New Trinity Trust Poster Fails to Inspire Roughly 2 out of 3 D Magazine Employees
A dozen or so posters just showed up in our offices, care of the Trinity Trust. You know my stance on that. I think they’re fighting the good fight, and so on. Which is why it pains me to say the following: this Trinity poster — designed by London artist Jenny Bowers to commemorate a conference last year and now available to you, the Trinity supporter, in limited numbers, for $15 — is ugly. To my eye, anyway. Gail, I’m sorry. A few of us editors stood around looking at our posters when we got them a few minutes ago, going, “Really? Seriously?” Looking for confirmation, I marched it back to our creative director. He dug it. (”I’ve seen too many drawing of plans for the river, so I like the child-like style.”) Another art director agreed. (”It’s airy, fun. Looks like Matisse on speed.”) A third art director, though, was on my side. (”No. Uh-uh.”)
But what do I know, right? Comments are open.
25 Comments to “New Trinity Trust Poster Fails to Inspire Roughly 2 out of 3 D Magazine Employees”
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It doesn’t show the floods; the bridge appears to have one eye squinted; tulips?; inner tubes?; where’s Waldo?
The pollution cloud is missing
Unrealistic. Cliche rainbow. No stray dogs and cats. No bodies thrown into the undergrowth. No sign that says “Do not eat the fish.” There are what appears to be abandoned vans or buses in the foreground. No ambulances standing by to treat people who are overwhelmed by the fumes from the river. No bandits robbing joggers. No derelicts panhandling. And is that a big beet in the upper right, just above the Parks & Wildlife guy in the boat doing a count on the fish kill? It looks like there is a politician — that green figure juggling three red balls. Not sure what that’s symbolic of but red balls must mean something.
Kind of looks like what happens when you buy a bad roll of gift wrap or wallpaper.
So there were no Dallas-based graphic artists available?
Odd.
It would look a lot cooler if I was on acid.
I think its what they think we think it will be like when it is finished, just like a child or Matisse would think. You think?
That thing is hell.
Where is the yellow submarine? I think I do see an overturned orange kayak.
I like it. And I have a BA in Art History, so obviously I’m right. I do agree with Anne, though - why not a Dallas artist?
I know Dallas isn’t known as the “Art Capitol of the Southwest” but come on…..They had to go to London?!?! What a pompous A$$ decision. I would rather they hand a Gorilla at the Dallas zoo a paint brush and canvass then go that far for that picture. But then I don’t give much to the Trinity Trust. I still don’t understand why the wealthy in Dallas support Dallas’ identity crisis by commissioning things to “International Superstars”, (ie. Caltrava) rather than try to promote or discover from within the N. Texas area.
My kid could draw that.
But he won’t cuz he thinks it sucks.
Poor composition, but very nice style, & an appropiate style. I wouldn’t call it “ugly” at all, though it is “jumbled.” My eye doesn’t know where to look.
I find it dreamy, other-worldly, allowing one a moment’s respite to suspend belief–it’s jabberwocky in paint. For the Trinity Trust, it’s perfect.
Bwahaha. This is what a London-based artist thought people in Dallas would like.
Does anyone remember the very busy Match.com ad campaign of a year ago? This has a similar, Richard-Scarry’s-Busy-Busy-Town feel to it.
I linked FrontBurner’s post on the campaign on my name, so click to view.
Will admit that I like the Trinity poster partly because the bright images of fun seem so UN-Dallas, but I’m still put off that it’s of British origin.
(Does this mean Dallas is an international, world-class city now??)
/snark
This proves my point that Europe enjoys making fun of us… or rather U.S.
I bet a cat drew it. i hear they’re just like people.
You have to give the artist some credit. After all, I have a fine arts degree — and I’m still trying to come up with the perfect way to draw acrid, urine smells and lack of progress.
Too busy. Makes my eyes hurt.
What’s with the rainbow flag kite?
I don’t see the Toll Road.
Wow! Purdy! They couldn’t get a Dallas artist because everyone here except those set to profit directly from it knows that it’s a crock of (insert your favorite adjective here.)
And I don’t see the toll road either…
This is terrible. When I was in 1st grade, I drew a Dallas Skyline and my parents made it the cover of our family Christmas card because they thought it looked so cute. IMHO, my 1st grade picture rivals this carnival thing. If it belongs anywhere, it would be in a pediatrician’s waiting room. And didn’t we just have an election concerning some sort of ‘road’ that will anchor this whole thingamajig?
Where the toll road be at? Let’s at least make it realistic.
I see several busses, but no hummers. Are only busses allowed on the toll road running through the park? Are cars and trucks excluded? Doubt it, beyotches!
Really! Seriously! Shame on you Tim, reread your own article, as you stated…the Creative Director dug it, and the Art Director agreed. You have an eye for words…stick to what you know and leave the artistic endeavors to the artists.
And Drew…homophobia isn’t pretty on anyone.
I think it’s great. Being a local designer/art director for 10+ years, it would have been nice for a local artist to work on it. (Tim, stick to the words)