ARNOLD HILLIS, "POST RIDER," 1941

terra cotta (clay) relief, 4' x 4' approx.

Located: United States Post Office, 123 Meek St., Abingdon, Ill.

Only 30 of the 1,400 WPA commissions were for sculpture. Generally smaller than murals, they were usually costlier. "Post Rider" is a "silhouetted" relief, which is like a paper cut-out but modeled in clay. Its forms rise from the wall's flat surface. A postman rides wildly on horseback with mail bag flying, apparently trying to escape two braves with hatchets. Themes of early mail delivery were encouraged by the WPA.