CYNTHIA PARSONS MCDANIEL
COLLAGIST AND ILLUSTRATOR
CYNTHIA PARSONS MCDANIEL HAD HER FIRST COLLAGE IN THE MID YEAR EXHIBTION AT THE SONIA GECHTOFF GALLERY. THE PIECE IS CALLED A GLANCE THRU THE NEWS AND TELLS THE LOVE STORY OF TWO NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS 100 YEARS AGO IN PARIS .
ONE LIVED IN ROME AND THE OTHER IN PARIS THEY WOULD MEET FROM TIME TO TIME IN EITHER CITY AND GO TO THE PARK AND WRAP THEMSELVES IN NEWSPAPERS LIKE A LITTLE HUT. THE MATERIALS USED ARE ALL 100 YEARS OLD INCLUDING THE FASTNERS AND THE TACKS MOUNTED ON SMALL CANVASES AND USING VELLAM AND VINTAGE POST CARDS AND NEWSPAPER TYPE FACE.
I WORK IN THE MEDIUM OF VISUAL STORY TELLING USING COLLAGE, VIDEO AND ILLUSTRATIONS WITH LIMITED TEXT. HAVING A STRONG AFFINITATY TOWARDS THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND EUROP E I INCORPORATE IMAGES FROM THE PAST WITH THOUGHTS FROM THE PRESENT HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATING ITSELF. I LIKE TO USE VARIOUS TYPES OF PAPER AND TYPE FACE EACH IMAGE TELLS A STORY BOTH HISTORIC AND MODERN.
HAVING WORKED AT THE DAILY NEWS WRITING HEADLINES TO GLOSSY MAGAZINES LIKE IN STYLE
THE FIRST BEING MORE REAL THE SECOND BEING MORE SUPERFICIAL IN CONTENT I INCORPORATE MY EXPERIENCES ALSO WITH THE THEATER AND FILM AND TELEVISION HAVING WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN ALL THOSE INDUSTRIES.
I CREATE DIORAMAS ABOUT HISTORIC FIGURES INCLUDING MARIE ANTONIETTE AND JOAN OF ARC AND ALSO ONE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WHALING AND FISHING IN MONTAUK.
HAVING STUDIED PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON AS WELL AS WORKING AT AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE MY INFLUENCES INCLUDE MAN RAY AND CECIL BEATON. MY MENTOR WAS ANDREE PUTMAN THE RENOWNED INTERIOR DESIGNER.
AFTER WORKING AT A UNIT PHOTOGRAPHER IN ROME, BERLIN, LONDON AND PARIS I THEN DID PUBLICITY FOR MOVIE STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES. I GOT TO WORK WITH FELLINI, JEAN – LUC GODARD AND THE COEN BROTHERS. DURING THAT TIME I LAUNCHED A FRAGRANCE WITH SALVADOR DALI AND HELPED DESIGN A MOVIE POSTER WITH ALEX KATZ FOR A FILM I WAS HELPING PROMOTE.
WITH AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN EVENT PLANNING MY VISUAL EXPERTISE WAS USED TO HELP DESIGN EVENTS AT VERSAILLES FOR BOTH THE OPERA HOUSE AND THE HALL OF MIRRORS.
I HAVE CREATED A SERIES CALLED PROP ART MADE OF PAPER THAT WILL BE USED AS PROPS FOR A ONE ACT PLAY I HAVE WRTTEN ABOUT EARLY BROADWAY. I HAVE MOST RECENTLY DONE PROPS FOR BOARDWALK EMPIRE WITH AN ANTIQUE DEALER AND ALSO DID WINDOW DISPLAYS.