Art for hire
Re-Framing a Norman Rockwell Concept Sketch
Recently, this Norman Rockwell concept sketch came into the shop to be re-framed. Rockwell would rough sketch a proposed painting, present it to a potential client, and solicit feedback. Hopefully, he would be awarded the project, complete the piece, get paid, and then move on to the next project.
Does the fact that an artist is directed what to paint diminish the art itself? Not at all. Artists who can support themselves solely through their creative output are rare. Taking on commissioned projects is only a small step from being a full-time commercial illustrator. The final result might not always be the artist's first choice, but finding opportunities to be creative within the boundaries of a client's expectations requires a unique skill set and artistic maturity.
This brings us to an exciting upcoming exhibit that was just finalized this week. The working title (subject to change) is "Tough Guys and Tough Cookies." It will showcase original art used for pulp magazine covers, which often depict dramatic scenes with someone in peril. This sub-genre of illustration art required artists to be efficient and productive. The paychecks were smaller than those of their peers, but it allowed them to make a living creating art.
This marks the third consecutive year we've had the pleasure of collaborating with Grapefruit Moon Gallery. The first two shows (original pin-up art and original Cream of Wheat art) were very successful. This exhibit will be a bit different but consistent with our mission of presenting 20th-century illustration art and its various subsets. More details will be shared next week.
New name - new web site - new challenges
Evolving with the Times: Our Business and Website Update
People who invent snappy metaphors to describe business principles might say something like, "A small business today is like a great white shark—always on the move, never resting, never sleeping." That sounds way too contrived. It’s best to simply say that a business must constantly ask itself what it does for a living, and whether it's where it wants to be in doing that thing it does.
The name change is more about acknowledging how this business has evolved. We frame, we print, and we do anything in between. It was also time to freshen up the logo—to shine our shoes, so to speak. This was harder than you might think because the fonts used are fabricated for our needs. They aren’t off-the-shelf fonts, but they do have a basis in the history of this business. It’s too difficult to explain without hand gestures.
The new website is another matter. The changes appear mostly cosmetic, but under the hood, it is an entirely different animal. It would take a rocket scientist to explain the differences, and unfortunately, one isn't immediately available.
With any new website, it’s very easy to be driven crazy trying to chase down every image resizing requirement or some dropped HTML code. This is called 'overhead' and produces no income. Overhead bad. Income good.
But, you do what you have to do, when you have to do it.
The final chapter of the Central Park Bandshell construction
A Remarkable Day in Red Wing
Today was an interesting and memorable day, to say the least. The electricians arrived early to double-check the power and install the sound equipment for the bandshell, which had yet to be fully tested. People also showed up early to set up their lawn chairs before heading home again—it seems an unwritten rule that a lawn chair is a legally binding claim!
At promptly 3:30, the ceremonies began, marking the official opening of the Bandshell. The Jones Family Foundation was thanked for their generous donation to the City of Red Wing. This incredible gift is akin to having a second Sheldon Theatre, but as an outdoor venue.
Rosanne Cash
The festivities included several selections from Fiddler on the Roof (a teaser for an upcoming production) and a performance by Rosanne Cash and her husband. Their 90-minute set was straightforward, professional, and simple, featuring just two guitars—truly a class act. Following their performance, Roomful of Blues picked up the tempo for the next 90 minutes. The skies cleared (despite occasional rain), and the Sheldon Brass Band took the stage, playing mostly traditional John Philip Sousa music.
Sheldon Brass Band
The climax of the event was during Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Right at the crescendo, cannons began firing, and all the church bells in town started ringing. Red Wing boasts many church bells, and combined with the Brass Band and cannons, it created an incredibly moving experience. Several people began spontaneously crying, and it's hard not to get choked up thinking about it now. The Sheldon Theatre deserves immense credit for making this an unforgettable day in Red Wing history.
It's been fun charting the progress of our newest neighbor, but now it's time to move on to other curious topics.
Central Park Bandshell T minus 3 days
Red Wing Central Park Bandshell: Nearing Completion
The Red Wing Central Park Bandshell is almost 99% complete. The railings still need to be anchored, and the grass requires one last mowing. It seems perfectly sized for the park—not too big and not too small.
Bandshell-front
The six side walls pivot open when needed, and the inside ceiling has a complete lighting system. The purpose of the two round towers on each side isn't clear. They each have doors that, when opened, close the gap between the towers and the shell. These might serve as dressing rooms and off-stage space. One fascinating aspect of this location is that you can see a church steeple in every direction.
From the Bandshell
This is the view from the bandshell looking out. The balustrade wall was built in 1880 when Hamline University owned this land.
Bandshell-behind
Even the view behind the Bandshell is impressive. The activities begin on July 4th at 3 pm with The Sheldon Phoenix Theatre, followed by performances from Rosanne Cash, Roomful of Blues, and the Sheldon Brass Band at 9 pm (complete with cannon), culminating in fireworks over the Mississippi River. It's going to be awesome.
Central Park Band shell T minus 7 days
Red Wing Central Park Bandshell Grand Opening
It's a week before the Red Wing Central Park Bandshell grand opening, and it looks like the project will finish right on schedule. All of the landscaping is in, the roof is finished, and the walls are just being completed. Photos will be posted this week.
This photo shows what the bandshell replaced. It was essentially a semi-circular stage with no walls, roof, or sound (except for those two primitive speakers on each side). One feature that carried over from the old stage is the two small curved staircases in the front.
Green side up!
T minus 12 days.
It is 88 degrees and humid, but dry.
The landscaping and sod arrived this morning and by the end of the day all of the greenery should be installed. In speaking with some of the subcontractors, the project is slightly ahead of schedule.
For anybody who is curious about the mysterious little back door; it leads into a very narrow and small utility room. The circuit breaker box and the water meter are in this room. Which was kind of disappointing.
Central Park Bandshell T minus 17 days
Exciting New Addition to the Bandshell
Today, the first of 32 laminated and tempered glass windows in the back wall of the shell were installed. This promises to be one of the most striking design elements of the Bandshell, as it will open up the entire structure from both sides. The limestone blocks used are quarried in Winona, Minnesota, with each block hand-cut into a random pattern. The keystone blocks are manufactured in a factory.
Rain is forecast for the rest of the week.