Hasta La Ideas

Good 50X70 has announced the final selections in their annual poster competition geared to raise awareness on 7 endorsed social/environmental issues. You can see the results here.

These playful typographic posters developed by Sydney-based studio Publicas Mojo are quite nice. The six posters in the series titled “Words to Work by Poster Project” each have separate messages along with their own unique typographic style. Creative Director of Publicas Mojo explains the series best below:

“The set of six posters, are designed as resolutions, and poke fun at some of the clichés we all come across in the industry,” explains Walker

Words To Work By credits:

Creative director: Micah Walker.
Art director: Mojo Sydney
Copywriter: Mojo Sydney
Designer: Luca Ionescu, Like Minded Studio
Finished artist: Kath Mukerjee.
Art buyer: Alison Dunlop.
Print producer: Oscar Birkin.
Printer: Warren Isaacs, Wombat Grafx

via and via:

Taken from Obey Giant:

“I’m sure a lot of people are wondering about my case with the AP over the Obama HOPE poster. I can’t talk about every aspect of the case, but there are a few things I want to discuss and points I’d like to make.”

Most importantly, I am fighting the AP to protect the rights of all artists, especially those with a desire to make art with social commentary. This is about artistic freedom and basic rights of free expression, which need to be available to all, whether they have money and lawyers or not. I created the Obama image as a grassroots tool solely to help Obama get elected president. The image worked due to many complex variables. If I could do it all over again, I would not change anything about the process, because that could change the outcome. I am glad to endure legal headaches if that is the trade-off for Obama being president.

No disrespect was intended to photographer Mannie Garcia, but I did not think (and do not think) I needed permission to make an art piece using a reference photo. From the beginning, I openly acknowledged that my illustration of Obama was based on a reference photograph. But the photograph is just a starting point. The illustration transforms it aesthetically in its stylization and idealization, and the poster has an altogether different purpose than the photograph does. The AP photo I used as a reference, which I found out much later was taken by Mannie Garcia, (which was actually this one, not the one being circulated in the press) was a news photo that showed George Clooney and Barack Obama attending a 2006 panel on the genocide in Darfur. My Obama poster variations of “HOPE” and “PROGRESS” were obviously not intended to report the news. I created them to generate support for Obama; the point was to capture and synthesize the qualities that made him a leader. The point of the poster is to convince and inspire. It’s a political statement. My Obama poster does not compete with the intent of, or the market for the reference photo. In fact, the argument has been made that the reference photo would have faded into obscurity if it were not for my poster which became so culturally pervasive. The Garcia photo is now more famous and valuable than it ever would have been prior to the creation of my poster. With this factor in mind, it is not surprising, that a gallery in NYC is now selling the Garcia photo for $1,200 each. As I understand it, Garcia himself did not even realize the poster was created referencing his photo until it was pointed out to him a full year after the poster came into existence. Mannie Garcia has stated in the press that he is an Obama supporter pleased with the poster result.

Source:

This film “Freedom on the Fence” is fascinating documentary about the Polish Poster. It was produced by Andrea Marks and directed by Glenn Holsten.

There is no simple answer as to why such a distinct artistic poster phenomenon occurred in Poland. Perhaps a series of coincidences- a group of talented artists with energy and vision, coupled with a monitored system in which the arts, and in particular poster art, was deemed important, is the simplest explanation. Whatever the reason, this climate became a unique landscape for the creation of extraordinary work.

To learn more about the film click here.


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Poster Biennale

This weekend I also got to check out the Halo Halo show/fundraiser, curated by Jeff Garcia, photographed by elenithecamera. It was in the 401 Richmond building, as mentioned in a post I made a couple weeks back. Have a look see…

Halo Halo is the new project from Jeff Garcia and Jan Avendano, now set up in the lower level of Smash Gallery (pretty sure they’re still operating out of the 401 building as well). They offer a number of courses emphasizing DIY screen print styles and lots of collaboration. Apparently the name Halo Halo (pronounced hollow hollow) comes from a brightly coloured Filipino dessert (halo: meaning mix). Sounds about right to me. Browse the pics and check out the Halo Halo website for course info.

Sweet rainbow wall photo shoot.

Mr. Jeff Garcia and his giant mane.

Yes, even the floors were covered.

Thanks again Eleni for the awesome pictures! More to see on her flickr.