Nearly a century ago, the government-sponsored Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissioned artists to create more than 35,000 informational posters for cultural initiatives, travel, and tourism. The iconic, New-Deal era advertisements combined modern art trends with marketing techniques. While many of the eye-catching signs found their way to archives or libraries, others remained inaccessible and uncataloged for decades.
Join Ennis Cartner of Social Impact Studios for a virtual exploration of the lost (and found) poster art of the WPA. In 2008, Ennis started Posters for the People, which has become the most comprehensive online database of WPA posters. Explore more than 1,300 posters never cataloged by the federal government, including specific works that remained hidden for 70 years.
Ennis Carter is the founder and director of Social Impact Studios. Ennis studied Philosophy at New York University and worked as a community and student organizer in the late 1980s. Carter was named one of the 50 Best Women in Business by PA by Governor Rendell’s administration in 2006. She lives with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia.
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This online experience is part of Atlas Obscura’s Wonder From Home initiative. At Atlas Obscura, our mission has always been to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. Now, more than ever, there’s a need to stay connected—not only to our sense of wonder, but to each other. Follow and share the hashtag #wonderfromhome for inspiring stories, more incredible online experiences, and live streams with the Atlas Obscura community.
There are 275 spots available on this experience.
