Twenty-three years ago, we launched our first exhibit.
It happened almost by accident. I’d stumbled across several World War I and II propaganda posters in the basement of the Cheney Cowles Museum (now the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture) while researching its photography archives. A short time later, I sent them a letter suggesting that it would be wonderful if the WWII posters could be displayed, given that so many of the era’s poster designers and illustrators were prominent industry figures. I thought it would make for a nice, humble little show at the Spokane Falls Community College design gallery.
What happened next certainly came as a surprise. Larry Schoonover, then the deputy director of the museum, liked the idea—but he wanted the posters shown in its main gallery. It turns out my inquiry was timely: The 50th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, which brought about the end of WWII, was fast approaching. And Larry saw an opportunity to commemorate the event.
Behind the Red, White & Blue: Posters, Propaganda & Pride opened October 13,1995. To this day, the exhibit remains a highlight of my career. It opened the door for our firm’s work in experiential design, allowing us to blend our individual curiosities with history, storytelling, and the opportunity to create in three dimensions.
In the simplest of terms, exhibits are places where voices are heard, where visuals become emotive, and where one’s understanding is heightened. It’s also where we, as writers and designers, often feel the greatest impact.
by Spiering