Illinois Post Offices

ADDRESS: 161 East Ferguson Avenue, Wood River – Roxana, Illinois, 62084
ARTIST: Archilbald Motley Jr.
TITLE: Stagecoach and Mail
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Wood River – Roxana 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: 1937

Welcome to Wood River – Roxana Illinois. To me this is not a mural but more of a painting. I only say that because of the size of the piece. When I think of the term “Mural”, the image of large paintings come to mind. Not the small-scale which this piece represents.

Not that I’m complaining at all, It’s great to see the art and I’m glad to see it still in the post office. To me that is much more important than debating any sort of classification like is it a “mural” or “painting”.

During my visit the retail lobby area was closed so I ended up photographing the mural from behind the glass vestibule. I really dislike doing this but my thinking is a little of something is better than nothing. Plus I live in Illinois and I guess, If I really need to visit again I could. So for now here are the photos of the mural from behind the glass.

What are your thoughts on this piece? Do you consider it a mural or merely a painting? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

• Personal visit on 7/08/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
• (affiliate link) Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook 
• United States Postal Service
• (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz