"Few Americans are aware of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, two blocks from the U.S. Capitol on Independence Avenue. Fewer still know of the masterpieces housed inside. The building, opened in 1940, features grand New Deal-era murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel and other esteemed 20 th-century artists-all of which could be lost forever. Since 1954, the building has been the home of the Voice of America, which was targeted by Elon Musk's DOGE and President Donald Trump for cancellation."
"It actually never ended up housing the Social Security Board, but since that was the intention, it was loaded up with all sorts of very inspirational art about the mission of Social Security. The signature piece of art in there is a series of frescoes by Ben Shahn, whose star has faded a little bit, but he was a great artist who was highly celebrated in the last century."
The Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, opened in 1940 two blocks from the U.S. Capitol on Independence Avenue, contains grand New Deal-era murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, Seymour Fogel and other 20th-century artists. The structure was originally intended for the Social Security Board and was loaded with inspirational art about Social Security’s mission, including frescoes by Ben Shahn and a Guston mural concealed behind a blue curtain. Since 1954 the building housed the Voice of America. The building now stands empty and is up for sale, and the likely buyer is unlikely to preserve the New Deal artworks.
Read at Washington Monthly
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