WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Interior, which houses one of the finest collections of New Deal murals in the
nation, has added a pair of contemporary murals by nationally renowned artist Daniel Galvez. “These works capture each of our major missions in an exciting, vibrant, and beautiful way,” Interior Assistant
Secretary John Berry said in unveiling the commissioned works at an August 31 ceremony in the Department's headquarters building in Washington, D.C. “The murals not only mark a high point in the Department’s
history but also serve to inspire our employees in their important work.”
The works, each about 9 by 19 feet in size, are mixed media
montages that illustrate the Department’s responsibilities on the
eve of the 21st century. The oils on canvas depict current conservation, interpretation, and environmental protection scenes from national parks, monuments, refuges, and recreational areas.
They were
commissioned in 1999 as part of the Department’s 150th Anniversary Celebration.
“We sought to capture the contemporary spirit of stewardship and wonder,” Berry said, “as a fitting way to help commemorate
this important milestone in Interior’s history. The murals, selected from more than 100 proposals in a nationwide contest, adorn facing walls of the Second Floor central corridor near the E Street entrance
of the Main Interior Building. Interior employees helped to select the winning works through E-mail balloting.
The theme of the 150th anniversary celebration was Guardians of the Past, Stewards for the
Future and the murals have adopted those elements as titles.
Guardians of the Past focuses on the hands-on actions of Interior employees in maintaining public land and water resources and honors the
cultural traditions and activities of American Indians.
Stewards for the Future captures the sense of wonder that is engendered by contemplating and experiencing the beauty of an unspoiled, natural world.
Galvez called the mural project one of his toughest assignments, explaining that he began with 500 photographs of Interior employees at work and narrowed those down to 30. Each mural integrates 14
representative activities from those photos.
“The activities portrayed range from protecting the quality of
the nation’s waters to stocking fish and preserving wildlife,” said Galvez, who is based in
Oakland, California, and has painted numerous commissioned murals in the past 16 years. Other elements reflect the Department's commitment to preserving our cultural heritage.
“Camping and other park scenes represent Interior’s role in
providing access for the American people to these resources, while at the same time preserving them for future generations. Looking to the
future, scenes depict the exploration of the continental shelf and the use of new tools and techniques for testing surface and groundwater and monitoring seismic activity to protect the health and safety of
the American public.”
The Main Interior Building, which is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, has a celebrated fine arts tradition
and is richly endowed with architectural and
decorative features that reflect and symbolize the Department's missions. The building, which houses more works of art than any other federal office facility, is especially recognized for its exceptional
collection of murals that were created during the 1930s and 1940s. In a style know as Popular Realism, these murals illustrate Interior activities, such as managing public land and water, protecting fish and
wildlife, and carrying out the nation’s trust responsibilities for American Indians.
Galvez’ previous commissions include murals for the General
Services Administration, Washington State Arts Commission,
Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum, the Alternative Museum in New York City, the Cambridge Arts Council in Massachusetts, the San Francisco Art
Institute, and the California Arts Council. He has received many honors and awards.
Galvez has a Master of Arts in Painting from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from
California College of Arts and Crafts.
