: 475 East Court Street, Kankakee, Illinois, 60901
ARTIST: Edouard Chassaing
TITLE: Farming
MEDIUM: Wood (carvings)
STATUS: The Kankakee post office is still an active, operating facility and the carvings can be viewed by interested members of the public. They reside in the lobby on the wall above the postmasters door.
YEAR: 1943

The Kankakee, Illinois post office is a large building. When I’m driving around photographing post offices, most often the buildings are the small square one’s you see below in related post. So naturally it was a big surprised when I arrived in Kankakee to find such a large building.

Not one, not two but three wood carvings grace the lobby in Kankakee. Although the title of the wood carving is “Farming” it encompass the three separate pieces you see below.

I found it really difficult to photograph and get good quality images. The lobby lights hang low and get in the way of shooting directly in front of the entire wall. I did my best, and took over 40 photos. How did I do? What do you think? Do you like the wood carvings? Are you more of a mural person or plaster cast artwork fan? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901 Cornerstone
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Full
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Center
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Left Side
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Right Side
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Full

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

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Plano Illinois Post Office

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Plano IL Post Office 60545
Plano IL Post Office 60545

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 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
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 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
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 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 Full
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 Right Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Wood Carvings

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources