Tag Archives: steve brodner

Artists Against the War Panel tonight

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Artists Against the War
A panel discussion and book signing with Steve Brodner, Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp
February 10, 2011 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Based on the 2008 Society of Illustrators’ exhibit, “Artists Against the War”, Artists Against the War draws from the history of graphic protest and demonstrates the many ways that illustrators — in comics, editorial cartoons, illustrations for magazine articles, and so on — have reflected on the representations and misrepresentations of war, specifically the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The history of commercial illustration in the United States encompasses the images of artists like Charles Dana Gibson, Maxfield Parish, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Frederic Remington, and Norman Rockwell. These and many other artists helped to shape and define the American experience. After the Second World War, a divide grew between the worlds of illustration and fine art. Commercial publishers bankrolled illustrators to produce images on demand that were essential to marketing. Fine artists, meanwhile, generally struggled on their own to create unique and contemplative works of a decidedly non-mercantile nature.

Early on, some editorial illustrators, while still on paid assignments sponsored by commercial interests, managed to bridge this gap between illustration and high art—creating evocative works that told of real world events. Harper’s Weekly employed Winslow Homer as a war correspondent, sending him to the front lines of the American Civil War to sketch soldiers on the battlefield. Afterwards Homer evolved into one of America’s finest 19th-century painters. Business-related foundations aside, illustration commonly shared with fine art—up until the post WWII era—an exploration of the world through the traditions of objective realism. That relationship disappeared with the ascendancy of abstract art. The high art world is currently unable to provide thoughtful examinations that connect with the general public.

Surprisingly, the world of commercial illustration offers a model for the advancement of contemporary fine art. Endeavoring to communicate clearly, illustrators never abandoned realist aesthetics, which are the most direct way to deliver a thought or concept to a large audience. More importantly, illustration art does not wallow in the cynical disengagement and alienation that is so fashionable in today’s high art. Therein lies the potency and importance of Artists Against the Wars.

Steve Brodner will lead a panel discussion with Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp. A book signing will follow.

Tickets
$15 non-members, $10 members, $7 students
rsvp@societyillustrators.org

Follow-up: Picturing Politics Symposium

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Check out some highlights from this past weekend’s “Picturing Politics” symposium, hosted by Parsons Illustration and the Politics department of the New School for Social Research.  You can see more images here.  Our thanks to everyone who participated and attended!

Reminder: Picturing Politics is today!

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PICTURING POLITICS
A symposium presented by the Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design and The Politics Department, New School for Social Research.

November 15, 2008, 1:00-5:30 P.M.
The New School
Tishman Auditorium
Johnson/Kaplan Hall, 66 WEST 12TH STREET

Illustrative responses to world events, large scale and small, have an effect both visceral and intimate. PICTURING POLITICS explores the current state of political and social visual commentary. The Illustration Program of Parsons The New School for Design and the Politics Department of The New School for Social Research jointly present an afternoon of reflections on the intersection of art and politics.

Guests include Daniel Dayan, leading media and politics analyst and visiting professor in the Department of Politics at the New School for Social Research (Media Events), Steven Heller, author and former New York Times art director (Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-Century Totalitarian State), Professor Joshua Brown, Executive Director, American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning, CUNY (Beyond the Lines), Rutu Modan, Eisner award-winning graphic novelist from Israel (Exit Wounds), Peter Kuper, graphic novelist and co-editor of WW 3 magazine (Stop Forgetting to Remember), Steve Brodner, satiric visual commentator (Freedom Fries), Luba Lukova, political poster artist (Social Justice 2008: 12 Posters) and Anton Kannemeyer, South African artist and creator of visual narratives (Bittercomix).

The event will be held at the Tishman Auditorium of The New School, on November 15th, 1-5:30 pm and is free and open to the public. A book signing and refreshments will follow the symposium. Additionally, an exhibition of illustrated covers for Der Spiegel magazine is on view at Parsons Illustration, 2 West 13th street, 8th floor, through November 30th. There will be a reception in honor tonight, November 14th, at 6pm.

[illustration by Guy Billout, Part-time Faculty]

Picturing Politics on 11.15.08

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picturing politics

The Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design and the Department of Politics at The New School for Social Research would like to invite you to the following event:

PICTURING POLITICS
November 15, 2008, 1:00-5:30 P.M.
The New School, Tishman Auditorium
Johnson/Kaplan Hall, 66 WEST 12TH STREET

Free and open to the public

Illustrative responses to world events, large scale and small, have an effect both visceral and intimate. PICTURING POLITICS explores the current state of political and social visual commentary. The Illustration Program of Parsons The New School for Design and the Department of Politics of The New School for Social Research jointly present an afternoon of reflections on the intersection of art and politics.

Guests include Daniel Dayan, leading media and politics analyst from France and visiting professor in the Department of Politics at the New School for Social Research, Steven Heller, author and former New York Times art director, Professor Joshua Brown, Executive Director, American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning at CUNY, Rutu Modan, Eisner award-winning graphic novelist from Israel, Peter Kuper, graphic novelist and co-editor of WW 3 magazine, Steve Brodner, satiric visual commentator, Luba Lukova, political poster artist and Anton Kannemeyer, South African artist and creator of visual narratives. A book signing will follow the symposium.

Additionally, an exhibition of illustrated covers for Der Spiegel magazine is on view at Parsons Illustration, 2 West 13th street, 8th floor, from November 14th through November 30th. There will be a reception in honor on November 14th, at 6pm.

Political illustration show at Society of Illustrators

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The Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators presents “Politics ‘08.”  On view through October 4, 2008, the exhibition will showcase the original art from today’s top illustrators surrounding this year’s primaries and general elections. With recent coverage of the debates, a growing awareness in politics has piqued the media’s interest in political illustration and caricature once again, creating an array of important and controversial images. Through magazine websites and artist’s blogs, illustration is bringing Americans together online to discuss the politics of the day, stressing the importance to vote in the upcoming elections. Art from magazines and newspapers of all political affiliations will be represented in this exhibit, allowing artists to express their views on the 2008 election in print and in a variety of new media.

Curated by former Art Director at TIME Magazine, Edel Rodriguez, the exhibition features the work of political illustrators including Steve Brodner, Philip Burke, Tim O’Brien, Hanoch Piven, Stephen Kroninger, Luba Lukova and Barry Blitt. Original art used for print by Rolling Stone, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The New York Observer and the controversial New Yorker cover of Barack and Michelle Obama will be on display along with the printed publications.

In an interview with the Nation, illustrator Steve Brodner explains the importance of political illustration: “They are an important part of the mix. They are a way to encapsulate ideas, to make them clear and find what is compelling. We look for meanings, for passions, for true things. If you can have all these factors working simultaneously, you are a master.”

Politics ’08
On view through October 4th, 2008
Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street
New York, NY 10065
212.838.2560

Quick Hit: The New Yorker’s Naked Campaign

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Over the past couple of months, The New Yorker has been posting video shorts of the fantastic illustrator Steve Brodner, drawing and discussing the Presidential campaign, its candidates, and the social dynamics surrounding this historic race for the White House. Here’s one installment, but make sure to visit the Naked Campaign YouTube channel to see all of them.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVQRQRtZN_c&hl=en]