Activists Fight to Salvage the "Sistine Chapel of New Deal Art"

"A group of artists, preservationists, and activists is sounding the alarm against Trump's potential demolition of a prominent federal office building next to the National Mall, and the treasured artworks inside it - including several New Deal-era murals that speak to the value of Social Security in the United States. Alex Lawson, executive director of the advocacy organization Social Security Works, co-authored a petition to save the works with local muralist Absurdly Well."

"In an interview with Hyperallergic, Lawson called Trump's proposed transaction "authoritarianism 101." "Erasing art culture and history is how authoritarians make it seem there's nothing better than the thin gruel of cruelty they are offering," Lawson said. "We couldn't stop them from destroying the East Wing of the White House, but I pledge we'll stop them from destroying the Wilbur Cohen building.""

"It would have been unthinkable merely a year ago that any president would willingly erase a visible symbol of America's national heritage. But these are unprecedented times. After tearing down the East Wing to build a new ballroom without approvals from a national planning commission or Congress and affixing his name on the Kennedy Center, President Trump is seeking to liquidate four federal buildings by auctioning them to private developers."

Artists, preservationists, and activists are mobilizing to protect the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building and the New Deal-era murals it contains, including works that underscore the value of Social Security. The building and its artworks are described as culturally significant and at risk from proposed federal property sales. Advocacy leaders co-authored a petition demanding that the administration cease plans to sell the building and highlighted concerns about erasing cultural history. The campaign cites recent controversial White House changes and an administration plan to auction several federal buildings to private developers as escalating risks to the artworks.

Read at Hyperallergic