EVENSEN CREATIVE
  • ABOUT
  • DESIGN
  • ILLUSTRATION
  • COMICS
  • CONTACT

A Tribute to Paul Bunyan

2/27/2012

9 Comments

 
Our local Pecha Kucha Night chapter displays local artwork at each event, usually three to six local artists in exhibition. Our most recent event was meant to be Bemidji-centric, so we put out a call for artists to produce work in tribute to our town's world-famous statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. If you have not heard of these, then man, you're missing out.
As a New Englander transplanted to the midwest, I must admit I am fascinated with this region's obsession with enormous and bizarre roadside attractions. Dinosaur Park in South Dakota, the Biggest Ball of Twine Made by One Man in Darwin, Minnesota (subject of one of my favorite Weird Al songs), the House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and of course the giant Field of Corn in my former home of Columbus, Ohio. In my home state of New Hampshire, the weirdest things you see tend to be things like rock formations and Revolution-era buildings. I must admit, being walking distance to one of the weirdest roadside attractions in the country is a great benefit to living in this town.

These two prints represent two different, tongue-in-cheek approaches to paying homage to Bemidji’s statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. When working with representations of these statues, it is best remembered that the statues themselves are ridiculously oversized, crudely-sculpted, and garishly prominent along the town’s skyline. Much like the Biggest Ball of Twine or the House on the Rock, they represent that roadside aspect of midwestern Americana that must be seen to be believed. I chose to celebrate the statues of Paul and Babe by letting their own playfulness shine through and not taking them too seriously.

The first print depicts Paul as an axe-wielding barbarian clad in a tartan, and Babe as a giant blue minotaur with cloven hands. It's ridiculous and over-the-top, but not a huge stretch when compared to the original legend. The second print is a simple attempt to create a hip, stylish poster using an old postcard photo of the statues in all of their uncool glory. This print was so popular at the event that the originals were stolen right off the table.
You can order prints of these posters here.
Picture
Picture
9 Comments
Jane Carlstrom link
2/26/2012 11:50:47 pm

Very much enjoyed your art work for the Feb 23rd Pecha Kucha.

Having worked in community health with people of the Red Lake Nation for 10 years, in the first half of those a large billboard with Nanaboozhoo driving Paul Bunyan out of the forest was at the entry on Hwy 89, the despoiler Paul and Minotaur Babe make much sense to me as one view of this fabled pair.

The juxtaposition with the "historic" scene made both more awesome.

Enjoyed your article UNTIL the very end where the "loss" of the originals came to light. I am appalled that your originals are missing. Hopefully it was an honest mistake and they will be returned when someone realizes they were not there for the free taking.

Reply
Erik Evensen link
2/27/2012 12:01:00 am

I am sure it was an honest mistake, Jane. I printed an extra of each to give to Sam and had no place to store them, so I left them in stacks of two. I think that sent a message to people that they were freebies. As digital artwork, they don't really exist as "originals" in the way that a painting would. I can, and will, print more, and I am actually proud that people thought they were worthy of taking without asking.

Reply
Jane Carlstrom link
2/27/2012 01:18:29 am

Oh good! So actually you have the digital masters and can print another "original" I guess the original might be a higher quality print and the reprints made from it or at less expensive quality?

Both posters are so creative and well done.

Reply
Erik Evensen
2/27/2012 06:34:16 am

Something like that -- it's fine; I just need to print more from the master copy. I'd rather have them out in public, being seen!

Noemi
2/27/2012 04:54:34 am

I am sad to say I missed the event since I am out of town. If there are any extra Pecha Kucha posters please save one for me, I would love to frame it:)

Reply
Erik Evensen link
2/27/2012 06:35:32 am

I think there are extras from the event (that used Terry Honstead's artwork), and I can print more of either of these if you like. However, these will be on display at your cafe along with the other Paul & Babe artwork before too long!

Reply
Heather Johnson link
2/27/2012 08:45:53 am

Erik, you know I'm going to need a print of this, right?

Reply
Erik Evensen link
2/27/2012 09:00:23 am

I'll taking orders from anyone who wants one. They'd have to specify which, though.

Reply
go here link
6/5/2013 12:29:49 am

I am so sad that i have missed the event. is the original prints missing from your hands?. i wanted to know more about the two prints. Hopefully it was an honest mistake and they will be returned .Regards

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The Blog.

    This is where we post news, announcements, product launches, and musings on the design process. All posts written by Erik Evensen unless otherwise noted.


    From the blog:


    Archives

    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    Apparel
    Art
    Asgard
    Bemidji
    Books
    Branding
    Comics
    Design
    Exhibition
    Free
    Gallery
    Gods
    Holiday
    Identity
    Illustration
    Infographics
    Information
    Kucha
    Letterpress
    Music
    Mythology
    Non-profit
    Norse
    Pecha
    Pkn
    Poster
    Product
    Twilight
    Website

    RSS Feed

Evensen Creative

ERIK A. EVENSEN / PRINCIPAL
DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR, 
​
GRAPHIC NOVELIST, EDUCATOR
  • ABOUT
  • DESIGN
  • ILLUSTRATION
  • COMICS
  • CONTACT