Earlier we told you how jhP was in consideration for an American Advertising Federation National ADDY Award for the illustration “Paper Dali,” created to promote the Mulvane Art Museum’s Mountain/Plains Art Fair. At last Saturday night’s National Conference ADDY Show, Dan Billen and Gary Jones received a Silver ADDY on behalf of jones huyett Partners -– the highest honor awarded in the category! This was the first jhP piece to win national recognition from the AAF. Here’s what Dan and Gary had to say:

Dan Billen, in an email from the hotel after the ADDY show Saturday night:

I’m sitting in the hotel room with Gary trying to come down from a pretty big night. We won a Silver ADDY for Illustration, and – because the awards are based on a point system, not by rank – there wasn’t a Gold ADDY given in that category. That puts us at the top of the nation!

There were about 50 tables and several hundred people at the award show. It was a packed house! I did my best to represent jhP with a bright orange tie and orange Converse shoes to match (that was a real crowd pleaser). We dined on huge steaks and watched as people were called up on stage to accept their awards. Pretty soon it was jones huyett Partners’ turn, and Gary and I went up in front of what seemed like an ocean of people to get our award. I felt like a rock star (again!).

Gary Jones, on the ADDY Award-winning project, after returning to the office Monday morning:

The Mulvane Art Museum, which is part of Washburn University, was our client on this project. I serve on the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum Board of Directors, and jhP works on the advertising for the Mountain Plains Art Fair, one of the big fundraising projects for the museum. Each year I work with our creative staff to come up with a fresh, new look for the fundraiser.

This year’s goal was to select an artist who personified creativity. I suggested Salvador Dali, remembered for his flamboyant mustache and wild eyebrows. Dali was highly imaginative and looked at things in a surreal and grandiose manner. His work was just as striking and bizarre. Our mission was to create an illustration that captured Dali’s energy in a fresh, exciting way. Dan’s personal collage work made me think he could collage a portrait of Dali. With little direction, Dan created the image and it was clearly a winner. We used the illustration on everything (billboards, banners, posters, flyers, postcards, tickets, T-shirts and TV) and the response was fantastic! Some people knew immediately who he was, and others just liked him because he looked so outrageuos and fun.

Receiving a National ADDY award for the piece solidified our confidence that the ‘Paper Dali’ illustration is world-class work. We are thrilled to bring national exposure to Washburn University and the Mulvane Art Museum. jhP has always appreciated the value of supporting the arts, and we’re proud to help children learn through Mulvane Art Museum programs. Topeka is a great place to live and learn about the arts.

Congratulations Dan and Gary! Everyone at jhP is very proud of you for being recognized as among the best in the country and bringing honor to the excellent work our creative team produces every day!