Flyway Film Festival sponsorship
Exciting News: Red Carpet Sponsorship of Flyway Film Festival
We are super excited to announce that Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing will be a 'Red Carpet Sponsor' of the 2nd annual Flyway Film Festival in Pepin, Wisconsin, taking place from October 22 to 25, 2009. The primary venue will be the Lake Pepin Art & Design Center. In addition to supporting the entire event, we will be the presenting sponsor for the opening night events on Friday, October 23rd at 7 pm.
This is a significant investment for our modest operation, but it makes sense for several reasons:
We admire what this group is trying to accomplish and their ambitious approach.
We love films, which should be evident from our past entries about the Chief Theater in Red Wing.
We believe it's essential to contribute to the community, and we appreciate art venues that strive to be all-inclusive.
We'll share more details as the festival date approaches.
Pulp cover art
Pulp Cover Art: A Unique Place in Art History
Pulp cover art has a unique place in art history. It has tremendous nostalgic appeal for anyone who enjoyed The Hardy Boys, comic books, or even a peek at The Old Man's collection of True Detective or Stag magazines. Its primary purposes were to grab your attention on the newsstand amid a crowded field of competitors and to evoke emotions, usually with a provocative image of impending peril or suggestive sensuality. Common elements typically include a couple of 'toughs,' a large-breasted woman, and a 'citizen' or a 'hero.' The example above (original on the left, Rudolph Zirn, 1939) has all three.
We are excited and delighted to announce a gallery exhibit of original pulp cover art. The show will open in October (date TBD) and will include both the original art and the subsequent ephemera the originals were used to produce. The colors are extremely vivid, and the techniques used by the artists to evoke a response are fascinating.
This is the third year in a row that we have had the pleasure of working with Grapefruit Moon Gallery in presenting their collection of illustration art. In 2007, we presented original pin-up art and in 2008, we showcased original Cream of Wheat advertising art. Pulp magazine art is yet another sub-genre of illustration art that we are proud to present.
The 'pulps' were fiction magazines that were very popular from about 1930 to 1960. The term 'pulp' comes from the cheap paper typically used in production (cheap paper has a lot of wood pulp). The magazines became noteworthy for their provocative covers. The covers became so important that in many cases, the covers were designed first and the text was designed around the covers. Pulp magazines were also major employers of short story authors, and the subsequent demise of the pulp industry created a vacuum for these authors that has never been filled.
Oil or gouache paintings were used to create the original cover art. The colors are intentionally vivid to compensate for the primitive printing technology at the time. Several pulp cover artists (e.g., Frank Paul and Margaret Brundage) became accomplished artists in this genre and attracted a following. Pulp art has recently experienced a renaissance in popularity and is widely sought by collectors.
More details will be shared as they evolve, but I thought this teaser would have value.
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.