Key Takeaways
• The Cohen Murals sit in an empty federal building facing sale.
• These murals honor social security and American workers.
• They were painted under Roosevelt’s New Deal art program.
• A private buyer may tear down the building and remove the art.
• Advocates call on officials to protect these public treasures.
Cohen Murals Face Uncertain Future
The Wilbur J. Cohen Building in Washington, DC, holds famous murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, and others. However, the building now sits empty. Most staff have been moved out. Only the murals remain. Yet these works may vanish if the building is sold or torn down.
Why Cohen Murals Matter Today
First, the Cohen murals tell a story of hope and struggle. During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt’s New Deal paid artists to create public art. Thus, they brought dignity to hard-working Americans. Therefore, the Cohen murals celebrate the Social Security Act of 1935. This act gave retirement and unemployment benefits to millions. In addition, the art shows scenes of families, workers, and communities. As a result, these images still speak to us about shared security and compassion.
ohen Murals
In the 1930s, the US Treasury Section of Fine Arts hired artists to paint public spaces. It aimed to boost morale and show the value of public works. Ben Shahn won the Cohen Building commission. He wrote that the project was the most important job he could want. In turn, he painted a father and son on a rail track and a nuclear family at a picnic table. Likewise, Philip Guston added haunting portraits of laborers in simple yet powerful forms. Seymour Fogel and Ethel and Jenne Magafan also added scenes extolling labor and prosperity.
Threats to the Cohen Murals
Today, forty-five federal properties are up for sale. The Cohen Building is on the list. As Timothy Noah recently reported, private developers rarely maintain murals. They may demolish the structure because it is cheaper than a full renovation. If that happens, the Cohen murals may be lost forever. Local protections exist under the National Register of Historic Places. Yet these rules can be bypassed by a fast-moving administration. Thus, advocates fear a lack of review could seal the murals’ fate.
Why Preserve the Cohen Murals
Moreover, public art belongs to everyone. The Cohen murals were paid by taxpayer money. They remain part of our shared heritage. In fact, they show our nation’s past faith in government and social support. They remind us that art and civil rights go hand in hand. Roosevelt believed that beauty and democracy are linked. By protecting the Cohen murals, we honor that link. We also send a message that art remains vital in hard times.
Voices for Saving the Cohen Murals
The nonprofit Living New Deal has launched a petition to preserve the Cohen Building and its murals. They argue that the murals must stay in public hands. In addition, historians and art experts warn that moving or cutting murals is risky. Paint and plaster can crack, flake, or fade when removed. Therefore, the safest bet is to keep them in place. Furthermore, community groups in DC are urging lawmakers to intervene. They hope to require any buyer to preserve the murals as a condition of sale.
New Deal Art’s Lasting Legacy
Across the country, New Deal art brightens post offices, schools, and courthouses. It told Americans that hard times would end and that the nation would rise again. Artists like Jacob Lawrence, Alice Neel, and Jackson Pollock found steady work from federal programs. Likewise, Shahn and Guston credited these projects with launching their careers. Without them, many artists might have gone hungry. Hence, the Cohen murals stand as a testament to art as public service.
What Happens Next for the Cohen Murals?
Federal authorities have not yet set a sale date. In the meantime, advocates are calling on Congress to block any sale until the murals are safe. They also want a clear agreement that any future owner must restore and maintain the artworks. If that fails, they hope for a last-minute move by the National Park Service or another agency to claim stewardship. However, time is short. Each passing day raises the risk that plans will move forward without proper review.
How You Can Help
First, sign petitions that call on officials to protect the Cohen murals. In addition, contact your representatives and ask them to demand a full review of the building’s sale. Also, spread the word on social media using the hashtag SaveCohenMurals. Finally, donate to groups working to save public art from destruction. Every voice counts in the fight to keep these murals where they belong.
Looking Ahead
It may seem small to worry about art with so many urgent problems. Yet public art like the Cohen murals inspires community and unity. It honors workers, families, and the ideals behind social security today. By preserving these images, we renew hope that government can serve its people. After all, Roosevelt once said that freedom includes enough to live on and something to live for. The Cohen murals capture that promise in paint and plaster.
FAQs
What is the Cohen Building and why is it important?
The Wilbur J. Cohen Building in Washington, DC, once housed social security offices. It holds New Deal murals by top artists. These murals celebrate public welfare and labor.
Who painted the Cohen murals?
Ben Shahn and Philip Guston led the project. They worked alongside Seymour Fogel and Ethel and Jenne Magafan. All were sponsored by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.
Why are the Cohen murals at risk?
The building is on a federal sale list. Private buyers often demolish or remove art. There is no guarantee a new owner will preserve or restore the murals.
How can the public help save the Cohen murals?
People can sign petitions, contact members of Congress, or support nonprofits like Living New Deal. They can also share information online to raise awareness.