In Our Own Backyard follow-up
In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century Exhibit Update
A little over a month ago, a prototype of the 2009-2010 traveling exhibit 'In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century' was unveiled at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. This was an opportunity to gauge reactions and measure the effectiveness of the message. Think of it as a preseason event before the annual Catholic Charities USA convention in Portland in September 2009.
Things have not slowed down since then. Details have been fine-tuned, and the new website can be found here. The tentative schedule for the traveling exhibit is:
September 24-29, 2009: Portland, Oregon
October 29, 2009: Sacramento, CA
January 21, 2010: San Antonio, TX
February 24, 2010: Atlanta, GA
March 8, 2010: Albany, NY
March 25, 2010: Nashville, TN
April 22, 2010: Cleveland, OH
April 29, 2010: Chicago, IL
The Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print
Introducing the Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print
For years, people have been wondering, "if they can put a man on the moon, why can't they put a print on a panel?"
Well, wonder no more!
Introducing the Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print.
It's a Panel! It's a Print! It's a Panel Print!
Starting with any digital photo, this innovative product ends with a full-bleed, UV-protected, 1/4" thick hardboard panel print that is pool-table flat and incredibly rugged!
The Panel Print features a linen laminate finish and a 1" reverse frame mount. This mount lays flat against the wall, while the print itself is elevated, creating a modern 'drop-shadow' effect.
Available in any size or aspect ratio (perfect for panorama photographs), it has become particularly popular among photographers who appreciate its contemporary look. It's also ideal for commercial projects that are restricted from using glass or need to cover large wall surfaces, yet still want to project elegance and creativity.
Call the shop today at 1-651-385-0500 to create your own art from your own images!
Now, back to the regularly scheduled programming.
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:
Invest in capture, calibration, and proofing technologies.
Push the envelope in new applications and learn from the failures.
Hometime...yet again (ver. 2009)
Hometime Episode Re-Broadcast
The Hometime episode we were involved with last year is being re-broadcast over the next several weeks, beginning this past Saturday (01-24-09). Locally, it will be shown on Saturday, February 14, 2009, at 5:30 pm (TPT, channel 2).
What a terrific opportunity this has been for us, and I am thankful for being so fortunate. We have met many people and had a blast being involved.
One of the more interesting aspects for me was the challenge from an operational standpoint. Extremely tight (and rigid) deadlines required us to essentially close the shop for two days to conduct filming. If I remember right, it was six, 18-hour days in a row. There were a flub or two (or three) along the way, but nothing that couldn't be fixed (or reprinted).
Web traffic has been significantly heavier this year. I think it's because Hometime has a much better schedule this year on PBS (they typically block it right before "This Old House"), and search engines have had a full year to digest and sort relevant inquiries. Consequently, the search listings are more favorable.
Beauty and the Beast
A Contrast in Projects
Beauty:
The first project is for the new Norton's Downtown and Lucky Cat Lounge. This restaurant-lounge-fine wine store has some very large and high walls, and it needed a tasteful image that befits the atmosphere of this white-linen restaurant.
The image used is "The Flaming June," selected for its gracefulness, color, and impact. It is one of the first things you see when you enter the restaurant from the parking lot and walk towards the hostess station.
The final image size is 8' x 8', printed on a satin fabric with an unfinished and unweighed bottom edge. Because of the 'hand' and drape-ability of the fabric, the entire image has a beautiful waft to it as it moves with the air circulation, almost as if it were breathing.
Beast:
Right next door to Norton's restaurant, the new Red Wing Shoe Company store is being built. This store will be a showcase for The Shoe, which has its world headquarters directly across the street. Red Wing Shoes are simply the best-made boots and shoes in the world. I wear my Model 414 boots for nine months out of the year, and I can personally vouch for the high quality and ruggedness of their products.
This project is labeled the beast because of the harsh conditions these images have to tolerate... beastly. The weather was -15°F with snow and high winds when they were installed. The construction wall is literally 6 inches from Highway 61, and the images have to endure heavy truck traffic, rocks, dirt, grime, and salt, along with the weather extremes.
Each image (there are two) is 6' x 15'. It is a reprint of the architectural concept drawing, with an opening date and The Shoe logo. A heavy-duty scrim material was deployed and further reinforced with the thickest laminate available. The edges were treated with a super glue-like adhesive, and 1/2" weather-resistant, reinforced nickel grommets were used every 2.5 feet.
Too much fun.
Old is the new new
Red Wing Holiday Stroll: A Nostalgic Family Event
Last night was the 7th annual Red Wing Holiday Stroll. This event, hosted by the Downtown Red Wing Mainstreet organization, serves as an alternative to the enclosed mall exodus that typically occurs the day after Thanksgiving.
Anyone downtown can define whatever activity they want to do during the stroll, and many merchants provide discounts and free snacks. We opted to work with The Sheldon Theatre to create a fun family event that is both corny and nostalgic.
We decided to re-create an Eisenhower-era tradition: the family Christmas photo.
We set up a faux outdoor-looking Christmas photo set, obviously taken indoors, reminiscent of a Macy’s Department Store in 1955. This allowed us to use period overcoats, hats, and fake snow to re-create the era and move clients in and out of the set quickly. Fifteen minutes later, they would stop by our shop to pick up a keepsake 5”x7” photo, printed in period fashion and in a stylish envelope. Most clients ‘got it’ and really embraced the spirit of the event.
All for $5, with all proceeds going to the Friends of The Sheldon, the fundraising arm of The Sheldon.
A small army of volunteers was recruited, and it was a mostly smooth workflow of production. There were a lot of laughs, and there are too many people to thank here who made this work. Ideas are already brewing for next year.
Good times.
Red Wing Photography Club
This past February, the Red Wing Photography Club kicked off its first meeting. This grassroots organization is driven by a shared passion for photography. All skill levels are represented, and there are several sub-groups focused on wildlife, strobists, and special events.
It's fun to be involved with these lively enthusiasts. Several contests are underway, and several photography outings are in the works. Mary Ouret and Jeff Marcus provide the energy, and the growth of the group is impressive. One of the aspects I enjoy the most is how grounded the group is. There is no sense of elitism, and all of the support is positive.
Several local businesses have taken note of how popular the photography club is. These businesses are clever enough to understand that by providing a venue for the photos, they are ensuring foot traffic for themselves. Smart.
See for yourself. The main group meets once a month (3rd Monday of the month) at the St. James Hotel.