Phantom: Off the Drawing Board is the title of a Phantom exhibition held at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. The exhibition was open to the public from the 18th of November 2023 thru till the 4th of February 2024. Working with Frew Publication (the publisher of Phantom comics in Australia), the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery exhibited original Phantom art, comics and memorabilia.
The Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery featured Phantom: Off the Drawing Board across a variety of it’s galleries, broken down into 4 separately themed exhibitions. Promotional collateral describe each themed exhibition as:
Gallery One – Phantom: Off the Drawing Board
Step into the extraordinary world of Lee Falk’s iconic creation, ‘The Phantom’ in a captivating and immersive comic exhibition like no other!
Phantom: Off the Drawing Board will take visitors on a thrilling journey through the mysterious and action-packed universe of The Phantom. With a rich international history spanning over eight decades, this immersive showcase delves into the Australian illustrators who have left their mark on the character, in particular Bundaberg based illustrator, Shane Foley. Curated by Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, with the support of Australian Frew Publications, this never-before-seen collection of original artworks, vintage comic covers, and rare memorabilia, provides a unique opportunity to explore the enduring legacy of this masked crusader and experience exclusive behind the scenes insights into the creative minds that bring this hero to life.
Whether you are a lifelong Phantom enthusiast or a newcomer to this legendary series, Phantom: Off the Drawing Board offers a captivating experience that celebrates the enduring appeal of The Ghost Who Walks.
Gallery Two – The Phantom Response
The Phantom Response brings together a diverse group of artists (Leah Emery, Shane Foley, Todd Fuller, Malki Studio, Jennifer McDuff, Reg Mombassa, Dylan Mooney, Brian Robinson, Dylan Sarra and Cate Verney), each reinterpreting The Phantom’s iconic persona through their own arts lens. This exhibition explores the enduring allure of The Ghost Who Walks and how artists across mediums continue to respond to this timeless hero.
Each artist chosen for this exhibition has identified a connection with The Phantom, and a desire to pay homage to this enigmatic hero, reimagining him through canvas, sculpture, print, and digital media, uncovering new dimensions of his character and world he inhabits.
This exhibition not only celebrates the significance of The Phantom in pop culture, but also showcases the character’s enduring inspiration for artists across generations.
The Vault – The Phantom Serial (1943)
Enjoy a retro cinematic experience, as you watch The Phantom Serial (1943) this summer in The Vault.
Released by Columbia Pictures on the 24 December 1943, this black and white serial is split over 15 chapters. Produced by Rudolph C. Flothow and directed by Reeves Eason, it features Tom Tyler as The Phantom, and Jeanne Bates, as Diana Palmer.
Running Time: 299 minutes (please note this is on a loop)
Imaginarts – Kid Phantom
Celebrating the work of Queensland illustrator, Paul Mason, the Kid Phantom exhibition takes over Imaginarts for the summer!
Introducing ‘The Ghost Who Walks’ to a whole new generation of readers, the Kid Phantom comic was released by Frew Publications in 2017. It had a fresh new look and told the story of Kit and his lifelong friend, Guran, as they left their Skull Cave home and the jungles of the Deep Woods, to sail to America for Kit’s education.
In this interactive exhibition, explore the story behind Kid Phantom and design your own plot twists and storylines to add to the adventure.
A variety of Phantom: Off the Drawing Board merchandise and promotional collateral was produced.
Promotional Card
Double sided and printed in color on heavy stock paper measuring 18cm x 12.5cm.
Invite
Double sided and printed in color on heavy stock paper measuring 14.5cm x 14.5cm.
The invite opens in 3 sections when unfolded measuring 38cm x 14.5cm.
Catalogue
Printed in color on heavy stock paper measuring 24cm x 28cm containing 33 pages.
T-Shirt
Magnet
Double sided and printed in color on heavy stock paper measuring 18cm x 12.5cm. The magnet measures 3.3cm x 11.5cm and features an image of the Phantoms face attached to a copy of the promotional card.
The Phantom: Off the Drawing Board was featured by Bundaberg Now, a regional Bundaberg council communication service reporting on local news and events. The feature which showcases the exhibition can be watched below.
The Bundaberg regional event guide also featured the Phantom: Off the Drawing Board exhibition, amongst other events occurring in the local area in the Summer of 2023. Illustrations of the Phantom by Shane Foley are found on the front and back cover.
The event guide is printed in full color containing 26 pages. Information about the Phantom: Off the Drawing Board exhibition are found on 10 pages, with an introduction page completed by Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff.
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