Fall is a beautiful time to get outside and enjoy all that the season has to offer. Whether you prefer to get out in nature, or to stay in the city explore the shops and attractions downtown, now is the time to get out of the house before winter weather makes it difficult.

With the leaves changing and a cool breeze blowing through almost every sunny day, fall is also a great time to take photos or get portraits. Family portraits for Christmas cards and photo albums look great when surrounded by bright fall colors and seniors in almost every high school choose this time to get their senior photos done.

Downtown Cape Girardeau is host to a multitude of fantastic photographers who specialize in everything from weddings to newborns, meeting any needs you may have for photos this fall. These photographers take photos in beautiful and scenic locations all around the cape area.

Katie Blattel, of Katie Blattel Photography at 221 Independence St., specializes in newborns and high school seniors. Throughout her career she’s done almost every kind of photography there is, but she says that newborns and seniors will always be her favorites. She enjoys doing newborn sessions in her studio, judging which props and backdrops would fit best with each child’s personality and look. When she photographs seniors, she likes to take them outside into more natural settings. With her high school senior sessions, she decides which locations and setting, urban or rural, to use based on the clients preferences, personalities and style. Though there are many fantastic places in the area to take portrait photos, Blattel says that her favorite is the yellow doors at Port Cape, which add the perfect pop of color to any senior photo.

Shannon Duggan Photography, located at 42 N. Main St., mostly sticks to wedding and engagement photos and portraits of high school seniors; however, she likes to build a relationship with her clients and many of them return for anniversary photos, newborn sessions, and family portraits. Duggan will meet her clients in her office space, which she shares with Annie-Em’s At Home, but prefers to get outside and utilize natural light for her shoots. Annie-Em’s At Home does a lot of styling for Duggan’s shoots, providing furniture and props to give a unique style and feel to every session. Although she travels all over the Midwest for wedding shoots, Duggan says that she loves working in Cape Girardeau because it offers, as she says, the best of both worlds. It has beautiful locations both in the city and on the backroads just outside city limits, perfect for capturing the mood for any shoot. She can take a photo of groomsmen on certain streets downtown for an edgier city look, then drive a few minutes outside of the city to a beautiful backroad location to give a bride a softer, more natural styled photo.  Her favorite location in downtown Cape to take portrait clients is an ivy covered wall at Annie Laurie’s Antiques, which offers a beautiful and unique backdrop for any occasion.

As the Celebration of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Mississippi River Tales Mural continues to approach, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it was like getting this project off the ground and running. We chatted with local artist and original mural committee member, Don Greenwood, to learn more about that process.

"Back when the River Tales Mural planning committee was being formed, I got a call from Tim Blattner, the startup leader, asking if I would be interested in joining the group and helping bring this project to fruition. As the only artist in the mix, I was excited for the opportunity to share my insights because my input was going to be completely different than that of an engineer, a downtown stakeholder, a community member; I was looking at this as an opportunity to have a large-scale canvas that could serve as a community landmark for many years to come. As an artist, that’s exciting.

"Not long after planning started and we knew this project was going to get off the ground, I was asked to pull together an initial concept. What did I think it should look like? What was going to be meaningful for downtown and what would be representative of our community?

"The wall is so big and, at the time, almost looked like a prison wall, so I wanted to brighten it up. My initial sketch included four stone archways that served as windows to the river. What was on the other side of the wall is what would be depicted, with the addition of seasonal changes. One section would portray the river in the winter, one in the spring, one in the summer and one for fall. I took the idea to our committee and they were on board.

"Now that the initial design idea was fermenting, it was time to figure out who would be able to carry out this process. One person can’t do it alone; it takes a team. Our initial call for artists reaped in about 25 submissions. As a committee, we were able to initially par the list down to 17 seemingly qualified candidates. Years of research into each of these artists/companies styles, previous works and really figuring out if they would be a fit for this project, allowed us to narrow the selection field to three. These final groups were brought to Cape, each for three days, to experience our community, see the flood wall and the area they could be working in, and provide a final concept and estimate for the project.

"One company flew in two executives from New York; they brought their power team. However, neither of those individuals was an artist. So when we had questions specific to the design and how it could be carried out, they were unable to provide any answers. At that point, a red flag was raised. We weren’t comfortable going with a company whose artists we didn’t know and didn’t know if they were a good fit for our community. Group #2 came armed with an incredibly detailed, intricate design plan complete with etched marble, scroll work and fancy frills. While it seemed they produced fantastic work, it didn’t fit with our Southeast Missouri, heartland feel.

"The last artist to visit was Tom Melvin, from Chicago, Il. It was almost like something out of the movies when two characters meet and they just know they’ve found the one – we had that experience with Tom. His personality, style and vision for the mural were exactly what we were looking for. He understood where we’ve come from and what all it’s taken to get to where we were at that time.

"A few of us traveled to Chicago to learn more about him and his team. I stayed at Tom’s home while the other guys stayed with some of his friends; we almost felt like family. As we walked with him in their busy streets, locals would shout ‘Hey, Tom!’ and give him handshakes. There, in the windy city where we blended in with the rest of the hustle and bustle, Tom was well-known. He was experiencing in Chicago what we felt when we walked the streets of Cape Girardeau, where we knew our neighbors and ran into familiar faces quite frequently. Another link that he isn’t that different from us, he was relatable and personable.

"A collection of photographs lined the walls in one of his bathrooms. After closely examining them, I realized they were all images of Tom’s work; some were of him actually creating pieces. One really stuck out to me. Tom was hanging onto the edge of some scaffolding with one paintbrush in his mouth and another in his hand, working precariously to finish up a large piece. It was fantastic! After traveling around the city checking out Tom’s work and really getting to know him, our decision became more and more concrete that this was the right guy for the job.

