Return to top of Newsletter

Hugo Ballin,"Four Freedoms" (detail--Freedom of Religion), Burbank City Hall.

One of the best kept secrets in Southern California are the beautiful murals and bas reliefs in Burbank's 1940's WPA sponsored art deco City Hall. Tucked away in City Council chambers, the City Attorney's office and floating above the lobby staircase are three seldom seen murals; while stunning bas reliefs decorate the front and sides of the building. Thousands of people drive down Olive Avenue every day, unaware of the treasures decorating the city's headquarters. The most impressive of the three murals is Hugo Ballin's 11 x 22' Four Freedoms mural completed in 1942. The oil on canvas work dominates the City Council chambers and celebrates Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1941 "Four Freedoms" speech given at the signing of the Atlantic Charter. The composition is dominated by four large allegorical figures who occupy the upper half of the canvas and represent the Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom from Want. As the artist wrote in 1943: "The lower section of the mural depict [sic] these freedoms put into practice in everyday experience."

On the far left, we see a seated woman, her lap full of books representing the printed word in various languages, while behind her hangs the alphabet. In her hand, according to the artist, she holds a disk showing lips which illustrate the spoken word. Below her are various figures, in front of the California state flag, forcefully addressing crowds; beneath them is a seated bespeckled man in a suit working at a typewriter. Ballin said he is working on a speech, but he could also function as a representative of the free press.

The most interesting part of this section is the black man, we see from behind, addressing a crowd. Ballin, always a risk taker and willing to challenge the establishment, has included blacks in the main stream of American life many years ahead of the civil rights movement. Very rarely in murals created during the '30s and '40s were positive images of minorities included.

The religious freedom section is dominated by Moses, who holds the tablets, while below him the Pope is reading from the New Testament facing three Jewish men, one of whom is holding the Torah. Beneath the Pope, a Native American is protecting a sacred flame next to a group of people kneeling in prayer in front of a preacher.

The third large figure represents Plenty. She holds fruits and flowers. Beneath her is a market which demonstrates the emerging prosperity of the nation and dramatic recovery from the depression. We see a woman with a basket of goods buying from the grocer, while a young boy on a tricycle with a "BBC 1942" license plate holds out his hand for a treat.

Finally, freedom from fear is shown according to the artist by a strong man holding a tablet which is a symbol of the opposition to the instruments of war and aggression. Beneath them a family eats a meal, while outside a young farmer and his wife hold a little baby, further proof of the resilience of the human spirit. Nearby is a young boy playing with a dog next to a black man reading a paper. This ideal landscape is contrasted to the background, where we see men destroying the weapons of war.

This is one of Ballin's best murals. Although the subject matter may seem like cheerleading for Roosevelt's new deal policies, the execution and color scheme is excellent and the composition is first rate. Unfortunately, the drop roof of the City Council Chambers covers the top part of the mural and the canvas is in need of some restoration. The city is currently looking into fixing these problems. Feel free to stop by and take a peak at this little known gem.

The other Ballin mural, Burbank Industry, located above the central lobby was 24 x 8' until the lower third was cut away to make room for a door leading to the new addition to city hall. (The missing third of the mural is now at the Burbank Historical society.) The remaining section honors the motion picture and airplane industries of the city, though far less convincingly than Barse Miller's mural for the nearby post office did in 1940. This is a dark and rather unimaginative mural that does not showcase the artist's considerable talents.

A far more interesting, though considerably more diminutive panel, is Bartholomew de Mako's Justice, a portable federal art project mural now in the City Attorney's Office lobby. Set against the background of the capitol in Washington D.C., we see justice holding the scales in her left hand and an American flag in the right. Beneath her are six figures representing the diverse group of citizens who benefit from our impartial system of jurisprudence. Recently restored, the brilliant pallette jumps off the canvas. Burbank officials are to be commended for rescuing this beautiful work of art.

Next time you are in the neighborhood, stop by Burbank City Hall to view their treasures. Also when there, be sure to go to the east side of the building to view de Mako's bas relief Tribute to Craftsmen.