Alden Commission: 50 year Celebration

It's not often that you get to celebrate 50 years of anything in this life, so when you are given the chance to help celebrate, you should give all you've got. That's the approach I took when I was called to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of a special construction company based in Chicago. The company is special because of the people in it, reflecting the values of the founding family-the family of Mr. Floyd Schlossberg. In researching the project, I learned of a company whose employees were eager to participate in the celebration not because of obligation but because of their sincere commitment to the man and his family. Perhaps it is a result of the fact that the principal business of the company revolves around helping people (care centres and rehabilitation, retirement facilities). More likely though, it is due to the contageion I will call "Floyditis". You get wrapped up in a positively-charged atmosphere of co-operation and collaberation all in the name of getting it right. You can't wait for the next conference call to "show and tell" your efforts-and you react with schoolboy-like enthusiasm when the president tells you that you have his blessing and the commitee's approval. All this could have passed and the piece could have arrived there and that would have been fine. But "Floyiditis" demands a clearer picture, an act of sincerity to seal the deal.

Before I had a chance to blink, I was in Chicago presenting the piece to the man pictured above. I'm part of the Alden family. It's a family of very creative people who know good design and who love art. I am humbled to have been chosen. I cannot list the members but they know how grateful I am for their generosity and kindness. From my family to theirs: "Amici sempre, e grazie mille!"

The piece above is Daimler & Benz : Passion and History. It has been created to commemorate the debut of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Coupe, happening this month at Mercedes-Benz Maple. The original will be shown on the eve of the debut which is Thursday, September 22, 2011. A limited edition enhanced giclee will be available. The piece will be enhanced, signed and numbered. It will measure 30"x40" on a 1 1/2" quality canvas stretcher and come with a signed certificate of authenticity. The price is $350 +hst. Please contact me for further details.

The piece captures the pioneer spirit of the original founders and highlights the predecessors to current vehicles with the new coupe taking the left side in cooler, modern tones. The history side, on the right is draped in nostalgic sepia.

I have to say that many interesting commissions and placements have come to me through the Art Gallery of Hamilton over the years. The piece above ( Amantea) is part of the collection at the Ministry of Natural Resources Metallurgical Labs. The building is fascinating both in the research that takes place there and also in its architecture. The "green" aspect of the building was explained to us by our gracious guide who also happened to be an artist and designer herself.

We (my son and I) were given the chance to tour the labs and see where Amantea rests-in an appropriately minimalist space with an abundance of natural light. It sits comfortably on a concrete wall in an exquisite boardroom. I understand the choice of Amantea (inspired by the geography of the town in Calabria) The earth tones with outcroppings of anthracite and micaceous iron oxide are a natural fit considering the function of the space and the visual inspiration provided by the art. The splash of violet seems to lift the entire feeling of the space. Yes, it is an Adamo, but the designers got it right as my son pointed out to me. As we were in the vicinity of McMaster, we treated ourselves to legendary Whitney fish and chips. Ahh.... it's not without some perks as it was bright and sunny and we ate on the mountain.

Mostra

I was asked to produce a piece to accompany an existing paper purchased some years ago by a couple from Ancaster, Ontario. In the composition above, a clock tower and exposed timepiece are intersected by a Ferris wheel (from the Pier in Chicago). The banister in the centre

is from the Art Gallery of Vancouver and it connects to an iron bridge. The clearly visible words (citta and mostra) refer to an art show taking place in a city in Italy. The suggestive imagery conjures up links between the past and present, and in this busy life, is there time left to take in a "mostra"(art show) or is it a continuous mostra?

I am truly honoured to be doing what I am doing, and when the work is greeted with anticipation, it is a humbling experience. I trust the owners of this piece will continue to see new things in it and will enjoy it as part of their collection.