CHARLES AMES
Biographical Information
Ames (1906-c.1981) was born in Illinois, Ames moved to California at a young age. He studied at the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco, where teacher Ray Boynton first got him interested in mosaics. During the WPA art projects of the late 1930s, Ames worked closely with artist Jean Goodwin (they married in 1940), and they were among the first in California to do mosaic murals. In addition to their local murals, they completed projects at Newport Harbor Union High School (mosaic) and the County Supervisor's chamber in the San Diego Courthouse (tempera paint). During World War II Ames spent four years in Air Force intelligence, making maps and murals while stationed in Fresno and Santa Ana, California. He headed the design department at the Beaux Arts Institute for more than 11 years
Mural Credits
History of Aviation (Long Beach) (with Jean Goodwin Ames) (photo)
Return to MCLA home page
Return to Muralist Index