The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
WPA,
Good Work, and Artists 12/14/2023 |
The WPA, created by FDR during the bleakest days of the Great Depression—when over 20 million Americans were unemployed—accomplished a lot. |
It put 8.5 million Americans to work—many of them unskilled laborers—building 4,000 schools, repairing or building 650,000 miles of roads, 75,000 new bridges, 8,000 parks, 800 new airports, and 125,000 public buildings. Many of these are still in use today. It also planted 24 million trees to safeguard topsoil during the Dust Bowl. It employed tens of thousands of actors, musicians, writers, painters, muralists, architects and other artists. The work of these artists brought hope back to |
Works Progress Administration road project. From the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Wikimedia Commons. |
those who were recipients of it. One hundred community art centers were established around the country and thousands of persons found work in museums. The WPA’s National Youth Administration found part-time jobs for young people. The WPA arts program cost only $27 million of the
total $11 billion dollars budgeted to WPA work programs, and led to the creation of the National Foundation of the Arts. |
New Orleans, 1940. “Noon-day concert held by the WPA band at Lafayette Square. Exterior.” Federal Music Project. Wikimedia Commons | Among the 5,300
visual artists employed by the WPA was a young painter named Jackson Pollock who worked as a mural assistant. Also, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Lee Krasner got their start with the WPA. In 1935 the WPA employed |
around 350,000 Black
Americans or 15% of its total workforce. Black musicians and actors were paid to perform and others made significant contributions to the preservation of Black culture and history. |
Women found work in clerical jobs, gardening, canning, and as librarians and seamstresses. The WPA was not without its critics. But overall, it helped the economy grow (paid workers had money to spend after all) and gave skills and experience to many
workers. |
African-American women mending books in Forsyth County, NC, as part of a WPA library project. Wikimedia Commons. |
Offering good work, it brought self-respect back to many. Good work does that. Art does that. |
See Matthew Fox, The Reinvention of Work.
Also see Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
Banner Image: WPA mural, Cohen Building, Washington, D.C. Photo from the Carol A. Highsmith collection in the Library of Congress.
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Queries for Contemplation How readily do we understand artists as workers? Do artists get sidelined too easily in a culture bent on competition and
workaholism and capitalism? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Matthew’s weekly video reflection now appears each Monday — watch for it! |
The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time
Thomas Aquinas said, “To live well is to work well,” and in this bold call for the revitalization of daily work, Fox shares his vision of a world
where our personal and professional lives are celebrated in harmony–a world where the self is not sacrificed for a job but is sanctified by authentic “soul work.”
“Fox approaches the level of poetry in describing the reciprocity that must be present between one’s inner and outer work…[A]n important road map to social change.” ~~ National Catholic Reporter |
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Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in
directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic
vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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________________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness:
What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology
on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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