Burlington, Vermont-based artist Toni-Lee Sangastiano has taken up the traditional art of banner painting. Her journey into the banner art world has led her to interesting people and places, including Coney Island and Johnny Meah to name a few. Today, Toni-Lee discusses this journey and shares some of her work. Enjoy!
How did you get involved in painting banner art?
In 1996, as a junior graphic design and illustration major at Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ, my favorite professor, Marie Roberts, told me about an opportunity to create some banners for a sideshow. She said that they would be visible to anyone taking the train into Coney Island. Marie had convinced Dick Zigun, owner of Sideshows By The Seashore and new adjunct at FDU, to let her students paint his bannerline for the 1997 season.
My first exposure to sideshow banners came through the books Freak Show and Freaks, Geeks & Strange Girls presented to us by Marie and Dick. Several students were interested in this opportunity so this became an independent study for credit. Zigun would tell us what banners he needed in his bannerline such a Sword Swallower, Serpentina, Real Human Shrunken Head, Painproof, etc. Following the standard banner format in the books that we saw, we would create sketches that included the scroll with name of the act within it, an orange border and a bullet with either the word REAL or ALIVE contained within it. Dick chose the sketches he liked and Marie guided us through the painting process as well as painting several banners along with us. Painting this large, four feet by five feet, was entirely new to me. With special permission, I would paint at school late into the night. In the end, I painted six banners total.
All of this snowballed into commissions. I painted more banners and stage backdrops. When I was a senior, I decided to do learn more about the history of the sideshow banner. Books on the subject were rather scarce. My senior honors thesis was titled, “The History and Execution of Sideshow Banners” and I painted four more banners to go along with the research.
What other work do you do and what types of groups commission your work?
Besides banners, I also paint carnival or sideshow themes along with the occasional still life. Banner commissions come from either performers or sideshow fans / collectors. I also teach graphic design at the college level. I love to share my work with my students and it is much more fulfilling than my previous life as a corporate graphic designer in a cube.
Your style resonates with the classic banner art aesthetic. Any role models in particular?
Marie Roberts, the artist-in-residence, at Sideshows By The Seashore was my mentor. She is like a mom to me and has guided my career. Without her, I would not be on this path although I bet she would tell you otherwise. (Thanks, Marie!) That is just how she is.
In 1998, I met Johnny Meah. The Barnum Museum had a sideshow banner exhibition and I just had to go. I dragged two friends along and four of my banners all rolled up to make the trip north from NJ to CT. However, I misread the dates and the opening reception was Saturday, not Sunday. I was so disappointed. I really wanted to meet Johnny Meah. So, we walked around the museum anyway and I hugged my banners as we went from room to room. In the gift shop, one my friends mentioned how I screwed up the date and missed meeting Meah. I was too embarrassed to even turn around so I just pretended that I did not hear a thing while looking at the tchotchkes. All of sudden the woman behind the counter said, “Oh, well I’ll just call him up and tell him that you are here. His hotel is right down the street.”
I met Johnny in the lobby of his hotel and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous. O.K. I was very nervous. I did not know what to expect or what he would even say to me. Is he a nice guy or is he a jerk? The meeting was actually on Valentine’s Day. Johnny spent time telling me stories, looked at my banners and gave great advice on technique and supplies. He was so nice to me. It was good thing my other friend took notes the entire time. I was so grateful. I will never forget that day.
Where do you see your craft going in the future? And how do you feel about the future of sideshow arts in general?
The sideshow arts are a niche market. The latest rounds of performers are reinventing the traditional sideshow and many instances of the sideshow can be seen in popular culture over the past decade or so. Overall, it is a dying art but there are several of us trying to keep it alive and perhaps, even pass it on to another generation.
Toni-Lee can be reached be email (tonilee@sideshowbanners.com). To see more of her work, visit her website (www.sideshowbanners.com).
Tags: banner