Politics & Government
Cuomo Poster Began As Stick Figures, Crown Heights Artist Says
"'What's that squiggle there?'" Crown Heights artist Rusty Zimmerman asked his client. "That's a boat," Gov. Cuomo replied.

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — A much-mocked political allegory with rainbows and an octopus began as stick figures and squiggles penned by Gov. Cuomo and transformed by Crown Heights artist Rusty Zimmerman.
"I never expected or intended this to become a meme," Zimmerman told Patch, with some amusement.
The new campaign poster released this week by the governor's office — meant to be a tip-of-the-hat to turn-of-the-century political art — quickly became an internet sensation and even appeared as a tattoo on the back of a very well known star.
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Andrew Cuomo has Ben Affleck's full backing. pic.twitter.com/nrMgk97vzv
— Eric Williams (@Eric_Williams_1) January 10, 2020
Cuomo and Zimmerman spent hours on the phone and in late-night text chains, hashing out its style and elements, the Crown Heights artist said.
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Zimmerman also received some of Cuomo's original artwork, though he noted the governor acknowledged drawing was not his strong suit.
"I would be like, 'What's that squiggle there?'" Zimmerman said of his conversations with Cuomo. "He'd say, 'That's a boat.'"
The boat in question was the USS Constitution, which in the poster can be seen bearing the words "Tolerance," "Leadership" and "Accomplishment" on its sails while it navigates rough waters of the "Sea of Division."
It reflects, as Cuomo wanted, the style of posters like those from William Jennings Bryan's presidential campaign in 1900. Political posters of that time were defined by metaphorical or allegorical elements and ribbons or banners.
Zimmerman noted that an octopus in Cuomo's poster is a direct nod to one from a 120-year-old Bryan poster.
"The opportunity to pay some homage and respect to my forebearers in the field is a great honor," Zimmerman said.
The bygone style didn't go unnoticed on Twitter.
Andrew Cuomo running for his fourth term as Governor after that poster pic.twitter.com/KMshjxoMvg
— Barnaby Merrill (@BRTMerrill) January 9, 2020
But Zimmerman, a Louisiana native and Crown Heights resident for the past 10 years, may be better known in his home neighborhood for another set of artwork. In 2015, he spent a year painting portraits of 200 of his neighbors.
He called it the Free Portrait Project. The portraits gave him the chance to know his neighbors in all nuance human beings contain, he said.
It's part of what he appreciates about the reaction to his commission from Cuomo, and hopes doesn't get lost.
"It's just fun to contribute something to making someone's day," he said.
Zimmerman's artwork can be seen at his website.