Upcountry History Museum to showcase original ‘Mad Men’ Works
February 6, 2019
Before computers, design software, and the proliferation of photography, there were illustrators who shaped the look and feel of the advertising world during 1940-1960. Explore the captivating aura of these “ad men” through works presented in “The Original Mad Man: Illustrations by Mac Conner,” the newest exhibition opening at the Upcountry History Museum-Furman University, a Smithsonian Affiliate, on Saturday, February 9, 2019, and on display through Sunday, May 12, 2019.
One of New York’s original “Mad Men,” McCauley “Mac” Conner was a leading illustrator in the advertising industry during the height of Madison Avenue’s influence as the country’s publishing center and the world’s media capital. Over 70 original artworks of hand-painted illustrations and pastel sketches from Conner’s private collection highlight this exhibit and underscore his illustration process which provides a glimpse into the dynamic world of publishing at a time when the advertising industry was at its height.
With dramatic perspective, bold color blocks and eye-catching patterns, Conner’s illustrations exude an impeccable sense of style and capture ideals of female beauty, comportment and romance that Betty Friedan later famously labeled “The Feminine Mystique.” The themes presented in his work mirror the perspectives of the publications of the day and of their readership, with an emphasis on glamour, family values and youth making him a mainstay for “The Saturday Evening Post,” “Ladies’ Home Journal,” “Redbook,” “McCall’s,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Good Housekeeping,” “Woman’s Day,” and “Collier’s.”
Though Conner’s extraordinary career emerged from humble beginnings, his legacy, and that of his “Mad Men” contemporaries, perfected the art of the sale and transformed American culture.
Organized by The Museum of the City of New York, “The Original Mad Man” exhibition highlights the enduring influence of commercial artists on 1960s fashion, film, music, literature, social norms and art.
The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.
