Drought, Dust, and Creativity: North Dakota's Art Scene During the Great Depression

Susan Wefald expertly explores the emergence of the American Scene in North Dakota art—a movement of artists who drew inspiration from everyday life and shared experiences. The rise of the American Scene during one of the most trying times in the nation’s history is revealed in pieces that tell stories of tradition and North Dakotans’ unwavering pride. The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression wreaked havoc throughout America in the 1930s. While dust and grasshoppers destroyed farms across North Dakota, stifling families’ incomes and ways of life, government-funded and independent arts programs ignited sparks of creativity. Susan Wefald expertly explores the emergence of the American Scene in North Dakota art—a movement of artists who drew inspiration from everyday life and shared experiences. The rise of the American Scene during one of the most trying times in the nation’s history is revealed in pieces that tell stories of tradition and North Dakotans’ unwavering pride. These works of art formed North Dakota’s American Scene, noted for the ways in which it encapsulated the resilience and determination of Great Depression artists. More than 100 images accompany Wefald’s captivating look at art’s essential role in providing hope during difficult times. Readers will find inspiration for their own creative projects as they explore the 1930’s North Dakota art scene.