Indie Posters

325 Pages·2010·79.25 MB·English

by  John Foster

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Job No:02-17870 Title:RP-1000 Indie Posters(Bulking Dunmy) (Ray) Job No:02-17870 Title:RP-1000 Indie Posters(Bulking Dunmy)
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1000
INDIE
JOHN FOSTER
POSTERS
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320 SPECIAL THANKS
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7
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I AM A POSTER JUNKIE. Always have been; always will be. My chief worry your own hands, has built a cottage industry for poster makers. The movie
in life is which six prints to rotate on my office walls. (At the time of this poster has even seen resurgence, as not only have the larger studios
writing, I have a Pink Panther litho, a Jesse LeDoux, a Haley Johnson, a produced more challenging visuals, but the drafthouse circuit has
Seripop, a Lichtenstein, and a Keith Haring, with a Jeff Kleinsmith commissioned a new set of jaw-dropping visuals. Political messaging
framed and waiting in the wings.) When I moved my office, not only did continues to push and pull the very best out of the world’s designers.
I have to transport well over 1,000 prints, but also it was the only thing Creatives of all stripes can’t resist the large format and becoming part
I was worried about. My love for the poster is unending. I often tell of the history of the magical format.
the tale of taking my first studio job based on the abundance of poster
work in the portfolio, only to find out that they hadn’t done one for One of the toughest aspects of curating a collection of work is that you
nearly a year. I would have to donate my time to local organizations just have to leave some of your favorite pieces on the sidelines. When
to bring one in to lavish with my attention. However, that experience I was asked to assemble 1,000 Indie Posters, I leapt at the chance
would heavily inform my desire to show the rest of the world the to put together a fuller snapshot of what is happening
wonders being produced. in the world of poster design. The funny thing is that I will
inevitably have to do the same thing once again. The wealth
When I was pitching the book idea for New Masters of Poster of work is that great. Pouring out of all corners of the world,
Design years ago (it should be noted that Rockport Publishers posters carry our hopes and dreams, fears and nightmares, joys
was the only one willing to take the plunge with me), numerous and jollies. They serve as a mirror, and reflected in their glory
publishers confirmed my worst fears. The poster was considered is a battalion of inspired souls—so many using it as a vehicle
a dead form of communication and a book compiling them to achieve greatness; so many succeeding.
couldn’t possibly sell. It seemed as if I was the only one who could
see the value in what is arguably the most important medium Just when I think this golden age of the poster has
for design over the last one hundred years. I knew that small crested, a 100-foot (30.5 m) wave of bracing visu-
outposts had kept the poster alive with amazing work—even als show me that we are just getting started.
if it was mostly being done for tiny clients in an underground
fashion. Soon, corporate giants began to adopt the poster as a 1,000 posters? The next volume might need a million (and
point-of-sale tool and the music industry replaced many someone will still find it lacking). The most challenging
of their pieces of merchandise with perhaps the most personal of design work continues to take place on these simple sheets
all—the gigposter. The email blast and microsite would remain, but it of paper and there seems to be no end in sight. There is only
couldn’t swallow the large printed sheet shining on our walls. one thing that I know for certain: The walls of the world are
a richer place. Now we can say the same about your bookshelf.
The poster was back.
Enjoy.
Since the publication of New Masters, the design world has undergone
numerous upheavals, including a huge return to hand-produced work,
as well as small and personalized productions. A fascination with archaic
printing methods like letterpress and silk-screening, coupled with the
pure, unadulterated satisfaction of producing your final piece using
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