Preserving a Legacy Preserving a Legacy is a feature published in the January/February 2018 issue of Perspective: The Journal of the Art Directors Guild. Written by Thomas Walsh and Karen Maness, the article documents the creation of the Backdrop Recovery Project and the effort to preserve historic Hollywood backdrops for 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 The Spectator feature, The Forgotten Art of Hollywood Backdrops, by Mitchell Jackson. The article explores Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy, an exhibition at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Jackson examines the artistry behind Hollywood’s hand-painted scenic backdrops and the efforts to preserve 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 Article Read Projection Lights and Staging News’ feature on The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, highlighting the world-premiere museum exhibition Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema’s Creative Legacy at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. The article explores the history of Hollywood scenic backdrops and the artists who More »