Published in the Los Angeles Times, “Preserving Films’ Illusions” follows the Art Directors Guild Backdrop Recovery Project and its mission to preserve Hollywood’s painted scenic backdrops. Journalist Mary McNamara interviews production designer Thomas A. Walsh, scenic artist and educator Karen Maness, and J.C. Backings president Lynne Coakley. Together, they explain More »
In “For Hollywood Backdrops, a Happy Ending,” Carole & Co. explores the artistry and preservation of Hollywood’s painted scenic backdrops. Using examples from films such as My Man Godfrey, the post explains how these monumental paintings helped create convincing cinematic worlds long before digital visual effects. The article highlights the More »
About the CBS Sunday Morning Feature CBS Sunday Morning explores the history of Hollywood’s hand-painted movie backdrops and the artists who created them. Correspondent John Blackstone follows the Backdrop Recovery Project, an effort to preserve these monumental paintings before they disappear. The feature includes interviews with Karen Maness, coauthor of More »
About the Art Behind the Scenes: The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop is a short promotional video produced by Texas Performing Arts. In the video, curator Karen Maness welcomes visitors and introduces an exhibition featuring monumental Hollywood scenic backdrops displayed on the Bass Concert Hall stage. Although the video is More »
About the Documentary Watch Setting the Scene, a documentary produced by Alcalde Docs for the Texas Exes. The film explores the history, artistry, and preservation of the Hollywood Backdrop Collection at The University of Texas at Austin. Through interviews with faculty, students, and museum professionals, the documentary introduces the collection More »
About the Review Read the Wall Street Journal Review by Edward Rothstein of the Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition, Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy. The review examines the history of Hollywood scenic art. It also explores the Hollywood Backdrop Collection and the importance of preserving these More »