Ode to my Honda Element

Admittedly, it might seem odd to write a haiku to a vehicle, but I feel I owe it at least that, especially since I am about 2,000 miles behind my scheduled oil change.

The 2006 Honda Element has been a beast for me (in a good way). It is the perfect art transport vehicle. Once the rear seats are removed, there is almost 73 cubic feet of very rectangular space, which is perfect for hauling art upright. It is very dependable and practical. On the downside, it is a bit cold-blooded, and the passenger ride is somewhat upright.

So, in lieu of an oil change (maybe next week) and in the tradition of 5-7-5 haiku rhythm:

Ode to Element

A square can roll round

Even in winter

Happy New Year!

Sheldon Theatre - Holiday Stroll photo booth follow-up

Sheldon Theatre Fundraiser: Exhausting and Fun

This year's fundraiser for the Sheldon Theatre was just like last year's—exhausting and fun at the same time. The small army of diligent photography volunteers formed a well-oiled machine, and the clients were steady all evening. We raised about $500, which is a 30% increase over last year.

The theme was a bit different this time: early morning Christmas in the 1950s. The best images were those where clients fully engaged in the fun. For example, above, Matt (my carpenter in real life) re-creates his proposal to his fiancée.

See? Fun.

Old is still the new new

Retro-Christmas Family Photo Event at The Sheldon Theatre

Last year marked the first year we held a fundraiser for The Sheldon Theatre the Friday after Thanksgiving. We opened the doors of The Sheldon to the public during the Downtown Red Wing Holiday Stroll and used their set and costume departments to re-create a family photo at a 1950's Macy's department store.

This year, we are excited to work with The Sheldon again on another retro-Christmas family photo event. We will re-create the excitement of Christmas morning, circa 1955. To put it in proper perspective, think of the set of The Honeymooners—a Brooklyn apartment with a table, chairs, and a table-top tree. Throw on an old-fashioned robe (maybe with a nightcap or hair curlers) and a few slippers. The photos will be printed using a very dated look (black and white, complete with creases).

This will be way too cool for school. And all for $5.00!

Next stop: The Newseum

The Newseum: Celebrating the First Amendment

The Newseum, an interactive museum of news and journalism in Washington D.C., is dedicated to educating the public about the value of a free press in a free society. The museum tells the stories of the world's significant events in unique and engaging ways. Located just off Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol, it occupies a high-profile spot in a high-profile city.

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the AmericanPoverty.org photojournalism exhibit, we produced several large (48”x72”) mounted prints for a reception at the Newseum later this week. The images needed to be substantial because the reception hall is spacious, and visual impact is crucial. This exhibit aims to create momentum for the AmericanPoverty.org campaign moving forward.

These images feature a beautiful platinum print finish. Platinum prints, sometimes called platinotypes, are one of the oldest photographic processing techniques, offering the greatest tonal range of any printing method using wet chemistry development. In the digital age, platinum prints are replicated on the computer, yet they do an excellent job of recreating the original look.

2010 promises to see an acceleration of activity with Catholic Charities and AmericanPoverty.org.

Hard Boiled Art exhibit

Hard Boiled Art: Original Pulp Magazine Cover Art Exhibit

Details have been finalized for our next original art exhibit. "Hard Boiled Art" presents original pulp magazine cover art from the 1930s to the 1960s. The exhibit will run from November 5th to December 6th, 2009, with a reception date still to be determined.

This is a unique art form. Pulp magazine covers were very sensational and were considered the most important aspect of the sales of any particular pulp series. The socially acceptable boundaries were often tested, and the topics reflected the popular culture of the time.

The covers were typically machismo in nature, with elements of evil or danger and at least one hero. The 1930s had strong detective and science-fiction followings, while the 1960s were all about the 'Red Scare' of the communists.

Regardless of the threat, the damsels in distress typically had a torn blouse. :)

Come and enjoy the exhibit. This is a rare opportunity to see the original art used to create the published covers. It's fun and an absolute snapshot of an industry that hardly exists any longer.

Today was a good day

A Pleasant Surprise from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune

This morning, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune business columnist Dick Youngblood wrote a very favorable column about our business here in Red Wing. It was a lot of fun getting to know Dick over several conversations and meetings, and I really didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, I was very happy and a bit embarrassed by the attention.

But it was the sub-headline on the second page of the hard-copy article that really made me smile. For many years, I thought I was a "washed-up sales rep" when, in fact, I was only a "burned-out sales rep." Imagine my relief.

You gotta love it. 😊

The article can be found here.

Thanks for the article, Dick, and thanks for the support, Dave Murphy from Red Wing Shoes.

Flyway Film Festival countdown

2nd Annual Flyway Film Festival

This weekend is the much-anticipated 2nd annual Flyway Film Festival. The event kicks off on Thursday night with a meet-and-greet reception, and the opening night of movies begins on Friday night with "Storm," followed by "Ink." In many cases, both actors and the directors of the films will be at the festival to answer questions. Over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, more than 30 independent films will be shown.

Saturday will be a bit different, featuring a one-day, genre-specific event of classic and cutting-edge independent zombie films. And everybody loves a good movie about the undead :)

We are proud to be a red carpet sponsor of this ambitious art endeavor and to have provided the large format graphics to promote this event.

Details are available at FlywayFilmFestival.org. See you in Stockholm this weekend!