ADDRESS: 211 South Jackson Street, Mc Leansboro, Illinois, 62859
ARTIST: Dorothea Mierisch
TITLE: First Official Air Mail Flight
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Mc Leansboro 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: 1941
I get excited when I find additional information regarding the art I find. Upon my return from my visit to Mc Leansboro, I did some research and found further information on the Smithsonian American Art Museum website. It turns out, I’m not the only one interested in this mural.
I initially discovered this mural through the Parma Conservation. Apparently it was cleaned a number of years ago. It’s a great example of work done to preserve these pieces of art.
I love the colors and the subject of the piece. It brings the viewer back to a time when such events were celebrated with gusto and class. Times back then were just different. Today we have festivals and celebrations but the feeling, the atmosphere is much different from what it used to be. It’s a great reminder and something that should be cherished for future generations to enjoy. That feeling is what drives me to continue visiting these buildings.
Tell me your feeling of this mural? What does it reminds you of? What sticks out to you? Please comment below. Can you tell me why I choose today to post this one?
David W. Gates Jr.
“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”
Sources
- Personal visit on 5/24/2014 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
- Smithsonian American Art Museum: (http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=17403)
- Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)