Bill McDevitt
The Kansas City Art Deco Society was founded by Bill McDevitt in 1996. McDevitt's goal was to "preserve the bold geometric patterns and streamlined designs that comprised the area's signature architecture in the years between the World Wars" (-Kansas City Business Journal). This poster serves as a graphic token of those designs. A black san serif font overlays a gold border. At the center, a female figure stands in a presentation stance in front of a highly stylized Art Deco structure. This central image is most likely a still from a film.
This is a poster that reads "Kansas City / Paris of the Plains / 1928-1938" across an almost water-marked image of a woman dressed in popular flapper attire. Her striking pose seems to suggest the appeal that the rising urban area had despite the economic depression ravaging the rest of the country. Due to looser laws surrounding prohibition, the city's nightlife boomed and was spared economically as well. Kansas City has long been called the "Paris of the Plains" due to its system of boulevards, many water fountains, and strong cultural engagement.
Bill McDevitt founded the Kansas City Art Deco Society in 1996 to "preserve the bold geometric patterns and streamlined designs that comprised the area's signature architecture in the years between the World Wars" (-Kansas City Business Journal). This particular work features a woman seated on a red velvet couch in front of a circular window encompassed in granite. The strong contrast of the grated window and the conical light fixture in the background make for an interesting juxtaposition and highlight of the building's architecture. The palette of the piece is primarily purple and red.