Featured Art of Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser collaborated with Rise for Japan, a group of New York-based designers and creatives, to raise money to help those affected by the devastation from a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami in March 2011. This 16” x 24” poster was printed in New York on traditional Japanese handmade paper using an old letterpress. The print was a limited edition and commissioned by Rise for Japan to support funding for Architecture for Humanity’s efforts to rebuild the Tohoku region of Japan. Though the disaster was horrific, camaraderie among those affected and the remote blossomed. Glaser’s poster captures the strength and unity of the affected area in addition to capturing a delicate rebirth symbolized by the cherry blossom tree. Most of the poster is white space, which can symbolize peace for a very unsteady time for Japan. The black lettering is a stark contrast against the white space, which draws the eye of the reader directly to the message. The word “Rise” uses a thick shape emphasizing strength in an overwhelming tragedy. “Rise” is the main message for the reader and stands alone on one line. It is the first and most memorable part of the poster because of the emphasis of the shape, color, and simplicity. Underneath “Rise”, the words “For Japan” use a different shape with a sans serif font. Although smaller, this type is very pronounced signifying Japan as a culture of tradition and unity. Out of the word “Rise” there is a cherry blossom tree rising from the letter “I” illustrating a great use of line to capture the reader’s eye in addition to symbolizing a gentle flow against the stark white background. In the context of the situation in Japan, the cherry blossom represents growth rising from devastation. There is an illusory box around the “Rise for Japan” logo, which centers the logo in the middle of the page adding simplicity and structure to the poster. The invisible box is broken by the cherry blossom tree at the top of the “I” which transforms the