Another return to the 1904 World's Fair. This is a 2 by 4 foot acrylic on masonite. It took me 4 months to draw and paint. Why so long? I only painting during 1st period in school (which is not my class- I start 2nd period), and occasional during my prep period if I didn't have school work to do). I finished the piece 5/21/08.
This was a tough image to do. The reference wasn't clear, especially the Cascades part. On a whim, I created the sky almost with a pending storm feel- as nod to the Fair's short-lived magnificence and a slight wink to one of my dad's watercolors- Pending Storm.
During it's creation, I switched to another B & W reference, which supposedly was more clear. After days and days of painting, I finally noticed that the new reference was from a slightly difference angle, making some of the older work wrong! I had to remove the finished close up American flag and pole and move it over 1 1/2 inches! I did change a few items to make a better composition. Certain people are walking to the stairs, leading your eye into the design.
On a side note- I want to thank Mike Traux, president of the 1904 World's Fair Society for making clear the circular name of the left-most structure (Mrs. Rorer's Cafe'). Can you imagine a Cafe' that big?!
I have started a web page based on the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. It is close to 160 pages and showcases everything from the architecture and sculpture, to the gargantuan Palaces to all the Nations and States buildings, Food at the Fair, famous people and the adventurous mile-long Pike.
Back to the image; I photographed it badly again, the image is distorted and had some nasty glare to the right. I digitally painted out some of the glare.
Though I do want to keep painting parts of the Fair, I believe I would like to do more emotional elements than just the magnificent buildings.
My view on the 1904 World's Fair and our society (taken from my web site)
It’s a shame that most people (especially the `young’), know nothing about the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. In an era full of selfish teenagers staring mindlessly into cell phones, overpaid athletes void of manners, gratefulness or common sense, with societies and individuals preaching hate and devolution; it truly was a better time that what we have today; full of extravagant art, an age of discovery and wonder, the epic stride of man’s dreams and the wonders of the imagination, the outrageous and the indescribably grand. This was the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in a nut shell. It was the largest, grandest Fair ever conceived. It was a time of growth, of America flexing its muscles, showcasing its vast Agricultural power and new advancements in scientific research and technology. It showcased the end of the romanticism of the ornate Victorian Age, and the passing of its baton to a growing era of industrialization.
Like all World’s Fairs, The Louisiana Purchase Exposition was far from perfect; racism was still prevalent; and, even though the Fair brought in a diverse multitude of different cultures, some were displayed as simple stereotypes. In less than 15 years, the First World War would ensue, pulling the world further apart.
With the exception of computer-aided creations of assorted bridges, dams, or skyscrapers, a sense of grandness has been forgotten from today that was once prevalent in the Victorian Age World Fairs. Yes, we have larger machinery and tools, we can communicate, travel and build faster and sometimes bigger, but not always better. Times were less complicated, people dressed in everyday finery (not common t-shirts, caps, and ripped clothes), and most citizens remained homebound,close to the family (many failed to travel 35 miles away from their birthplace in a lifetime). And yet the thousands of people who conceived, built and operated the spectacle of 1904 knew that they were doing something quite extraordinary, as if they perpetuated the optimistic growth and grandeur of a Hudson River School Masterpiece; even if it only lasted a single year.
What would have happened if the Fair wasn’t built out of temporary staff, but in permanent marble and steel? Or if George Ferris’ 264 foot legacy, and the football field-sized Palaces still existed? The emphasis on intelligence and education, the gorgeous sculptures and prevailing multitude of aesthetic beauty; what would happen if they became important again? What about the Pike with its bizarre and entertaining attractions? Like sand art, the past wonders of our society are so easily forgotten or ignored, blown away into memories, or hollow shells created by popular culture and present-day superiority mind-sets, that attempt to make themselves more important than the past by erasing it; like a bad remake, desperately destroying what was original.
Though we can never go back to this time period, we can learn from the amazing accomplishments of others and embrace the risks of grand inspiration and wondrous schemes. Though many of society's sense of wonder has been replaced by sarcasm, vulgarities, swarms of the egocentric, wealthy greed, a general careless attitude, disillusion, and a pathetic-me, me, me mind-set, we can aspire to change our world towards a more ambitious and dare I say elegant future. Regardless, we can always dream.
