Bandshell, Local, Events, Art John Becker Bandshell, Local, Events, Art John Becker

Central Park Bandshell T minus 19 days

Bandshell Construction Update

It is hard to tell if the Bandshell is ahead or behind schedule. Today, the irrigation system was installed, and the concrete for the handicap access ramp was also poured. Fill was being spread by the hardworking Sentence to Serve crew. Sentence to Serve are nonviolent offenders who work on community improvement projects. There are mixed feelings about Sentence to Serve labor; on the one hand, working outside is better than killing time in a cell. On the other hand, it is an easy source of cheap labor for communities that can become too easy to use.

The sod is scheduled to be laid on June 29, which seems awfully close to the July 4th dedication. The entire park (one city block) will be re-sodded.

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Downtown Red Wing, Local, Events, Art John Becker Downtown Red Wing, Local, Events, Art John Becker

The June update of the Central Park Bandshell

Red Wing Central Park Bandshell Progress Update

The Red Wing Central Park Bandshell continues to make progress. The roof is on, but not yet shingled. The foundation work seems to be complete, judging by the dirt fill that was brought in. The back wall will be glass, and the shell walls will be the next significant milestone.

The inauguration of the Bandshell will be on Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The schedule of events is as follows (all times are PM):

  • 3:45-4:30: The Phoenix Theatre will sing selections from their upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof (free!)

  • 5:00-6:00: Rosanne Cash (free!)

  • 6:45-8:00: Roomful of Blues (free!)

  • 8:45-9:30: Sheldon Brass Band finishing with 1812 Overture, complete with real cannon! (free!)

  • 10:00-??: Fireworks over the Mississippi River (free!)

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Bandshell, Local, Downtown Red Wing, Events John Becker Bandshell, Local, Downtown Red Wing, Events John Becker

The Shell takes shape

Central Park Bandshell Construction Update

The Central Park Bandshell took a big leap forward yesterday when the crane arrived to install the ironwork. The entire back wall will be glass, making the bandshell inviting from both sides. The roof shape is designed to create a better acoustical environment. The rendering on the bottom image is the architectural orthographic projection.

And just to clarify, the actual audience will not be semi-transparent. 😊

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Business, Events, Fine Art Printing, Art John Becker Business, Events, Fine Art Printing, Art John Becker

The Big Picture

Interview Feature in The Big Picture Magazine

Last November, Clare Baker called for an interview for The Big Picture magazine, a trade journal for the wide-format printing industry. The article focuses on printers who have carved out a niche business providing wide-format, fine-art printing. Wide-format printing is anything larger than 44 inches, and fine-art printing is typically defined as low-volume, high-mix printing with tight duplication standards.

Over several weeks, Clare and I would occasionally talk, but I lost track of the publication date. I was pleasantly surprised to receive the article in my mailbox this week. Clare did her homework and did a terrific job detailing the priorities in wide-format fine-art printing:

  1. Invest in capture, calibration, and proofing technologies.

  2. Push the envelope in new applications and learn from the failures.

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Events, Business John Becker Events, Business John Becker

Is this misleading?

The Sales Department and Marketing Department both said it was ok. The Accounting and Legal Departments were not so sure. You be the judge.

There were no complaints. Mostly these kind of events are about meeting our downtown neighbors and learning more about them...and getting rid of some things in the process is the bonus. The first two items to go were items that I only reluctantly sold, because of sentiment more than anything else. But hey, if it has a new home and somebody else can appreciate it, so be it.

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