Monthly Archives: January 2017

Flight over Egypt: Xavier Gonzalez murals

Posted on January 22, 2017 by

I think of all the Xavier Gonzalez murals painted for the New Orleans airport in 1938, the flight over Egypt might be my favorite story–though not necessarily favorite painting.  I think there are aspects of all of them that make … Continue reading →

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Paris and the Lindbergh Landing: Xavier Gonzalez Mural

Posted on January 16, 2017 by

Fifth in the series of murals painted by Xavier Gonzalez in 1938 for the newly opened Shushan Airport in New Orleans, Paris and the Lindbergh Landing shows Lindbergh’s arrival in Paris following his 1927 New York City to Paris trans-Atlantic flight. … Continue reading →

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New York Metropolis

Posted on January 15, 2017 by

The wealth and power of modern civilization seem symbolized by Manhattan’s famous sky-line, towering in the distance across the Hudson River, against the glorious background of the rising sun. The commerce and industry of the Metropolis are proclaimed by the … Continue reading →

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Mount Everest

Posted on January 12, 2017 by

Mount Everest, another of the 8 murals done by Xavier Gonzalez in 1938 for the New Orleans then-named Shushan Airport, depicts the first flight over Mount Everest, Nepal.  The Houston-Mount Everest expedition was led by Air-Commander P. F. M. Fellowes, … Continue reading →

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Land of the Mayas: Gonzalez Mural in New Orleans Lakefront Airport

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

The “Land of the Mayas” mural depicts a Sikorsky plane flying over the Pyramids of the Magician in Uxmal, Mexico. Igor Sikorsky, originally from Ukraine, established the Sikorsky Corporation in 1925, in Connecticut.  Sikorsky is likely most remembered for developing … Continue reading →

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Flight Over South Pole

Posted on January 6, 2017 by

Second only to Lindbergh’s epic in firing the enthusiasm of the public were Admiral Byrd’s achievements at the South Pole. In this panel, the big triple-motored Ford monoplane “Floyd Bennett” is shown taking off from the ice for a flight … Continue reading →

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Flight Over Rio

Posted on January 5, 2017 by

Earlier in the year, I introduced the former Shushan Airport of New Orleans, and its magnificent restoration following a make-over in the 1960s to serve as a concrete and steel nuclear fall-out shelter, and the final insult of Hurricane Katrina … Continue reading →

Posted in Art Deco architecture, Louisiana, New Deal Administration, New Orleans | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments