Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster, 1844–2012
The political campaign poster had its humble beginnings in the 1840s when the new lithographic printing process, largely developed in Germany, was developed to satisfy a growing demand for printed material. Hand-colored portraits of presidential and vice-presidential candidates were first printed for the 1844 race between Whig Party candidate Henry Clay and the eventual winner, James K. Polk of the Democratic Party.
Technological innovation in the lithographic process in the 1880s ushered in the golden age of lithography, roughly 1890–1912 which produced some of the most intricate and colorful posters in the exhibition.
World War II saw a huge outpouring of posters offered by the Roosevelt administration and included several key Democratic Party campaign posters designed by famous artists like Ben Shahn and James Montgomery Flagg. The international style that pervaded the 1950s rarely affected the campaign poster, an era in which cheap letterpress and offset “boxing style” posters were de rigueur. However, a marvelous new design element that became popular at the time was the “floating head” poster, and several for candidates Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Goldwater are included in the exhibition.
The left-wing counterculture revolution of the 1960s was awash in civil rights, psychedelia and anti-war posters that culminated in the creation of some of the finest campaign posters, many of which appeared in the 1968 Democratic primary campaign of Eugene McCarthy. The George McGovern campaign that followed in 1972 was a virtual explosion of exciting political art. The offset printed poster was the more frequent, but many famous artists, such as Alexander Calder and Peter Max, screenprinted limited editions that helped fund campaigns. Hundreds of posters were created by well-known artists, illustrators, and often by inspired first-time poster makers.
After the graphically exciting 1972 presidential campaign, future contests produced only a few outstanding posters in each election cycle. However, the Democrat’s nomination of Barack Obama in 2008 heralded a renaissance of the form, as many artists—insiders, outsiders, and the famous—jumped on the candidate’s bandwagon. In fact, in 2008 it looked as if the great American political poster had, at last, solidified its place in future campaigns. Unfortunately, it was not to be; in 2012 the creation of exciting innovative posters tapered off sharply from the previous presidential election cycle.
Historically the American political poster has been sorely neglected as an art form and has played a minor cultural role despite its effectiveness in conveying a political message to millions of voters often through the skillful use of visual communication. Sign of the Times has made every effort to bring eye-popping political graphics to the forefront and to show the great American political poster as art.
Tour Schedule
Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster, 1844–2012 is touring February 2016 through January 2024. The dates below reflect five-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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November 6–December 4, 2015
The Culture Lab at Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO booked -
February 3–March 10, 2016
Sixth Floor Museum
Dallas, TX booked -
March 25–April 30, 2016
Edmond Historical Society
Edmond, OK booked -
May 15–August 16, 2016
Upcountry History Museum
Greenville, SC booked -
September 1–October 5, 2016
Kansas City Public Library
Kansas City, MO booked -
October 21–November 30, 2016
Temecula Valley Museum
Temecula, CA booked -
December 15, 2016–January 19, 2017
Nebraska State Historical Society
Lincoln, NE booked -
February 3–March 10, 2017
Moses Lake Museum & Arts Center
Moses Lake, WA booked -
March 25–April 30, 2017
Oxford Performing Arts Center
Oxford, AL booked -
July 5–August 16, 2017
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
August 18–September 30, 2017
University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, AR booked -
October 21–November 27, 2017
Panola College
Carthage, TX booked -
December 15, 2017–January 19, 2018
Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum
Temple, TX booked -
February 3–April 30, 2018
Sioux City Public Museum
Sioux City, IA booked -
May 15–June 20, 2018
Spartanburg Public Library
Spartenburg, SC booked -
July 5–August 16, 2018
Living History Farms
Urbandale, IA booked -
September 1, 2018–January 20, 2019
Reading Public Museum
Reading, PA booked -
February 3–March 10, 2019
Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, TX booked -
March 25–April 30, 2019
Elmhurst Historical Museum
Elmhurst, IL booked -
May 15–August 16, 2019
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
Enid, OK booked -
September 1–October 5, 2019
John E. Connor Museum
Kingsville, TX booked -
November 4, 2019–January 19, 2020
County of San Luis Obispo Public Library
San Luis Obispo, CA booked -
February 2–May 3, 2020
Saint Mary's College Museum of Art
Moraga, CA booked -
May 15–June 20, 2020
Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Baton Rouge, LA booked -
July 5–August 16, 2020
Lake Jackson Historical Museum
Lake Jackson, TX booked -
September 1–October 5, 2020
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Athens, GA booked -
October 21–November 30, 2020
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA booked -
December 15, 2020–January 19, 2021
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville, AR booked -
March 25–April 30, 2021
Tullahoma Fine Arts Center
Tullahoma, TN booked -
May 15–June 20, 2021
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
September 1–October 5, 2021
Oklahoma City Community College
Oklahoma City, OK booked -
October 21–December 3, 2021
Camden County Historical Society
Camden, NJ booked -
December 15, 2021–January 19, 2022
Rutherford B Hayes Museum
Fremont, OH booked -
February 3–April 30, 2022
Park City Museum
Park City, UT booked -
September 1–November 30, 2022
Oregon State Historical Society
Portland, OR booked -
December 15, 2022–January 19, 2023
Chandler Museum
Chandler, AZ booked -
February 3–April 30, 2023
Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum
Sand Springs, OK booked -
September 1–October 5, 2023
available -
October 21–November 30, 2023
available -
December 15, 2023–January 19, 2024
Historical Society of Saginaw County
Saginaw, MI booked
Exhibition Details
50 posters
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Content
Fee Includes
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates -
Curated By
Hal Wert, Ph.D., professor of history, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$2,550
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In-Region Rental Fee
$1785
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Duration
5-week display
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
230
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Square Feet
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Security
Moderate B
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
4 crates/1,420 pounds
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.