Read Perspective magazine’s feature, The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: A Museum Exhibition Like No Other, written by exhibition curators Thomas A. Walsh and Karen L. Maness. The article chronicles the creation of the Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition, which introduced museum audiences to Hollywood’s scenic artists and the More »
Read It’s Nice That’s feature, “Discover the Laborious Painting Process Behind Hollywood’s Forgotten Film Backdrops,” highlighting Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The article introduces readers to the monumental scenic paintings that shaped Hollywood filmmaking while exploring the artists, techniques, and More »
Scenic Artist Oral History Project: A Heritage Explored and Recovered The Scenic Artist Oral History Project preserves the voices and experiences of Hollywood scenic artists. Karen L. Maness and Richard M. Isackes wrote this article for the November/December 2014 issue of Perspective. It highlights the artists, teachers, and traditions that More »
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 Story CBS Sunday Morning explores the preservation of historic Hollywood backdrops and the artists who created some of the largest paintings ever made for motion pictures. Correspondent John Blackstone follows scenic artist and curator Karen Maness, Lynne Coakley of J.C. Backings, production designer Thomas A. Walsh, and journalist More »
About the Article Read O, The Oprah Magazine’s “You Do WHAT?” feature highlighting the Hollywood Backdrop Collection and the work of the Backdrop Recovery Project. The article introduces readers to the often-overlooked world of Hollywood scenic artists. It also explains how their monumental painted backdrops created unforgettable scenes in classic More »
About the Video Watch a behind-the-scenes tour of Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The video features exhibition co-curators Karen Maness and Thomas A. Walsh as they guide viewers through the world-premiere exhibition, discussing the history, artistry, and preservation of Hollywood More »