Modern Alliance

The Stamp Paintings of Molly Rausch

Mike — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:51:47 +0000

Molly Rausch creates unique works of art based on stamps. From her site:

Each stamp painting begins with an actual postage stamp that is glued down to the paper. Then Rausch paints around the stamp, extending the scene, with watercolor and gouache. As a result, the paintings are quite small – usually around 3 inches tall. Everything is done freehand with a brush; she does not use pens or pencils. She does not paint on the stamp itself. And she does not research the subject, so the extension is completely invented and should not be tested for accuracy.

See more of Molly Rausch’s work at her website.

Travel Posters of the Boston Public Library

Mike — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:47:33 +0000

Flickr never disappoints when it comes to hidden gems. While searching for Italian travel posters I happened across the Boston Public Library’s Flickr account. The library has an incredible collection of images ranging from photographs to Ships through the ages. Take a look at the Boston Public Library’s collection here.

Busy Beaver Button Museum

Mike — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:04:32 +0000

Busy Beaver, the great button company out of Chicago, has created an online Button Museum. The collection currently contains over 1,000 buttons.

The collection can be viewed in person at their store or online.

www.buttonmuseum.org

Cigarettes from Around the World

Mike — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:48:21 +0000

Christian Kranich has compiled an impressive collection of cigarette packaging from across the decades and around the world. View the collection at www.zigsam.at

Astra, Germany 1940

Jack Daniel’s: Yee-Haw Poster Documentary

Mike — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:06:56 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of Yee-Haw industries. Seeing their work in person at Flatstock really sealed the deal. Yee-Haw has created a series of wood block posters for Jack Daniel’s whiskey, and documented the creation of one of the posters. Poster available at Yee-Haw’s Etsy shop.

LetterMpress™ for the Ipad

Mike — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:12:34 +0000

There’s nothing like the smell of printing ink and the joy of seeing the finished product. Unfortunately not everyone has access to a printer or the space, but with the LetterMpress for the Ipad, you can get pretty close to have your own printing press. Select type faces, mix colors and choose your paper to create your own wood type prints! Share your creations through social media and email. You’ll be famous in no time!

The app will be available July 5th.

Vintage Baseball Jerseys by Ebbets Field Flannels

Mike — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:36:13 +0000

I’m a big fan of the sports logo. If you haven’t read the interview I had with Chris Creamer from Sportslogos.net , checkout the interview out here. Ebbets Field Flannels create top-of-the-line replica jerseys, t-shirts and more. From the site:

Our Authentic wool flannel Baseball Jerseys are identical to the original in fabric and craftsmanship. All of our flannels are carefully researched and recreated using the original materials, lettering, sleeve patches and trim. We use real 1950s-era wool blend baseball cloth for all of our jerseys.

The jerseys are a little pricey but they look like works of art. They feature a “Flannel of the Week” which is specially priced at $99. Ebbets Field Flannels has a large selection of baseball jerseys, as well as a few hockey and football teams.

Ebbets Field Flannels website

Tokyo Kyojin Giants 1961 Road Jersey

Hawaii Islanders 1961 T-Shirt, PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Havana Cubans 1947 Home Jersey, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

New Orleans Pelicans 1950 Home Jersey, SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION

Salt Lake Bees 1925 Home, PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

East-West League T-Shirt, EAST-WEST LEAGUE

Soviet Union 1972 Hockey Jersey, OLYMPIC TEAM

New York Knights 1939 Cap, FICTIONAL TEAM

Arcade: The Last Night At Chinatown Fair documentary

Mike — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Growing up in the 80′s I fondly remember Aladdin’s Castle in our local mall. It was always a treat to walk into the dark room, full of blinking machines. It was a kid’s version of a dive bar. I didn’t even have to play. I enjoyed watching the kid’s who called Aladdin’s Castle their second home demolish their opponents. In the 90′s they moved to a new location in the mall. It was a far departure from the original with the front wall being all glass, allowing the sunlight from the entrance doors just down the hall to flood through.

Arcade: The Last Night At Chinatown Fair, documents one of New York City’s last arcades. The producer is currently looking for start-up capital through Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. From the description:

ARCADE: THE LAST NIGHT AT CHINATOWN FAIR documents the final week of New York City’s last arcade, Chinatown Fair. The film follows the community of spirited gamers as they make their way from Manhattan’s Chinatown to their new home at Next Level in Brooklyn, an arcade started by Chinatown Fair’s former manager Henry Cen.

So if you have a few bucks laying around and want to see a great project get off the ground, donate! Each level of donating unlocks gifts and ending credits, something every gamer can relate to.

Donate Here.

Hand lettering by German poster designer Hans Otto Wendt

Mike — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:18:37 +0000

Christian Annyas is a curator of all things typographic and cinema. He’s posted a great collection of hand lettered titles by Hans Otto Wendt (1911-1979). Hans designed German movie posters for Hollywood studios like Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox. during the 1940s and 1950s.

You can see the the whole post here.

HIGHWAY 301 (1950) Warner Bros. movie poster detail

CASABLANCA (1952) Warner Bros. movie poster detail

THE HANGING TREE (1959) Warner Bros. movie poster detail

50 Years of Amnesty International Posters

Mike — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:57:59 +0000

The Guardian has a great set of Anesty International posters spanning over 50 years. You can see the whole collection here.

La Colombe et le Prisonnier, 1959 by Pablo Picasso

Amnesty International, 1995 (Israel), by graphic designer Lemel Yossi

Flight From Tyranny, 1975 (US) A lithograph by Alexander Calder for Prisoner of Conscience Year