This ExhibiTion MadE PossiblE by

Photographs by J. Christopher Launi Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association Downtown Long Beach Associates Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Long Beach Airport
Maliki Bahar Julie Bartolotto Kaye Briegel Karen Clements Coastal Paint Victoria Damrel, Photographer Scottie Hinkey Laurel Howat J.M.C. Builders Inc. Kristi Fischer Jon Glasgow Long Beach Heritage Long Beach Museum of Art Long Beach Public Library Long Beach Unified School District Letticia Montoya Maureen Neeley Merit Steel Roxanne Patmor Sue Ann Robinson Mike Ross Toby Settle John Thomas 3D Cabinets

he idea for this exhibit came from Scottie Hinkey. She donated the notes and research collected by her and her late husband, Dr. Douglas Hinkey to the Historical Society of Long Beach. He had prepared an exhibit about local New Deal art at the Hippodrome Gallery in 1991, and published a handsome and informative book, Federal Art in Long Beach: A Heritage Rediscovered, to accompany it.

HSLB was inspired by this donation to create its own exhibit. Talented local photographer J. Christopher Launi took additional contemporary photographs of many of the existing works. HSLB has combined Launis images with material from its archives. These have been integrated with Hinkeys work into an exhibit that celebrates the legacy of the New Deal in Long Beach.

REBUILDING F
for the

U T U R E

Mosaic, Long Beach Airport

A NEW DEAL for LONG BEACH 1933 to 1942

June 17 - Dec. 31, 2011 Tues, Wed, Fri 1-5pm

The reproduced images shown in Rebuilding for the Future: A New Deal for Long Beach 1933 1942 will be available for purchase at the end of the exhibit.

Hiawatha, Long Beach Public Library, Main

Thurs 1-7pm | Sat 11-5pm

Historical Society of Long Beach
4260 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach CA 90807 562.424.2220 | www.hslb.org

he New Deal was created in response to the Great Depression. It was President Franklin Roosevelts program to put people back to work and reform the economy. The Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) has created an exhibit to illustrate this programs impact on our city. The most spectacular photos in the exhibit were created by the Federal Arts Program of the Works Progress Administration (WPA/FAP). WPA/FAP was a part of the New Deal that created jobs for artists. Many of these works still exist and continue enhancing our community. Others have been demolished and replaced. Local citizens have long struggled to preserve these works, and bring them greater public attention and appreciation.

Bas relief, Washington Middle School

New Deal projects to put people back to work played a unique role in Long Beach. Roosevelt began those projects when he was sworn in as president in March, 1933. In that same month, Long Beach was struck by a large earthquake. City officials cobbled together local funds with those from the federal and state governments to rebuild the city. They also used New Deal job-creation projects to enhance the local infrastructure. A search of materials in HSLBs archives revealed long lists of projects, including paving streets and laying sewers. In Long Beach, many schools were damaged in the 1933 earthquake, and had to be rebuilt to higher seismic safety standards. Funds from New Deal programs enhanced local bond measures adopted by voters for this purpose. Along with stronger buildings, local students received handsome schools, often decorated with murals, mosaics and sculptures by artists employed by the WPA/FAP.

WPA/FAP artists also created, a huge mosaic, to enhance the front of Long Beachs new Municipal Auditorium. It was the largest art project created by WPA artists in the whole country. Another WPA/FAP artist, Grace Clements, designed mosaics and murals that decorated the floors and walls throughout the citys new airport terminal. It was completed as the country was preparing for World War II. These works are highlighted in this exhibit.

Long Beach Recreation (section), City Place Promenade

Deep Sea Magic (section), Rogers Middle School

WPA Worker, American Ave.

Two Yuccas, Long Beach Museum of Art

The exhibit builds on the work of members of the City of Long Beachs Cultural Heritage Commission and Long Beach Heritage. Since the founding of the CHC, members have recognized the value of these works, and urged city and school district officials to preserve and celebrate them. They continued the work of those who advocated removal, preservation and relocation of the mosaic when the Municipal Auditorium was demolished. They also followed the example of the librarians who saved the WPA/FAP art work previous from the Main Library when it was torn down, and made sure that some of that art found a place in the new library.

Historical Society of Long Beach

4260 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach CA 90807 562.424.2220 | www.hslb.org/calendar_of_events

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit #410 Long Beach, CA

R e b u ildin g for the

FutuRe

A NEW DEAL for LONG BEACH, 1933 to 1942

exhibit opening: June 17, 2011 opening reception 6:30-9pm | program at 7pm exhibit date: June 17 - Dec. 31, 2011 gallery hours: Tues, Wed, Fri 1-5pm Thurs 1-7pm | Sat 11-5pm support from:

J. Christopher Launi, photographer Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association Downtown Long Beach Associates Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

REBUILDING F
for the
A NEW DEAL for LONG BEACH 1933 to 1942

U T U R E