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John E. Walley
Indian Town Alaska
pen and ink wash
1937
John E. Walley was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on February 2, 1910. He was educated at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Academy of Fine Arts. While in his teens, Walley drew cartoons for a newspaper.
Walley was involved with the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project (WPA/FAP) as Director of the Design Workshop in the Mural Division, and as Assistant State Director of Illinois FAP. In 1940, he was listed as a painter, muralist, designer, sculptor, and teacher. The University Museum received two works by Walley from the FAP including this one and one entitled "Industry Gone Away."
In 1987, the Anchorage Museum of Art and Science sponsored an exhibition on the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Art Project. "Indian Town Alaska", was the only Alaskan artwork by Walley that they could locate.
