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Friday, January 29, 2021
Historic Hollywood backdrop paintings to go on view at Bass Concert Hall
Sightlines: In another clever move to use the currently empty Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas, the vast stage will turn into an exhibition space for 12 historic — and enormous — hand-painted film backdrops.
I was interested in this article because I had read a similar article before about old drops in Oprah theaters. I was interested in what was going to happen to the drops and suggested that they should set up an art exhibit because these backdrops are so well painted. This article was about movie backdrops, which I didn’t know they used to use. I’m glad that UT Austin has a large collection of these drops/ backgrounds and they are showing them in an exhibition. I was blown away at how well painted the drop of the desert was, it looked like an old photo.I probably didn’t realize that they used drops in these old movies because they looked so realistic. As a scenic artist, I love paint treatments that really look realistic from a distance so it was fun to see. The trailer park drop was amazing as well
While I personally will be unable to attend this exhibition, it still seems very interesting. The idea of these backdrops being on display, especially considering their large sizes, is a rare and enriching experience. It is nice to see that while the concert hall is unable to open for its original use, organizations are temporarily repurposing venues that would otherwise remain shuttered until we can find a new sense of returning to normal. It is amazing that they have also started a residency program in the space to support itself in operating and supporting artists during these times. Until reading this article, I had not considered what happens to all of Hollywood’s historical backdrops, and I am happy to see that they have been preserved and respected. It is fascinating that they are going to be on display to the public for the first time, especially considering that MGM has been around for a long time. I will definitely have to check out the video tour next month.
2 comments:
I was interested in this article because I had read a similar article before about old drops in Oprah theaters. I was interested in what was going to happen to the drops and suggested that they should set up an art exhibit because these backdrops are so well painted. This article was about movie backdrops, which I didn’t know they used to use. I’m glad that UT Austin has a large collection of these drops/ backgrounds and they are showing them in an exhibition. I was blown away at how well painted the drop of the desert was, it looked like an old photo.I probably didn’t realize that they used drops in these old movies because they looked so realistic. As a scenic artist, I love paint treatments that really look realistic from a distance so it was fun to see. The trailer park drop was amazing as well
While I personally will be unable to attend this exhibition, it still seems very interesting. The idea of these backdrops being on display, especially considering their large sizes, is a rare and enriching experience. It is nice to see that while the concert hall is unable to open for its original use, organizations are temporarily repurposing venues that would otherwise remain shuttered until we can find a new sense of returning to normal. It is amazing that they have also started a residency program in the space to support itself in operating and supporting artists during these times. Until reading this article, I had not considered what happens to all of Hollywood’s historical backdrops, and I am happy to see that they have been preserved and respected. It is fascinating that they are going to be on display to the public for the first time, especially considering that MGM has been around for a long time. I will definitely have to check out the video tour next month.
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