Fluorescent Kiowa

Announcing a new research project: The reconstruction of the painting "Fluorescent Kiowa". While doing research in our archives, our staff member Ed Porter located this interesting fragment.After many inquiries our staff have determined that the image displayed above was intended to serve as a reference for a repainting project of a lost painting by the artist Lee Hiway. What we have determined is that the original painting was done in the early 1980's on a drum head for the band "Color Anxiety"--a local Wakefield County Virginia Punk Rock musical outfit.

Somehow in a later incarnation the band changed into the group known as "9353" and the drum head was loaned back to Mr. Hiway to repair some flaked off spots. According to 9353's lead signer, Mr. Hiway went beyond his original instructions and completely transformed the painting into what became "Fluorescent Kiowa". From that point the story gets murky, but the bottom line is that the location of the painting is not know and the only evidence we have of its appearance is this fragment.

As we see above Mr. Hiway left some indication of his thoughts as to probably the dominat color schemes. Those being the terms Facility Blue, Antisceptic Green, Caution Yellow, Emergency Red, and Warning Orange which we knew were his way of naming colours that fit into a unique industrial themed color palette that bypassed the traditional color systems established in the long tradition of western art.

Based on this information and the background research conducted recently concerning the execution of My. Hiway's other paintings created durning that period Such as the painting depicted here (image courtesy of the Clyde Randall collection),

our research team is considering to attempt the re-creation of the painting "Fluorescent Kiowa". Hopefully, we will get the funding and institutional support for this project and keep you posted on its progress.

Cassette Tape Covers

At one point the entire industrial output of the FBC Graphics department produced nifty cassette tape box covers. Here is an example circa 1984 of the recording "Green Concert Tape" by the band Sanction Smith.

A note from our Sponsor

Have YOU thought about a new TV lately? Come down to Fred Walker Magnavox and talk to one of our salesmen and ask for the latest in Televisions, Hifi sets, and transistor radios.

Philadelphia Branch

We have been busy expanding operations to take advantage of recent economic developments. Pictured here is our temporary headquarters of our Philadelphia Service Center. Come drop by during our business hours between 9pm and 5 am.

Nether Region

The Standard has shifted most of its production machinery to the creation of these nifty new photomontage products. What were we waiting for all these years? Again thanks to that wonder crew at Lee Hiway Productions for the soundtrack, and also Mr. Ed Porter for the fine imagery.

Midnight City

The Standard is please to announce the first installment of a new creative product line from the Kinorama Imaging Division operating under the RicknMikenBill unit. The Photomontage: "Midnight City" is the first attempt to merge our Ed Porter photography unit, Lee Hiway Music Division, and KinoRama together. Perhaps it is all too confusing. Never fear, this is what we do--we explore and create without thought of borders and deadlines, rules or restrictions. Order out of chaos and too much chaos creates order. The blend of Dionysus with Apollo.

Gas Stations and Taxi's

Ponder the fate of the mid-century metal-wrapped building. Perhaps the classic American diner is the best example of this phenomenon of combining sanitary surfaces with streamlined eye lines. Metal-wrapped buildings are all but gone from today's contemporary commercial landscape. Lost are the days when one could pull into a nice brightly lit Midwestern gas station and be greeted by a crisply starched uniformed attendant who cheerfully would top off your tank, wash your windshield, and check your oil.

By the mid 1980's many of these wonderful edifices to American can-do mercantilism were either abandoned or re-purposed such as the taxi cab depot pictured here. Somehow in its decrepitude there is still a faint allusion to the ordered harmony of what was once a bustling, trim , and efficient petro-chemical transaction. We pause and tip our hat to the clash and harmony of the random color tones of this scene, and find nothing out of place, while the photographer pauses in entropy.