They Say It's Your Birthday!
Apr 29, 2012
posted by: Jessica
We'd like to take a moment to wish artist Klaus Voormann a very happy 74th birthday!
And another moment to look back one of his most legendary pieces:
In 1966, at the 9th Annual Grammy Awards, German artist Klaus Voormann was awarded the Grammy for "Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts" for designing the sleeve for the Beatles' Revolver album. Revolver was a significant turning point for The Beatles - as this is where they began to write fewer love songs and create more psychedelic, experimental music. The band was nervous about the response their new sound would receive but once Voormann's album design was revealed to them, they felt that it was the perfect cover to represent their recent musical transition. Most album covers at the time were explosive with bright color and psychedelic shapes and letters. Klaus's black and white design was completely original from this and today remains one of most iconic album covers of all time.
FUN FACT: Klaus later became the bassist for the Plastic Ono Band
It's My Party And I'll Hire The Beatles If I Want To!
Apr 21, 2012
posted by: Jessica
"It's My Party and I'll Hire The Beatles if I Want To" | Shag
This piece is just so much fun! It comes from exhibiting artist Josh Agle (a.k.a. Shag), whom we are delighted to welcome to Nucleus via the All Together Now exhibit. Shag's wonderfully retro tribute to the Fab Four makes us wish we could be there dancing, too!
What song do you think the guests of the party are grooving to?
It's All In The Mind Y'know!
Apr 07, 2012
posted by: Jessica
Out of print since 1999, "Yellow Submarine" is ready to set sail again for a fully restored journey to Pepperland! Paul Rutan Jr. and his team of specialists at Triage Motion Picture Services have slaved over the 1968 animated classic for nearly four months, restoring the film without any help from automated software. Because of the delicate nature of the film's original artwork, the restoration process was done completely by hand, frame by frame. The re-release will include tons of extra goodies including behind the scenes photos, original pencil drawings, storyboard sequences, animation cel reproductions and a 16-page booklet with an essay by John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney & Pixar).
“As a fan of animation and as a filmmaker, I tip my hat to the artists of 'Yellow Submarine', whose revolutionary work helped pave the way for the fantastically diverse world of animation that we all enjoy today.” - John Lasseter
The splendor of Heinz Edelmann's style combined with the fanciful world of Pepperland, a land that thrives on peace, love and Beatles music, makes for an instant classic and brilliant depiction of the Sixties. Not to mention the 14 different scripts, 40 animators and 140 technical artists that it took help make "Yellow Submarine" a visually spectacular voyage under the sea! The team behind the film was responsible for executing some of the most innovative animation techniques that had ever been used. These techniques included melding live-action photography with animation, 3D sequences, and kaleidoscopic "rotoscoping" where film is traced frame by frame into drawings. This entire process took 2 years' time to complete.
You'll be able to snag your own copy of the film's restored version starting May 29th.
Smooth sailing everyone!
Al Hirschfeld and The Beatles
Mar 28, 2012
posted by: Jessica
The "All Together Now" Beatles Tribute Show will exhibit the work of some of the most exciting artists of today - but let's take a moment to revisit the work of a legend. Al Hirschfeld was one of the most prolific and influential artists of his generation, having illustrated the original movie posters for several Charlie Chaplin films as well as The Wizard of Oz. He was a master of caricature, and infused his drawings with wonderful personality and appeal. His work has found its way into some of the most prestigious art collections in the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Smithsonian. Hirschfeld has graced us Beatles fans with many wonderful likenesses of the band and its members over the years. Here is a sampling:
FUN FACT: When his daughter Nina was born in 1945, he began what he called the "harmless insanity" of including her name at least once in every drawing he created. Fans of Hirschfeld's work can often be found staring at single pieces of his art for prolonged periods, just trying to spot the number of "Nina's" that may be hidden.
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