See the Rescued and Restored 'Alice in Wonderland' Mural Painted for Sick Children at a New York Hospital

Article excerpt

A Depression-era mural depicting Alice tumbling through New York City has been rescued from obscurity and restored to its original vibrancy. Abram Champanier painted "Alice of Wonderland Visiting New York" in the 1930s as a commission from the Federal Art Project, a New Deal initiative that deployed artists to brighten public spaces across America. Originally created to delight sick children at a Manhattan hospital, the mural had faded into neglect before conservators brought it back to life. The restoration reveals Champanier's whimsical vision: Alice dodging yellow cabs, skating past the Woolworth Building, and encountering other surreal Manhattan scenes. The recovered artwork stands as a testament to New Deal-era cultural investment and the belief that art belonged in everyday American spaces.