Bartalos Illustration

Congratulations, Barack Obama.

Katzen Art Center at American University.
Image © Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C.

Back again in DC, I gave stamp talks at AU’s Katzen Art Center on October 2nd and at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum on the 4th. Appreciative audiences and good Q&As at both.

The most often asked question is “How do you get to do a stamp in the first place?” There must be as many answers as there are stamp illustrators, but mine is: Do a Barneys window. That’s where Postal Service art director Richard Sheaff first saw my posters which he procured (through considerable effort) from the New York store staff to display in his DC office, which led to his commissioning me for the Marathon stamp, and in turn the Latin Jazz stamp. So I have Barneys creative director Simon Doonan to thank for initiating that fortuitous chain of events. Thank you Simon!

Oddly, no one’s yet followed up with asking “How do you get to do Barneys windows?” Answer: I don’t remember exactly. Perhaps Simon assumed that it would stop the barrage of letterpress promos I overwhelmed art directors with in those days. It didn’t.

One thing for sure, the window displays and stamps are still among the most exciting projects I’ve worked on. Both Simon and Richard were a joy to collaborate with, and I’ll miss working with Richard now that he’s officially retired.

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum, home to budding stamp artists like Emma.

The Postal Museum’s October 4 Latin Jazz Celebration included a “Design Your Own Stamp” workshop which went over well with youngsters and families. There were more than a few drawings by 9-year olds that would make terrific stamps. Professional illustrators be warned.

Big thanks to Erin Blasco and volunteers Amy Cesal, Shana Weinberg and others for helping make these events a success, and especially to my mom who traveled down from New York to attend them all. Other guests of honor included illustrator Rafael Lopez and family in from San Diego (thanks for the beautiful Obama print, Rafael!), the Smithsonian’s Allison Wickens, and writer Louise Fenner. This trip was all the more memorable for quality time spent with generous friends David Fair, Mark Jickling, and Edith Jickling, and for catching the Corcoran‘s awesome Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power show up through January 25. Highly recommended.

The doors are open.

Few things excite me more than the notion of designing for buildings by my favorite architects. So I’m pretty euphoric about having landed a retail display and merchandise graphics gig for Renzo Piano‘s new California Academy of Sciences building right here in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Rainforest and Aquarium display panels, t-shirts, notebooks in the main store.

Creative director Rhonda Rubinstein and I collaborated closely since April to create twelve theme illustrations representing the museum’s featured attractions and areas of research. Elements of the images were used to create graphic wall panels throughout the Academy’s three retail stores, as well as motifs that appear on a multitude of products from t-shirts to caps to notebooks to chocolate bars (an essential pick-me-up after a day of exploring a museum this size). Integrated into many of these motifs is the Academy’s new logo designed by Pentagram San Francisco.

A pair of display panels in the main store's Sustainability and Gardening retail area.

The new Academy is not to be missed. The structure features an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and 4-story rainforest under one roof. A living roof that is, carpeted with 2.5 acres of plant species native to the Bay Area. The LEED-certified complex is reportedly the greenest museum in the world, and the design — in typical Piano fashion — is undeniably smart and gorgeous throughout. Contributed attractions include main floor exhibits created by locals Adam Brodsley and Eric Heiman at Volume in collaboration with L.A.-based Cinnabar, Maya Lin‘s expansive wire sculpture hanging from the west facade, and the swamp’s crowd-pleasing albino alligator courtesy of Mother Nature herself.

Nicolai Ouroussoff’s Times review sums up the extraordinary visitor experience here and photographer Tim Griffith’s images showcase the building in all its architectural glory here. I’ve never been prouder to be part of a team-effort endeavor.

Elvis Costello rocks out on the Academy's west lawn.

A string of previews and parties throughout September culminated with the Academy’s posh Big Bang Opening Gala on the 25th with live music provided by no less a legend than Elvis Costello. Major flashbacks to my art school days provided evidence that Elvis is still kickin’ it.

Check back for more photos of display graphics and products as they arrive. Better yet, pick them up in person at the museum. Don’t forget the chocolate bars!

Meet the Press: Unveiling the Latin Jazz stamp at the Sacramento Convention Center with Augustine Martinez, President and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

National Hispanic Heritage Month festivities continued with a Latin Jazz stamp ceremony at the USHCC‘s 29th Annual National Convention in Sacramento which attracted impressive media coverage. A couple days earlier, the Postal Service in San Francisco hosted a dedication event along with the S.F. District Hispanic Heritage Committee at the city’s main mail processing plant. The warm reception I received at both events was extremely gratifying, along with all the positive response to the stamp design. There’s been only a single detractor (kind of) so far: a Postal Museum visitor in DC told me he “didn’t get it” and mumbled something about it being too abstract. Then he asked me to sign his first day cover.

Unveiled!

There’s a lot brewing in the illustration studio this month. My second postage stamp design is hot off the presses and available in post offices now. The U.S. Postal Service issued “Latin Jazz” on September 8 on the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, marked by morning and evening dedication ceremonies at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in DC. The evening unveiling at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Arts and Culture Reception drew an impressive line-up of Congressional Members, dignitaries, supporters, and CHCI conference participants. I told an attendee that if I’d known it would be such a lavish affair, I’d have perhaps worn a tie. He replied “Why should you? You’re an artist.” I’m off the hook.

Congressman José E. Serrano (NY-16), Congresswoman Grace Flores Napolitano (CA-38), Congressman Joe Baca (CA-43), the stamp artist guy, U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter, and 2008 NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero.

The undisputed highlight of both events were performances by the legendary Cuban percussionist and 2008 NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero who still whips up a storm on the congas at 86. He’s among the most spirited, warm and fascinating people you’ll ever meet. A wicked sense of humor too. Read more about my new hero’s illustrious life and career here. Candido says the big hands on the stamp are his. I’m honored!

Candido brings the house down.

I’ll be back at the National Postal Museum on Saturday October 4 to lead a “design your own stamp” workshop at their Latin Jazz Celebration event. Kids of all ages and families welcome. Latin Jazz stamp merchandise will be available to collectors, some of which is also available online.

My good friends Edith and Mark Jickling -- a music legend in his own right as guitarist for the seminal punk band Half Japanese.

While at the Postal Museum, check out the Alphabetilately exhibit opening Friday September 26. Concept sketches and unused versions of my Latin Jazz stamp design will be included in this wide survey of philatelic history and graphics. It’s shaping up to be an amazing show thanks to the efforts of San Francisco friends Michael Osborne and Alyson Kuhn.

On Thursday October 2 at 8:15 P.M., American University is hosting my talk “Stamps and Beyond: Design and Process” at the Katzen Arts Center, Room 201, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC. AU welcomes MICA, Corcoran and any other students to attend. Big thanks to Chemi Montes-Armenteros of the AU Design Department and Erin Blasco at the Smithsonian for facilitating this presentation. I’m looking forward to it.

Back here in San Francisco, I’m proud to have designed the retail display and merchandise graphics for the new California Academy of Sciences, opening to the public on Saturday September 27. Stay tuned…

Hi and welcome to bartalosillustration.com. This is the new home for my assignment-based projects. My other site bartalos.com now focuses on personal work, printmaking, residencies, grants (Antarctica!) and the like. Please visit both often — I’ll be posting news, photos, event announcements, lecture dates, recommendations, opinions, random digressions, and links to cool people and inspiring work to both sites on an ongoing basis.