Hard Boiled Art exhibit

Hard Boiled Art: Original Pulp Magazine Cover Art Exhibit

Details have been finalized for our next original art exhibit. "Hard Boiled Art" presents original pulp magazine cover art from the 1930s to the 1960s. The exhibit will run from November 5th to December 6th, 2009, with a reception date still to be determined.

This is a unique art form. Pulp magazine covers were very sensational and were considered the most important aspect of the sales of any particular pulp series. The socially acceptable boundaries were often tested, and the topics reflected the popular culture of the time.

The covers were typically machismo in nature, with elements of evil or danger and at least one hero. The 1930s had strong detective and science-fiction followings, while the 1960s were all about the 'Red Scare' of the communists.

Regardless of the threat, the damsels in distress typically had a torn blouse. :)

Come and enjoy the exhibit. This is a rare opportunity to see the original art used to create the published covers. It's fun and an absolute snapshot of an industry that hardly exists any longer.

Why don't you take a picture? It will last longer.

Capturing Moments Before They Disappear

For the humor-deprived, the title might seem borderline inappropriate, but it's actually quite fitting.

Photographers have a duty to document the world as it is. Many iconic pieces of our existence are vanishing, and once they're gone, they're gone forever. A drive-in movie theater, for example, lasts only as long as the economics of local development allow. Once the land becomes more valuable for another purpose, adios drive-in movie theater.

Pay attention to everything and take nothing for granted. Don't tell yourself that you'll take a certain photo someday. Take it today.

AmericanPoverty.org

AmericanPoverty.org Exhibit Kicks Off at Catholic Charities USA Annual Conference

Last week, Catholic Charities USA kicked off their annual conference in Portland, Oregon, with the large format photojournalism exhibit produced by the In Our Own Backyard photojournalism team. Entitled AmericanPoverty.org, this exhibit aims to raise awareness of people living in poverty in the United States. Catholic Charities has set an ambitious goal to reduce poverty in the United States by 50 percent by the year 2020. They understand that the only way to meet such an aggressive goal is to set the bar very high.

In Our Own Backyard is a team of skilled and seasoned photojournalists who have witnessed firsthand the struggles of extreme poverty in the United States. This team includes talented photojournalists such as Steve Liss, Jon Lowenstein, Brenda Ann Kenneally, and Eli Reed. They have crisscrossed the United States, capturing exactly what it means to be poor.

It has been a delight to be involved in this project. The deadlines were tight, and God bless overnight delivery. There are at least six more cities that will be hosting this exhibit over the next year, so we look forward to future involvement. Learn more about this large format photojournalism project at AmericanPoverty.org.

Jon Hassler paintings

Remembering Jon Hassler: A Multi-Talented Artist and Novelist

It's been 18 months since Jon Hassler passed away. While Jon was well known for his literary prowess, many people are not aware that he was an artist before he became a novelist. He spent his school years teaching English at high schools and colleges, and during the summers, he was a regular on the art fair circuit. He began writing relatively late in life—his first novel, Staggerford, was published when he was 44—but he always enjoyed painting whenever he had the chance.

Much like his books, Jon's paintings exhibit recurring themes: rural landscapes, long light, complex skies, and almost always a strong vanishing point element. In fact, they are almost exactly what you would expect if you've read any of his novels or short stories.

We came to know Jon five years before he succumbed to complications from progressive supranuclear palsy. Jon and his wife, Gretchen, entrusted us with 22 of his original paintings (pictured above left, 'Snowfall', 20"x16", oil on canvas; pictured above right, 'Road to Johnson's Farm I', 16"x12", oil on canvas), all of which were painted in the late 1980s. These remarkable originals are now available for sale, with a portion of each sale being donated to CurePSP (www.psp.org).

Flyway Film Festival sponsorship

Exciting News: Red Carpet Sponsorship of Flyway Film Festival

We are super excited to announce that Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing will be a 'Red Carpet Sponsor' of the 2nd annual Flyway Film Festival in Pepin, Wisconsin, taking place from October 22 to 25, 2009. The primary venue will be the Lake Pepin Art & Design Center. In addition to supporting the entire event, we will be the presenting sponsor for the opening night events on Friday, October 23rd at 7 pm.

This is a significant investment for our modest operation, but it makes sense for several reasons:

1. We admire what this group is trying to accomplish and their ambitious approach.

2. We love films, which should be evident from our past entries about the Chief Theater in Red Wing.

3. We believe it's essential to contribute to the community, and we appreciate art venues that strive to be all-inclusive.

We'll share more details as the festival date approaches.

Certified Picture Framer (CPF)

Understanding the Certified Picture Framer (CPF) Designation

A Certified Picture Framer (CPF) is a prestigious designation administered by the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA). The PPFA conducts the five-hour CPF exam twice a year, testing in the following areas:

1. Art and framing preservation

2. Framing knowledge

3. Mechanics of framing

4. Mathematics of framing

5. Art and image mounting

To ensure that CPF-certified framers remain current in the professional framing field, they must retake the exam and recertify every five years.

This is an arduous and rigorous process, which is why very few framers pursue CPF certification. Red Wing Framing Gallery is proud to be one of only five active CPFs in Minnesota.

We take great pride in our professionalism and our commitment to the highest industry standards. This dedication should be important to any client who values their art.

Pulp cover art

Pulp Cover Art: A Unique Place in Art History

Pulp cover art has a unique place in art history. It has tremendous nostalgic appeal for anyone who enjoyed The Hardy Boys, comic books, or even a peek at The Old Man's collection of True Detective or Stag magazines. Its primary purposes were to grab your attention on the newsstand amid a crowded field of competitors and to evoke emotions, usually with a provocative image of impending peril or suggestive sensuality. Common elements typically include a couple of 'toughs,' a large-breasted woman, and a 'citizen' or a 'hero.' The example above (original on the left, Rudolph Zirn, 1939) has all three.

We are excited and delighted to announce a gallery exhibit of original pulp cover art. The show will open in October (date TBD) and will include both the original art and the subsequent ephemera the originals were used to produce. The colors are extremely vivid, and the techniques used by the artists to evoke a response are fascinating.

This is the third year in a row that we have had the pleasure of working with Grapefruit Moon Gallery in presenting their collection of illustration art. In 2007, we presented original pin-up art and in 2008, we showcased original Cream of Wheat advertising art. Pulp magazine art is yet another sub-genre of illustration art that we are proud to present.

The 'pulps' were fiction magazines that were very popular from about 1930 to 1960. The term 'pulp' comes from the cheap paper typically used in production (cheap paper has a lot of wood pulp). The magazines became noteworthy for their provocative covers. The covers became so important that in many cases, the covers were designed first and the text was designed around the covers. Pulp magazines were also major employers of short story authors, and the subsequent demise of the pulp industry created a vacuum for these authors that has never been filled.

Oil or gouache paintings were used to create the original cover art. The colors are intentionally vivid to compensate for the primitive printing technology at the time. Several pulp cover artists (e.g., Frank Paul and Margaret Brundage) became accomplished artists in this genre and attracted a following. Pulp art has recently experienced a renaissance in popularity and is widely sought by collectors.

More details will be shared as they evolve, but I thought this teaser would have value.