By CHRIS SURPRENANT
Arts Editor
The College of Saint Rose, and the community at large will experience the visions of renowned designer Michael Bierut on September 25. The Esther Massry Gallery will be presenting “Michael Bierut 30 Years 90 Notebooks,” an exhibit showcasing a number of Bierut’s works, including his personal notebooks that contained rough sketches of the completed pieces from the past 30 years of his career.
Bierut, a partner at the design firm Pentagram, has worked with a wide variety of clients, including the Walt Disney Company and the New York Jets. Many of Bierut’s designs that will be presented at the upcoming exhibit are done in black and white, creating very sharp, sleek images.
“He is a master at choosing visual elements that get the idea across in a clean, and spare way,” said Jeanne Flanagan, Director of the Esther Massry Gallery. “He has the ability to get to the heart and meat of something.”
Bierut’s designs are visually striking and have an immediate impact on the observer. One will notice instantly the great artistic aspects of the work, and then be drawn into examining it further. Once the observer is drawn in by the impressive image, he will notice the smaller text that is incorporated within the whole picture. Both word and image work together to create a very bold statement.
“There’s not necessarily a consistency in his posters, they all have their own unique individuality about them,” said junior Lauren Kelly, speaking of the wide array of subjects Bierut’s designs cover.
Besides being a visual artist, Bierut is also an author. Penning the book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design, his writings tackle a variety of ideas, ranging from politics, culture and social issues to commentary on what it means to be an observer. Bierut is also the founder of the popular online design journal Design Observer, further exploring the ins and outs of culture and its incorporation into the world of design.
Students and faculty alike are eager for the exhibit to open. Bierut is so invested in this exhibit that he is flying 18 hours from Singapore to arrive at the opening reception on Sept. 30.
“It’s a huge coup and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I’m just as excited to see it as everyone else,” said Anne Hobday, professor of Graphic Design.
Planning this event has been no small task. The exhibit has been a huge undertaking for all those involved. Flanagan has been planning the event for well over a year. She has been working hard to create just the right atmosphere for Bierut’s pieces. Flanagan is looking forward to enjoying the exhibit as a whole, and appreciating Bierut’s artistry alongside the rest of the community.
Bierut has been heavily involved in the entire process, creating all the signage for the exhibit, including a special commemorative poster designed specifically for this exhibition. The poster contains various designs of Bierut’s, and will be on sale during the opening reception on September 30, where he will also sign copies of his works.
Flanagan feels that everyone in the community, versed in art or not, will be able to value the depth of Bierut’s exhibit. The showcased posters contain a wide variety of ideas and concepts, so everyone will be able to find something to connect with.
“We really want the students to come. Everyone can relate to it,” said Flanagan, “Art is to be experienced. It’s not just about process and product. It’s about communication.”
“30 Years 90 Notebooks” opens on Sunday, September 25, 2011. A gallery reception will be held on Friday, September 30 from 5 – 7 p.m., where Bierut will be signing copies of his book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design, from 4:30 – 5 p.m.
