two hunded eighty-seven

Image by Natalie Garcia

It has often been said that a visual art exhibition reception is kinda like a wedding reception.  The guests of honor are surrounded by loved ones and well wishers.  Everyone wants a moment with you.  There is little time to eat anything.  There is a delicate dance of enjoying your moment in the limelight the way you want to and making yourself available for the public.  So yes, although I have not experienced a wedding reception from the groom standpoint, I would say an art reception is similar to a wedding.  My wedding experiences are loads of fun -- the food, the smiles, the dancing, the people you don't know but are sharing a heartwarming experience with.  Yep.  Good times.

The first Friday of October, 2017 was no exception.  It's been about 20 years of art making for me.  There's been over 100 exhibitions and receptions of my work alone that I've attended.  I tell folks that my art receptions are more like work meetings with alcohol.  On this Friday night, Four Saints Brewing Company celebrated my Art Wall Project.  Those following along in the Les III playbook know about this project -- I designed it to feature five artists and their one-of-a-kind artwork on an 11 foot taproom wall.  Each artist exhibits their work for three months, design unique tie-in merchandise, and the community is invited to interact with the artists along each of their creative journeys.  If you are not familiar with the project check it out over at the NC Beer Guys blog here.

Image by Natalie Garcia

It's a bit challenging to be the artist and the project facilitator.  I asked for help on my project several times and I gotta hand it to FSBC -- they were as helpful as they could be along the way.  Granted their first area of interest is connecting fabulous craft beer with the public (and they do a delicious job).  The fact they were able to reach out a bit more and help me with the art reception shows you how much they enjoy these creative side projects.  Thanks, Guys.

So here we are -- an 11 foot wall has a fresh new large scale canvas painting to unveil and display.  And with many art receptions the public was invited to view the new art and enjoy some munchies.  The taproom also had fresh craft beer to sip.  One of the new beers served at the event was an imperial ginger wit. It was a collab-o effort between me and FSBC Head Brewer, Andrew Deming.  The beer was on draft  for the reception and featured a custom tap handle from another creative colleague, Ian Thomsen.  There was also a display erected of the ginger wit in 32 ounce bottles.

Image by Natalie Garcia

The bottles were special.  Each of the 50 featured a one-of-a-kind enamel drawing of various figures in similar poses to the main artwork.  Each bottle was signed by the artist.  And they looked great on display during the reception.  The "Helping Hand of Ginger" Imperial Wit Beer gives a wink and a nod to the project artwork, "Helping Hands Give You Wings."  All the figures whether on bottle or canvas feature wings made from supportive human hands.  At the close of the reception the new patrons were able to take home their purchased bottles of beer.

That night the taproom also featured a sprite open mic with many wonderful songs performed and a Hawaiian food truck on premise.  Man, it was fun - and what a great way to celebrate a fantastic year long art project with a local business.  

From left: Andrew Deming, Les Caison III, and Joel McClosky

And just like that, it was over in a flash.  Thanks to Natalie Garcia, from Greensboro's Yes! Weekly for covering the event.  These photos rock.  A a big thanks, again to Four Saints Brewing Company -- Joel & Andrew and all the staff.  You rock too.