Sunday, June 17, 2012

Shellback Artworks' grand opening!


Well, I'm back home and recovering from a busy weekend  helping my buddy Steve Lavigne celebrate the grand opening of his new store, "Shellback Artworks", in Wells, ME yesterday. Jeannine and I went up for the private pre-opening party on Friday night, which was fun, but the real work (for me, anyway) started on Saturday at noon, when I got to the store and found about a dozen or more people waiting with stuff to be signed. 

Here's the banner which greeted us when we arrived.




I sat down at the table provided for me and for the next couple of hours didn't stop signing things ranging from comics to backing boards from blister-packed toys to t-shirts to plush TMNT dolls and a few things more. I only got a break around 2PM, and managed to snag a few pieces of the free pizza Steve and his wife Denise had provided for the people attending the opening.

I hadn't done a signing in quite a while, but it was a lot of fun, and I wish Steve the best of luck with this new venture. RIght now, the shelves are not completely full, but Steve has a lot more stuff on the way, and I don't doubt that in short order the place will be chock full of cool stuff -- art supplies, comics, and toys. Steve and Denise's lovely daughter Gracie has a display case in the store with some of her cool handmade jewelry, and I bought two matching necklaces for Jeannine and Emily.

It was pretty neat to see the way Steve arranged the big Turtle sculptures in the store -- now he just has to make sure people don't tug on them (they look solid, but they're actually pretty fragile).

I took some photos during the moments when I had a chance to get up and walk around. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of some (well, most) of the folks in them -- sorry!

I think Denise took this photo of me with a young woman named Robin who was in the area working on a "Fight Cancer" event. I signed her poster as well as the sleeve of her t-shirt.




This cute couple -- Chris Parlon and his girlfriend Katie -- posed for a photo op with Michelangelo and Donatello.




That's a happy Steve in the center right of this photo chatting with customers as Denise rings up their purchases.




Here Steve appears to be sketching a Turtle head for a couple of fans…




… one of whom also displayed some TMNT body art.




During a lull around 2PM, I tried to get some photos that I could put together into a panoramic view from where I was sitting during the signing, but I screwed it up, so the result is a little crude. 




But it does give a fairly good view of the lower level of Shellback Artworks. Behind that yellow/orange wall in the background are the stairs going up to the second floor, where Steve currently has the gallery space and the first exhibit, which is a group of pieces from my collection of work I've done by myself or in collaboration with other artists.

And if you go around to the right side of that yellow/orange wall, there is a set of stairs leading down to the basement, where Steve will be holding his various art classes.

So if you're in the area, check it out! -- PL


4 comments:

  1. What fun! I know TMNT is a worldwide phenomenon; still, I like the East Coast energy vibe in these photos.

    Wishing all good things to everyone who crosses the threshold of Shellback Artworks.

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  2. Hi Peter,

    My Girlfriend Katie, and I are pictured in the photo with the Don and Mike statues. Again, we can't say thank you enough for taking the time out to talk to us (as well as draw some amazing turtle sketches), we both really appreciate it. I can't begin to explain how much I will treasure the drawings you did for me, thanks again.

    Chris

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  3. What great pictures, and I still think it's a great idea to put art classes in with the shop. I hope it all goes as wonderfully as Saturday did.

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  4. I love those statues of Donny and Mikey. Lucky guy Chris.

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