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CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Thanks to the following gifted artists for contributing original illustrations to this publication
Ricardo Pustanio
Ricardo Pustanio is an enduring icon in the world of New Orleans Mardi Gras float design and local artistry. Today, his phenomenal creative talents are witnessed by thousands upon thousands of locals and tourists who throng the streets of New Orleans each year to catch a glimpse of one of the oldest and most prestigious parades of the season, the Krewe of Mid-City. And, according to Ricardo, “The best is still to come!”
Born in New Orleans, Ricardo is the third son of local golfing legend Eddie “Blackie” Pustanio, a well-known icon of the sport. When Ricardo was baptized, the famous “Diamond Jim” Moran was hailed as his godfather, and all the major golfing pros who visited the elder Pustanio at his City Park Golf Course digs bounced little Ricardo on their knees at one time or another.
Early in life Ricardo demonstrated a profound talent for art, first expressed in kindergarten and grammar school artwork that was well ahead of its grade level. From an early age, Ricardo’s work was distinguished with prizes and praise.
Like nearly every child brought up in the city of New Orleans, Ricardo was brought out by his parents to enjoy the pageantry and revelry of the great old-line Mardi Gras parades. These halcyon Mardi Gras days of his youth were Ricardo’s first taste of the passion that would become the artistic pinnacle of his later career.
During the 1960s Ricardo’s entries won first place awards, and he rode with the King of Mid-City three years in a row: a true precursor of things to come. The winner of many art competitions throughout his life, his earliest prize-winning work was created while Ricardo was still in kindergarten; the piece hung in the children’s area of the New Orleans Museum of Art for many years. Other early works could be found on display in the New Orleans Cabildo: most are now in private art collections in New Orleans and across the United States.
In the early 1970s Ricardo began a long association with local New Orleans radio station WRNO-FM, where he distinguished himself as art director for many years. Ricardo has also worked for several decorating companies in the New Orleans area, including Freeman, Spangenberg; Schmidt Brothers; Andrews Bartlett and Associates, Exhibition Contractors; and International Productions to name only a few.
Ricardo served Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré as technical director for its 1992–1993 season, during which he contributed his considerable artistic talents to the creation of scenery and backdrops for the season’s major productions. He worked on scenery for West Side Story and The Baby Dance, for which he created a giant 60 foot by 30 foot papier maché pyramid, one of the highlights of the season. Ricardo’s set designs for the production of King Midas and the Golden Touch and The Snow Queen each won him numerous awards.
In 1992 Ricardo also began his long association with William Crumb and the Children’s Educational Theatre. His work on scenery and backdrops has toured with the company in 13 major productions across the United States, and he continues to contribute his talents to the organization to this day. Ricardo has also donated his time and talent to a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Save Our Lake Foundation and the March of Dimes.
Ricardo Pusitanio
Ricardo’s special style was also very visible in his work on numerous backdrops and displays for the 1984 New Orleans World’s Fair. Several of his original pieces from that Fair have garnered high prices at auctions throughout the United States and Europe.
Ricardo also displayed his talent with scenic design in some of the best-known, locally produced films, including Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke; The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin; Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt; and, more recently, in the much anticipated A Love Song for Billy Long, which stars John Travolta and was filmed on location in historic New Orleans.
Ricardo has conceptualized and designed numerous book covers and illustrations for major works of science fiction and fantasy. He was voted Best New Artist of the Year at World Cons held in New Orleans and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ricardo has also illustrated children’s books, created portraits and artwork for private clients across the United States and in Europe, and has to his credit three original action comic books. In addition, he has illustrated and designed the long-running International Middle Eastern Dancer magazine and several decks of personalized Tarot cards. It is no wonder Ricardo has been named one of the Hardest Working Artists in the City of New Orleans.
Reflecting on his artistic achievements, Ricardo has said: “I have paid my dues many times over the years and I am always in a constant state of expectation: I can’t wait for the next challenge, the next thing to approach me. I am probably most proud of my work with the Krewe of Mid-City in recent years, because they have allowed me an unlimited palette to create with: the only limit is my imagination, and as you see, that has never had any limits!”
Ricardo Pustanio’s hands have been busy creating artworks that have brought joy and pleasure to literally thousands of people over the years. He is truly The Hardest Working Mardi Gras Artist in the City of New Orleans and in the history of Mardi Gras design.
Dan “Wolfman” Allen
Dan “Wolfman” Allen is the owner of Ronin Studio, where he has been perfecting his unique style of comic book art for many years. Wolfman also does incredible renderings of vampires, werewolves, and other assorted monsters in a very compelling and graphic manner. He is not really into the “superhero” genre that permeates the American comic book industry. Rather, most of his characters are more a part of the fantasy and sci-fi genre; his protagonists, while thought by some of their peers