Gallery at San Diego City College. Rare historical Soviet posters from the
period of Perestroika and Glasnost were featured alongside contemporary posters
with political, social or arts themes and a Russian twist.
My
poster was about the potential of the arts to promote peace and social change.
To craft a culture of peace you have to first imagine it. Artists around the
world and throughout history have given voice to that ideal. A sharp pencil can
be a powerful weapon to communicate the pathos of war. I’m greatly inspired by
folk arts, many of which are living traditions. Birds are a common theme in
Russian folklore and this region has a particular gift for storytelling. The
folkloric pattern inside the bird represents a diverse patchwork of beliefs and
opinions. The colors tip their hat to Russian Constructivism. When creating
this poster, the recent peace agreement and conflict between Ukrainian forces
and pro-Russian separatists was on my mind and in the news. The two leaves
symbolize differing points of view with the pencil of the artist providing a
stable perch for the idea of peace to take hold.
funds going to the Doyald Young Reading Room. I am such a
believer in books and this design and illustration library at City College is
open to students and the community. I’m supporting this effort as this reading room is a great place for aspiring illustrators to find their way.
Dancers in historical costumes performed barefoot in the gallery at the opening. Photo by Edward Honaker |
Photo by David Eichinger |