January 10, 2009

The Graphic Design program welcomes filmmakers Andrea Marks and Glenn Holsten to campus for the world premiere of their film Freedom on the Fence,a documentary that examines the rise and importance of Polish Poster Art. Through interviews and imagery, the film looks at the period from WWII through the fall of Communism to capture this flourishing art form within a Communist regime. This world premiere of Freedom on the Fence is at 6 PM on Thursday, January 15th in Bossone Auditorium (3128 Market St.) starting with a reception where you can meet Andrea & Glenn. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Andrea and Glenn are Westphal College Rankin Scholars in Residence. During their residency they will use the Polish poster collection to support classroom engagements with Graphic Design, Film & Video and Art & Art History students. Mr. Holstein's previous films include Saint of 9/11 and Thomas Eakins: Scenes from Modern Life. Selections from the College's 1500 posters make up our Polish Poster exhibit, currently on display in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery through February 6th. The exhibit features posters created between the 1930's and 1990's designed to generate awareness about Polish and American movies, sports, tourism and consumer products. The collection was originally collected by Professor Frank Fox from works of internationally known graphic artists whose work brought Poland to the forefront of modern poster design.

Poster art rose to a position of prominence in Poland in the late 19th century and the First International Exhibition of the posters took place in Cracow, Poland in 1898. In recognition of the importance of Polish poster art, the First International Poster Biennale was held at Warsaw's Zacheta Museum in 1966, and two years later a museum dedicated solely to poster art was opened in Wilanow.