Rio Olympic Posters Debut

Olympic poster fans finally have some new images to covet.

Four-and-a-half years after London unveiled its official images, today in Brazil, the Rio 2016 organizing committee showcased its 13 fresh poster designs for the Games of the XXXIst Olympiad.

According to a press release, 12 of the works are by artists native to the host nation, with one poster showcasing the design of a Colombian national. 

Most of the images feature vivid colors, while one design resembles a black and white astronomical map of galaxies, with the Olympic rings pointing out "you are here" at the Milky Way star cluster.

Rio landmarks, such as the iconic beachfront sidewalks or the city's topographical profile, appear in multiple designs. 

The most original 2016 image may be the assortment of abstract flesh-toned shapes grouped on a blue-green field and encircled by "laurel leaves." 

Another standout may be the graphic representation of several Games-time fields of play, such as a basketball court, rugby pitch or a corner of an Olympic track -- for this observer, the architectural image translated closest to "2016" iconography (as though inspired by a venue infographic). 

All of the Rio posters are vertical. 

As with the finalists for 2012, I personally loved a couple of images and did not care for others. The images blending the ocean and land rose to the top for me. The child with kite and favela skyline is beautiful with a touch of something akin to works by Banksy. 

One image featuring a stylized blue and white sunrise seemed at once to be a potential bridge poster for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Two designs featuring Olympic torches are cool, while one took me back to the more psychedelic works from the 1968 Mexico City or 1972 Munich poster collections. 

But the assortment for Rio has something for everyone.  A gallery for all 13 posters may be viewed on the Rio 2016 Facebook post. 

For collectors heading to Brazil, the originals and prints will be on exhibition at the showstopping Santiago Calatrava masterpiece Museum of Tomorrow in Praca Maua until July 22, then at Deodoro Olympic Park through the Games. 

Prints will be available for sale in two sizes (28cm x 42cm at R$30, or 60cm x 90cm for R$50) in the museum shop and official Rio 2016 Olympic stores, according to the press release.

Images via Rio 2016

London 2012 Unveils Official Posters

Today the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) unveiled the official posters for London 2012, including six Olympic and six Paralympic designs.

Check out the full press release (including artist bios) and links to the designs!
Building on an Olympic arts tradition spanning several decades, the LOCOG-commissioned works by 12 leading U.K. artists highlight competition and athletic themes of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Looking at the collection, I am enthusiastically drawn to the work titled "Big Ben 2012" by Sarah Morris. The poster features a modernized view of the Clock Tower in a framework reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright windows. Beautiful! I want this poster in my apartment!

Another poster titled "Divers" -- created by Anthea Hamilton -- is also appealing with vivid color and silhouetted legs and Olympic rings in white.

The third and poster of note, however, sort of made me think, "Huh?!"

The work titled "Swimming" by Howard Hodgkin is described in LOCOG press materials with the following note: "The fluidity of the brushstrokes perfectly captures the movement of water and the sensation of swimming."

Not so much.

For this blogger, it sort of captures the movement of child's fingers dipped in finger paint.

Though to Hodgkin's credit, the painting did also remind me of a favorite R.E.M. song titled "Night Swimming" so I guess the poster is OK, just not for my walls.

Next!

Like Athens 2004's terrible selection of official posters, the rest of the London 2012 official poster series leave a bit to be desired. For instance, the illustration of two birds appearing under an inspiring message was to me, well, inspiring, yet better suited for the cartoon collections of The New Yorker magazine.

The other workz juzt make me zort of **yawn** zleepy ... ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz ...

I guess my Olympic official poster tastes are influenced by the dazzling array of memorable official works created for LA84, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. LA's official works, including artists Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Martin Puryear, are just tough to beat. Javier Mariscal's 1992 designs, and the 1996 posters by Howard Finster and James Rizzi, stand out as exceptional.

Other favorites Olympic poster works include designs by Jacob Lawrence, David Hockney, Andy Warhol and (official or not) the works of Dallas artist Bart Forbes are personal favorites (his works for several U.S. Postal Service stamps are tops in my book).

I'm sure the London 2012 official posters will be quite popular in spite of my remarks. Would love to hear which London 2012 Olympic posters are most liked -- or disliked -- by readers of this blog, and I will send an official 1996 Atlanta Olympic Opening Ceremony postcard of Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic cauldron to the person(s) who post the most colorful comment(s) during the next three days.

Disclosures: LOCOG and the IPC/Paralympics are clients of Edelman, the agency where I work. Photo credits: London 2012/LOCOG website.

Stamp Of Approval

When it comes to investing in Olympic memorabilia, most of my dollars wind up going to fellow eBay customers selling five-ringed schwag from recent Games. (Disclosure: eBay is a client of Edelman, the P.R. firm where I work.)

So it was cool to find in my mailbox a copy of the David Feldman Olympic Auction Catalog from Feldman Galleries, Geneva, for the upcoming sale "Olympic Games -- The Loaring Collection-Part 1." The 165-page glossy auction book, for the sale on Nov. 24, is filled with gorgeous Olympic antiques and memorabilia spanning 1896 to 2004.

Sort of reminds me of that Sotheby's Auction in the James Bond film "Octopussy" -- the scene where Roger Moore switches a fake for a real Imperial Easter Egg by Carl Fabergé.

This is not the first major Olympic auction for which I've considered a few bids. But this one may be the most risky for clearing out my wallet and bank account. But check out the items!

• 14 lots featuring museum-ready artist proof versions of the rare Athens 1896 postage stamps issued by the Greek postal service (combined estimated value: €101,000 to €197,000) (!!!)
  
• Gold medal winner's trophy from the 1920 Antwerp Games, featuring a nude figure (in gold) holding a victory wreath aloft atop a marble base (est. value: €6,000)


• A "Ticket Master" official pass booklet of ticket specimens for the Games of the Xth Olympiad at Los Angeles (est. value: €3,000)


• Olympic torches from Berlin 1936, London 1948, Rome 1960, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Moscow 1980, Sarajevo 1984, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996 (est. value: Each €1,200 to €4,000)

There are a handful of items closer to my budget: A non-Nazi poster for the Berlin 1936 Games, pins from the London 1948 Olympics, participation medals (awarded to all athletes) for Mexico City 1968, and a few badges for various Olympic Congress events hosted by the IOC.

It's not too late to view the auction catalog or bid (advance or live bidding) via http://www.davidfeldman.com/ -- just don't bid on my want-list posters, pins, etc.! See you on Nov. 24, and on eBay.

Photos via the David Feldman Nov. 24 Auction Catalog

Maple Leaf Makeover

Received today from VANOC a press release regarding the new 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic posters unveiled today with several Canadian Olympians in attendance.

According to the press release ...

“One of Canada’s most cherished symbols is the maple leaf. We put it on our flag, our uniforms and even our backpacks when we travel around the world. It sums up who we are — our shared history, values and goals as a country,” said Nathalie Lambert [three-time Olympic medallist in short track speed skating], Canada’s chef de mission for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. “That’s why it’s fitting to have the maple leaf on the official posters of Canada’s Games. With this modern, youthful and spirited take on our national symbol, we will welcome the world as hosts of the 2010 Winter Games in just 228 days time!”

The website description for the posters states ...

"The Look of the Games graphic elements in the poster were created by members of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) design team, while the concept of the poster and the unique interpretation of these graphics were brought to life by designer Ben Hulse."

The posters and other fabulous merchandise are available online starting today. Bravo!

(poster image copyright VANOC)