Two new Dave Plunkert images recently created for the New York Times Book Review and Op-ed page.
This is my street and I never want to leave it
By far the most underrated British Invasion band if not the most underrated Rock act of all time, The Kinks engender a fierce loyalty in their fans that the pop acts of today can only dream about. It's that loyalty that compelled Geoff Edgers to film his quest to reunite the legendary band. Directed by Robert Patton-Spruill "Do It Again" has been described as a kind of "Sherman's March" with guitars and features appearances by Sting, Zooey Deschanel, Clive Davis, Robyn Hitchcock, Paul Weller, Warren Zanes and Peter Buck.
The official 25 x 39 inch poster Spur created for the film was screen-printed 2 colors (black and a musty coloured yellow) at Globe Poster. The venerable Baltimore poster printer has a long history printing gig posters for musical legends including: Led Zeppelin, Janice Joplin, and Stevie Wonder among others.
For my part, I wanted to depict the original line-up from their classic period, include a few Easter eggs for their fans, and put the Davies Brothers at the center of everything.
It's a love letter to the the ink (or is it tea?) that dripped from Ray's pen and the fuzzy guitar sound Dave created with a razor blade and an 8 watt amp, and for a group that left a musical stamp that's equal parts genius and madness.
"Do it Again" opens at the Rotterdam International Film Festival January 28, 30, and 31.
Society of Illustrators 52
Dave and I recently headed up to New York for the opening of the Society of Illustrators 52: Sequential and Uncommissioned Exhibit. Dave had a series of Theatre Project posters in the sequential category.
And I had a PrestoBingo giraffe print in the uncommissioned category. We took some time to wander through the city, un-froze ourselves with a lovely dinner at Fig and Olive, and then headed to the opening to catch up with some illustration friends and see the show.
Thanks for a Great Opening!
The recent gallery opening for Unfinished Business was a great success, thanks to the dedicated staff atThe New York Times. I had a chance to share some drawings with the crowd, and meet a lot of fellow art directors and illustrators.The show will be up through December, 2009.
Here is a small sampling of the 70+ drawings handed out at the show.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: David Plunkert & the Posters of Spur
With an emphasis on concept and form, Spur Design’s David Plunkert has produced screen-printed, letterpress, and offset posters that strive to delight, provoke, and persuade. On exhibit are dozens of posters created for charities, theatre productions, and independent films.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
David Plunkert & the Posters of Spur
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 29, 6–8 p.m.
Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Map and Directions: The building is located at 930 King Street, off Georgia Avenue. Park in the east Campus Parking Garage on Fenton Street and take the pedestrian bridge and path to the Arts Center. To view a map click here.
Information: Call 240-567-1368. For information about the arts at
Montgomery College, visit their website.
American Illustration
This year, Dave's winning entries are from the Theatre Project poster series, Le Cabaret De Carmen and Cyclopedia.
Joyce had two pieces selected for American Illustration's online gallery. The first, for The Chronicle Review's article disputing the Mars/Venus myth. The second, a cover for The Santa Fe Reporter about genetically modified chile peppers.
South by Southwest - Award for Best Poster
David Plunkert's poster for Dungeon Masters, a film directed by Kevin McAlester, recently took home the best poster award at the South by Southwest Film Festival. The poster was reproduced both digitally and as an oversized, three-color, 25 x 39" screenprint.
Gold Award - Society of Illustrators, New York
Marc Burckhardt and David Plunkert received gold medals for illustration and art direction, respectively from the Society of Illustrators in New York. The Directory of Illustration 26 brochure cover, with Burckhardt's amazing oil painting, illustrated the concept "put you best face forward."
Giant Robot Invasion
Just in case you were wondering what goes during our "time off" around here, we thought we would introduce our latest robot companion. Dave Plunkert assembled this sculpture out of pipe molds, rusty chains and scrap metal. He stands over 8 feet tall and is now securely (we hope) fastened to our wall.
The Sky Below
Spur's David Plunkert illustrated the January 9th cover of The New York Times Book Review. The Sky Below, a novel by Stacy D'Erasmo. Check out the article online!
Theatre Project Posters in Communication Arts
But wouldn't these make good book covers too?
We love working on Theatre Project every year. Dave has designed and illustrated posters for them for the past six years and is looking forward to many more seasons. The latest round just got into the Communication Arts Illustration as a series.
The Dungeon Masters
David Plunkert designed and illustrated the poster for the Antidote Films Documentary "The Dungeon Masters" which debuted as an official selection at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival.
Directed by Keven McAlester "The Dungeon Masters" is an exploration of the subculture of Dungeon and Dragons, which for over 30 years has offered gamers the chance to escape their mundane lives and participate in a world they might otherwise not experience. Popularity and power are based on creativity and imagination rather than social status or wealth, and success is based not on who you know but on what you do.
