Travels in Font Land: The Metropolitan Opera’s 125th Anniversary Gala

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A couple of Sunday’s ago, the fruits of several months of planning came into fruition:  a glamorous evening celebrating the 125th year anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera as well as the veteran tenor Placido Domingo’s 40th year of performing with the company.  It was a very chic evening, filled with celebrities, fashion moguls, and style-makers, and the air was buzzing with excitement despite the gloomy cloud of a bad economy that continues to pervade the news and psyche. 

This project was an interesting assignment for our times.  How does one design an event on this scale, for such a momentous occasion and make it appropriate for today’s realities?  Lavish is out, of course, but SPECIAL IS ALWAYS IN!  We found our “special” within the MET archives and used a glorious history of 125 years of graphics to create an appropriately celebratory environment within the cavernous tent in Damrosch Park.  Instead of over-the-top flowers and dripping crystals, fonts were our muse.  Exploded, cropped, varied in type and color, the array of graphics not only provided a wonderful walk through the Opera’s historic identities in print but it transformed the tent into a three dimensional collage.   Elegant banners gently fluttered above vases and luminaries wrapped with glowing prints from every time period.   It didn’t really matter if you could read all of the text.  We often cropped at such extreme angles to simply celebrate the sheer form of the lettering and push it into the realm of pattern.

Guests at a fundraising event should NEVER walk in and question how much was spent on the evening.  Rather, the guests should walk in and say, “WOW!  That is COOL!”   Price should never enter their heads.  These are not expensive materials that we used, it was inventive concepts that carried the weight of the evening.  And you know what?  That’s the way it SHOULD be – regardless of the economy.

Cheers,

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[ryan]

beautiful!

[david]

Thanks for your kind words, Ryan.

D.

[Tania]

David, your work is inspiring and your executions ingenious. the paper topiaries from the West Elm install (which I had seen in print last year as well) are incredible as well. it's amazing to see what a little creativity and inventiveness can make, no matter what the budget and materials available.

[david]

Thanks, Tania. I really appreciate your feedback. You know, the financial problems of the world are certainly not what I desire or wish for, but it has been very interesting to have to think differently and "change the rules of the game."

I guess we like to think of the world as a little art project!!!

Keep commenting, ok?

xo

D.

[Meredith]

Oh, this is just stunning. I love fonts too! The banners remind me of a jousting tournament and the votives are out of this world. So clever and right for the occasion.

[Changzhi Lee]

This is simply fantabulous! Graphic design and typography mixed into an event :D What a way to bring words and typefaces to life!

[david]

Thanks, guys!!! I think the MET Opera is going to sell some of the luminaries in their gift shop! It's not something I would have ever thought of, but as soon as they said it, it made total sense to me.

I look forward to finding other opportunities to explore this concept more. Thanks for the great feedback. You guys make me feel like there is more creativity territory to mine here.

Keep your comments comin', ok?

xo

D.

[Seth]

Such incredible use of text. And I am loving the color palette as well. Just found you via Ginny Carter Smallenburg and I look forward to digging into your site.

[david]

Thanks, Seth. WELCOME! Glad you found us. Tell me what you think as your peruse "our aisles." :)

D.

[Kelly Oshiro]

I love the use of re-appropriated materials. I just sent the link to a book artist friend...

[david stark]

Thanks, Kelly, for spreading the word and sharing the love.

xo

D.

[Jen Jafarzadeh]

Looks amazing, David! I love how you always razzle dazzle using simple materials and concepts. So inspiring!

[david]

Thanks, Jen. And everyone: GO CHECK OUT JEN's FANTASTIC BLOG: www.thehaystackneedleonline.com.

I love it!!!!

xo

D.

[Luzel @ iDiY]

Amazing work, Mr. Stark! Thank you so much for sharing. As a self-confessed fontgeek, this is truly inspiring. I hope you don't mind that I've posted this on my blog. Now off to check the rest of your archives. Cheers!

[rivergardenstudio]

What a spectacular installation... You have taken my breath away! roxanne

[david]

Thanks for turning out all the responses, gang!!! You guys rock. Keep the feedback coming . . .

xoxo

D.

[Jessica C]

This is beautiful!! And I love how economical it is. Can I ask what the luminarias are propped up on?

[richele]

I'm in design and type heaven. amazing

lets get married and have style babies. ok kidding, maybe just a crazy good letterpressed invite and we'll call it a day.

http://richiedesign-paper.blogspot.com/

[katie]

david,

this is beautiful. i'm going to try to re-create at my gastby-era, art-deco inspired wedding in september on the long island sound.

your work is so inspiring.

thank you, katie

[david stark]

FABULOUS! You have to send us pictures, ok?!

Congratulations on your wedding in advance.

xo

D.

[angela]

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

plz share your secret to covering the cylinders - I shouldn't assume that they are covered but I'm truly hoping that they are and that you could share the best way to pull this off.

this is my 1st visit to your site and already I'm amazed at the creativity shown!

angela

[JuanitaHANSEN]

The loan suppose to be important for guys, which want to ground their organization. By the way, this is comfortable to get a short term loan.

[mattress reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron