Graphic Design
From poster creation to ticket design, Global Gala celebrates the graphic artist.
Global gala vii
the evolving logo
Originating in Global Gala IV, the Celebrate Culture, Diversity, Fine Art, Dance / Celebrate LIFE Logo is an example of a slow evolution. In GG4, the art deco font doesn't include the Fine Arts (plural), but Fine Art (singular), and has a white and yellow alteration.
In GG5, the Celebrate and the LIFE letters took on the same color so that there can be two readings of the message. Because of the background, the alternating colors brought out the red of peach/orange of the flowers. The word LIFE used a different font than the rest of the text. GG6's poster used more negative space and needed a darker set of colors. "Celebrate LIFE" remained red for continuity sake, but the rest of the lettering was black. A slight change of using the first I (instead of the second one) in "Diversity" created an almost lopsided set of four words. There was a move towards a more consistent font for all the lettering. For GG7, the word Diversity was brought back to the original place. There were various prototypes (including other poster ideas), all attempting to keep the prior year's color scheme intact, most notably the unused orange background CELEBRATE LIFE used as a rectangular tag on the posters. A slight upward slant was created to give it the feel of action. Interestingly, one rectangular tag was superimposed on a light rail featured in a poster idea. Unfortunately the tag (pictured below) superimposed on top another picture proved difficult to integrate. This meant the return of different color combinations. leading to a red and white mix (with the white creating the CELEBRATE LIFE wording). This nearly became the approved poster. Ultimately, though, the red created too big a contrast to the rest of the poster and orange was settled upon, both complementing the negative space of the poster as well as hearkening back to the previous year's poster by having the lettering replicate the background from the GG6 poster. It also represents an almost "full circle" in which the lettering colors (though used for the opposite lettering) returned to that of the original poster used in GG4. |
Global Gala VIThe Light bulb series
After many photo edits and a Global Gala board vote, the Light bulb series out-positioned runner ups. Keeping with the color scheme of the prior year(s) was part of the consideration, as well as the amount of workable negative space to superimpose the text.
Most notably, the bulb as a source of light hearkens back to symbols of hope, the tree towards growth, and the space between the continuous need to reach for hope through growth. |
February 2019 Notation:
The Light Bulb Series was created throughout 2018, and always alongside my faithful dog Scruffy. He patiently sat, or, more often stood, while I positioned my phone's camera at the neighbor's backyard lighting fixtures. He didn't ask why we stopped, only occasionally tugging at the leash in hopes to be on our way to the area park, where grass, and forest, and playground laughter awaited him. I tried to be quick, knowing later I could do my editing, wondering if just one more shot would capture what I was going for.
I did my revisions at home, often with Scruffy curled up by my side, with a singular light breaking through the darkness, and the silence of the night interrupted by his gentle breathing, and my finger's keyboard dance. I updated the website, drawing on my experience as an amateur lover of art and as a novice mouthpiece of its symbols. One day, I typed out what at the time was only a cerebral notion: "the bulb as a source of light hearkens back to symbols of hope: the tree towards growth, and the space between the continuous need to reach for hope through growth."
Since January 31st, I've lived in that empty space.
Scruffy did not see another February. He did not curl up next to me in the longest of the shortest months. And he does not come when I call out his name; he does not dance anxiously on the floorboards, tapping out his desire for a walk or a welcome.
I did not know when I took these pictures that Scruffy would be such a part of them, or that when he died, a part of me did as well.
I did not know that this picture series would be selected, or that his infallible and indefatigable loyalty, although invisible to any casual onlooker, would penetrate the very symbolic soul of the art.
I did not know that despite all of this, a hole remains, an empty space is not filled, and all that is left is a longing and a lamentation of a life unlived.
The Light Bulb Series was created throughout 2018, and always alongside my faithful dog Scruffy. He patiently sat, or, more often stood, while I positioned my phone's camera at the neighbor's backyard lighting fixtures. He didn't ask why we stopped, only occasionally tugging at the leash in hopes to be on our way to the area park, where grass, and forest, and playground laughter awaited him. I tried to be quick, knowing later I could do my editing, wondering if just one more shot would capture what I was going for.
I did my revisions at home, often with Scruffy curled up by my side, with a singular light breaking through the darkness, and the silence of the night interrupted by his gentle breathing, and my finger's keyboard dance. I updated the website, drawing on my experience as an amateur lover of art and as a novice mouthpiece of its symbols. One day, I typed out what at the time was only a cerebral notion: "the bulb as a source of light hearkens back to symbols of hope: the tree towards growth, and the space between the continuous need to reach for hope through growth."
Since January 31st, I've lived in that empty space.
Scruffy did not see another February. He did not curl up next to me in the longest of the shortest months. And he does not come when I call out his name; he does not dance anxiously on the floorboards, tapping out his desire for a walk or a welcome.
I did not know when I took these pictures that Scruffy would be such a part of them, or that when he died, a part of me did as well.
I did not know that this picture series would be selected, or that his infallible and indefatigable loyalty, although invisible to any casual onlooker, would penetrate the very symbolic soul of the art.
I did not know that despite all of this, a hole remains, an empty space is not filled, and all that is left is a longing and a lamentation of a life unlived.
EpilogueMay 2, 2019
Three months later, I found myself walking my old route with my dog Gapcio, a Jack Russell who came home from the shelter nearly a month after Scruffy's passing, a soft furred white rascal who can on the turn of a dime be brave then cowering, joyous in his kisses, yet somehow sad with his whimpering, I walked the alleyway and came to this spot where I positioned my camera a took photo after photo with Scruff by my side. Now new leaves grow on the ever-reaching tree, but the bulbs still hang, dangling, forever waiting for heat and light, and life itself to fill it up, to shine in the darkest moments, to guide to branches and teach them where to stretch, and I am left between, in an alleyway of life, not in, but not out either, having both my emptied vessel and my overflowing foliage. I walk on, for that is all I can do, all that any of us can do. Gapcio and I forged new steps without erasing those of Scruffy. |
global gala v
Global gala II |
C.M. , artistGlobal Gala II used the work of C.M., a Tallwood art student and an academy graduate who supplied graphics for ticket use. After much consideration, and a lot of reworking, C.M.'s original international bird eventually became the ticket. Pictured here is the original, as well as other options.
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