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Can someone explain FloMo’s show to me this year? I’m lovin it! Im fascinated by the, what’s seems to be, Andy Warhol theme.

 

Warhol really embraced the movement to incorporate pop into (high) art. He was also very eccentric and not afraid to use dynamic colors in his work (I live in Pittsburgh and love the Warhol museum). I was wondering if FloMo was attempting to channel the spirit of Warhol and his art with their dynamic, yet quirky repertoire combined with the very ecentric and colorful visual design. Or, maybe there is an alternative meaning.

 

Any insight?? I know we have some folks affiliated with the band.

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I (as a FloMo alumni parent) wish I had insight, but I don't, unfortunately. Not to mention, I haven't seen the show yet, and based on the weather forecast for Birdville (AARRRGHHH!), it may not be until UIL Region 2 or Area C that I do get to see it.

 

The only comment on the show I can make is that my son saw Bedford prelims on FloMarching and thought they sounded much better than at the same point last year with Fractured Moments (I guess that could be a good omen for them ... we will see).

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It isn't just Warhol, but rather an homage to the pop art movement on the whole. Warhol is of course the most famous figure of the movement and we see his brillo pads and soup cans in the show, but it also directly references the work of Keith Haring, which you'll likely recognize with a quick search- his graffiti like figures are pretty iconic. I also believe the dots on their uniforms and props are likely a reference to the work of Roy Lichtenstein. There may be more references to other popular pop artists that i may have missed. I think the inclusion of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" is also a play on the pop theme, though I'm no expert on pop music's connections to the pop art movement. 

 

I don't think there's much hidden meaning, just another straight-forward celebration of a celebrated movement in art. This marks their sixth consecutive year of tackling such a theme. 2013 was modern art (FloModern), 2014 was the environmental art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, 2015 was surrealism, 2016 was the work of Leonardo DaVinci, specifically his flying machine which is less art, more engineering but whatever,  and 2017 seemed to be inspired by the work of architect Antoni Gaudi, though that show was a bit more nebulous, thematically speaking. 

WOW - No disrespect to FloMo - But I just don't want to think that much about a show and what it means - just entertain me and get me out of the seat

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WOW - No disrespect to FloMo - But I just don't want to think that much about a show and what it means - just entertain me and get me out of the seat

I don't think Flower Mound's goal is to have the audience sit there and think too deeply about the meaning, though I can understand that perception (some folks equate FloMo to DCI's Blue Knights in that regard). I think the goal is to perform a visually and musically appealing show that will be memorable for the audience (and judges). Their move to the music+artistry realm has been a measurable success: 3 BOA Regional wins, 2 BOA Super Regional wins, 2 top 6 Grand Nats finishes, a UIL 6A State Championship, and the icing on the cake, the Sudler Shield. Most importantly, though, many of these band kids come out of this program much better musicians - and people - than when they entered it. Some of them - like my son - have continued their music pursuits in college, and Flower Mound's program deserves a lot of credit for that.
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It isn't just Warhol, but rather an homage to the pop art movement on the whole. Warhol is of course the most famous figure of the movement and we see his brillo pads and soup cans in the show, but it also directly references the work of Keith Haring, which you'll likely recognize with a quick search- his graffiti like figures are pretty iconic. I also believe the dots on their uniforms and props are likely a reference to the work of Roy Lichtenstein. There may be more references to other popular pop artists that i may have missed. I think the inclusion of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" is also a play on the pop theme, though I'm no expert on pop music's connections to the pop art movement. 

 

I don't think there's much hidden meaning, just another straight-forward celebration of a celebrated movement in art. This marks their sixth consecutive year of tackling such a theme. 2013 was modern art (FloModern), 2014 was the environmental art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, 2015 was surrealism, 2016 was the work of Leonardo DaVinci, specifically his flying machine which is less art, more engineering but whatever,  and 2017 seemed to be inspired by the work of architect Antoni Gaudi, though that show was a bit more nebulous, thematically speaking. 

 

Thank you! I am obsessed with the ballad and those Dr. Seuss/Gumby-like figures. It's nice to put a name to their creator. I thought that 2017 had a very beautiful visual design, but the theme was overall somewhat nebulous to FloMo's detriment. All the other years, they were able to very effectively coordinate their visual and music design to embody the movements they were portraying, imo. 

 

I don't think Flower Mound's goal is to have the audience sit there and think too deeply about the meaning, though I can understand that perception (some folks equate FloMo to DCI's Blue Knights in that regard). I think the goal is to perform a visually and musically appealing show that will be memorable for the audience (and judges). Their move to the music+artistry realm has been a measurable success: 3 BOA Regional wins, 2 BOA Super Regional wins, 2 top 6 Grand Nats finishes, a UIL 6A State Championship, and the icing on the cake, the Sudler Shield. Most importantly, though, many of these band kids come out of this program much better musicians - and people - than when they entered it. Some of them - like my son - have continued their music pursuits in college, and Flower Mound's program deserves a lot of credit for that.

 

I agree. The whole point of any show is to the tell a story in the limited time that the performer has. FloMo is very good at taking what some would consider high art and encapsulate it into a show that a wide audience can enjoy, much like Marian Catholic is able to perform and sell very abstract or controversial shows. I'd say that in the past, FloMo's GE relied heavily on design (2013-2015) as they've grown they've been able to marry their design and execution/achievement to explode in GE (2016+)

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It isn't just Warhol, but rather an homage to the pop art movement on the whole. Warhol is of course the most famous figure of the movement and we see his brillo pads and soup cans in the show, but it also directly references the work of Keith Haring, which you'll likely recognize with a quick search- his graffiti like figures are pretty iconic. I also believe the dots on their uniforms and props are likely a reference to the work of Roy Lichtenstein. There may be more references to other popular pop artists that i may have missed. I think the inclusion of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" is also a play on the pop theme, though I'm no expert on pop music's connections to the pop art movement. 

 

I don't think there's much hidden meaning, just another straight-forward celebration of a celebrated movement in art. This marks their sixth consecutive year of tackling such a theme. 2013 was modern art (FloModern), 2014 was the environmental art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, 2015 was surrealism, 2016 was the work of Leonardo DaVinci, specifically his flying machine which is less art, more engineering but whatever,  and 2017 seemed to be inspired by the work of architect Antoni Gaudi, though that show was a bit more nebulous, thematically speaking. 

  

 

The Marilyn Monroe flag is also Andy Worhol's art. While the flying machine itself is an act of engineering Leonardo da Vinci's engineering drawings of the machine definitely rise to the level of art.

 

During the show the band "morphs" from a contemporary BOA style band to the classic counter-marching Military Style marching band and back again. You will even find a portion of the show where various woodwinds morph into colorgard and back again.

During this section there is also drill that represents the transition style between these two periods and it is very reminiscent of L.D. Bell during their powerhouse years.

 

Everybody recognizes Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night but sometimes the more off-beat visual arts references get lost when mixed with the marching or music arts. I like how Flower Mound has maintained an identity while also pushing boundaries.

 

On a sidenote, Keller is also getting questions about their theme this year. For anyone wondering it's the art of Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher incorporated into costumes, flags, props, and drill. His work is intriguing and some of his quotes are hilarious.

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