Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Fine Art and Flathead Fords Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Who was the bigger genus - Rivera or Ford (Henry)? I can't imagine a paint brush in Henry's hand, But I would love to have seen a finished 32 Ford by Rivera
Great post, Jive Bomber. Thanks for all the photos of the mural – so many details to absorb. I think one could spend days following the flow of Rivera's design from one scene to another and back. The ex-steelworker and union man in me cheers for the workers that Rivera realizes are so important to the industry documented in this work of art. Edsel was a man of great vision, and a genius in his own right, and his commissioning Rivera for this project is just one example of that vision. I have to think that working with his father, Henry, provided Edsel ample training for working with Diego Rivera, another man of colossal ego. Works such as this one, and many lesser works, such as the many U.S. Post Office murals commissioned by the WPA, made the 1930s a great time for public art.
I'm so glad your visit to Detroit went well. I grew up in the city and believe it has a lot to offer and is getting better. My wife and I frequently visit the DIA on Friday nights when they host music performances in this court yard (really bad acoustics). I spend much of that time studying the mural as did you and trying to find any inaccuracy's in his depiction. How did you like the suits of Armor just in the next room? They would make an interesting subject for an article on the art of armor making.
Did you arrange any vintage transportation while you were here? I'm sure a few, myself included, would have enjoyed adding an additional element to your experience. Reach out next time and lets see what we can do. That's assuming there's sure to be a next time, yes?
Thanks for the posting, I'd like to have a large poster of the mural to hang next to some of my flathead art.
Those murals truly depict a time when factory work was just so mind numbing, robotic and just plain hard work.
Would it be considered 'defacing' to pencil in some valve pockets in Diego's 'generic block'? Looks like a Lindberg model kit.
A buddy brought up the subject of going to NSRA Kalamazoo next year and sight seeing in Detroit. What else should we not miss while we are there?
Incredible look back in time. I've been involved with large mural work myself, so I know what goes into it, and the time involved. Not only is this well thought out artwork, but it is also history.
Love this stuff I like the noise created by these images, and the toughness of the toil of men working shifts to put food on the table.
Check the location where the valves are positioned on that flathead. I take my hat off to Edsel for his vision in design, despite his Hitlerian father always ridiculing him his entire life.
In 1989, the Detroit Grand Prix poster was a modified version of that fresco. Have a copy hanging in my garage. They were available at Detroit area Cadillac dealers at the time.
It's nice to see all those different colored people working together to make something great that we all love! I'd love to see it in person some day.