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.

A new campaign flier was designed by the Governor and drawn by Crown Heights artist Rusty Zimmerman.
A new campaign flier was designed by the Governor and drawn by Crown Heights artist Rusty Zimmerman. (Courtesy of Rusty Zimmerman )

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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Zimmerman created the image, which was commissioned and paid for through the governor's campaign, but it was Cuomo who took the helm of the nautical art's concept and design.

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.

This was the third time Zimmerman received a commission from Cuomo, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.

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.

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