Oscar poster meets the teen test

By: JEFF FRANK - staff writer | Thursday, February 7, 2008 9:46 PM PST ∞

Alex Swart faced a difficult challenge when it came to designing the Best Picture commemorative poster for the 80th anniversary of the Academy Awards.

Not only did the former Escondido resident have to please the high-profile show business world, but he also needed a thumbs-up from his son, Willem.

"I wanted to design something now that I think is lasting, and a poster cool enough that my 15-year-old son would like to hang it on the wall, and he's a tough critic," said Swart.

The verdict? Willem likes it.

The design challenge was to find a way to display 80 images representing the 79 previous Best Picture winners and the film that claims this year's award Feb. 24 in a striking manner. Swart's poster features a swirling ribbon that takes the shape of the Oscar. The Best Picture images are on the ribbon.

"I wanted to do it in a way that had never been done before," said Swart, an Orange Glen High School and Palomar College alumnus, whose Glendale-based SwartAd agency handles a lot of entertainment advertising. "I'm pleased with it, and people seem to like it."

Helping with the poster was computer illustrator Karl Shields, also a former Escondidan who also assisted Swart on the Academy Awards' 75th anniversary and Best Picture posters in 2003.

See the poster at www.oscar.org.

Early look: A preview of art to be auctioned at Panache 2008 opens Saturday at the Escondido Municipal Gallery. Among the 45 artists featured at the annual fundraiser for the Escondido Arts Partnership is Escondido native Andrea Zittel, whose furnishings, sculptures and installations are known worldwide.

Zittel donated a piece from her Smockshop series, artistically designed clothing. The Niki de Saint Phalle Foundation is also donating a signed print.

"We'll have chocolate and champagne and get everyone excited about the auction," said Wendy Wilson, EAP operations director. "Andrea Zittel is such a huge artist. It's great she's donating something to the auction."

The preview reception is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Auction pieces will stay on display until the Panache auction March 1.

Digging in: The long-awaited groundbreaking for the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society museum will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the museum site at the Bernardo Winery. Along with the usual speeches will be a dedication of a memorial garden for the winery's late owner, Ross Rizzo, a big supporter of the society who offered the land at the winery to the group.

Contact staff columnist Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.

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