"Upon settling on a contract, Tom took my initial concept and ran with it. He did a fantastic job of meticulously depicting our history and captured the essences of each time period so beautifully. The months he and his team spent creating in downtown were a true joy to experience.

"I love how great this mural turned out. It was a pleasure helping bring this to our community and I look forward to the many more years of joy it brings to Cape Girardeau."

To learn more about this project and to meet some of the original artists and planners, plan to attend the Mural Celebration sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape, on Thursday, July 30, at 2pm in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis Streets. Help us celebrate this beautiful downtown landmark!

This post was co-written by Don Greenwood, guest blogger, and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

As the anniversary of the dedication of the Mississippi River Tales Mural continues to approach, we want to give another peak into what this landmark means to panel sponsor Kent Zickfield of Zickfield's Jewelry & Gifts. Kent paid tribute to his father's legacy by sponsoring the section from 1880 titled 'The Coming of the Railroad'.

"My dad, William August Zickfield, started what would eventually become our family business, Zickfield’s Jewelry & Gifts, in 1939, right here along this river. He was an integral part of the downtown business scene for many years. Making it through the initial startup phase back in the early 1940’s, during the height of World War II and on the heels of the great depression, was quite a feat. He knew downtown Cape Girardeau was where he needed to be.

"Upon his passing while I was still in college, I took the business reins and, along with my mother, started the family tradition. Many of the main business principles my dad taught me are still in practice at Zickfield’s today. As my kids are becoming more involved and I see their vision and passion for what our family has built, it makes me incredibly proud.

"When this opportunity arose to sponsor a portion of the floodwall mural, it seemed the perfect tribute to my dad for the many contributions he gave to downtown.  I chose this section because the conductor that’s prominently featured along the right side of the mural is holding a pocket watch, an iconic symbol of this time period and an accessory we’ve helped supply since our store’s inception. It was also the prefect location. In the old days, downtown merchants could purchase a spot in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis Streets. My dad’s spot was in the very front corner; the corner that almost directly faces this section of the flood wall. This mural captures the history of our community, a history that runs deep within the Zickfield family. I couldn’t think of a better tribute."

This post was co-written by guest blogger Kent Zickfield and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

As crazy as it is to believe, it has already been almost 10 years since we dedicated the Mississippi River Tales Mural. This landmark attracts people from around the area who are interested in art, the river, our history and heritage, and serves as a landmark for our downtown. A celebration coordinated by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape is set for Thursday, July 30, at 2pm to commemorate the anniversary and celebrate everything it has brought to the community. This event is open to the public, so please plan to join us.

Did you know there are 25 panels that make up this mural? Each section depicts a significant event in Cape Girardeau's history, dating back to 900's when the Native Americans explored our area. To help cover the monumental cost of planning for and creating this masterpiece, sponsorships of each panel were offered to the public. Our community rallied around this effort and all 25 were sponsored.

Jim and Teresa Maurer stepped up to the plate when the sponsorship opportunity presented itself. Their sponsored section depicts a scene from the flood of 1927. Read below to find out why they decided to invest in this project and what the mural means to them.

"We wanted to be a part of it, and the sponsorship of a downtown mural seemed a very fitting opportunity. Apparently the rest of the community agreed because there were only a few panels left by the time we decided to definitely participate. But what a commemoration of an event that shaped our community – The Big Flood of 1927.

"We love the details that helped make up this section. From the flapper dresses and period-specific vehicle, to the marking of the actual water level with the fish swimming at the bottom. It’s such a historic moment of our past that’s beautifully captured, this was the prefect section.

"We often drive down Water Street and observe people studying the panels, and I am again reminded of the unique history - told in the panels on the flood wall - that Cape Girardeau has given us. We have the origins, growth, successes and heartaches of the history of Cape Girardeau told in pictorial fashion all along the flood wall. The wall is a legacy to all the people who have lived, are living and who will be living in Cape Girardeau."

This post was co-written by guest blogger Teresa Maurer and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

Southeast Missouri State University will celebrate its second annual community River Campus Summer Arts Festival this Saturday, June 20. “Seussical” the musical will be capping the day with a performance at 7:30pm. Last year’s festival had a record attendance with more than 1,200. This year’s event will feature live music, dance, visual art displays, theatrical performances, an art walk, magic, hands-on family-friendly art expression activities, museum exhibitions, and Plein Art Painting. The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to all ages.

The music line-up has grown extensively since last year. The entertainment will run continually throughout the day featuring the Suzuki players, magician Rob Huff, Mr. Saxophone, Steve Schaffner, Jazz Trio 440’s, the Jerry Ford Combo and Barefoot on Sunday. Children’s activities will be available all day as well, including face painting and hands on activities in the kids’ art tent. The Avenue of Art competition will be back again with a new special category for creating Dr. Seuss art. Additionally, artists of all ages can participate in creating chalk art, with Craig Thomas composing a piece for the festival. Art booths will include demonstrations and art for sale. Ceramics students will demonstrate their craft, and printmaking students will offer a workshop. Students from the Southeast Department of Art and multiple professional artists will have art booths available. In the southwest parking lot, the Southeast Explorer mobile museum will showcase a United States history exhibit and the River City Rodders will display antique and hot rod cars. Bart Williams of the Southeast Department of Theatre and Dance, will present a stage combat exhibition of Quarterstaff fighting outdoors in the Seminary Quad. The River City Players will perform “Sleuth” by Anthony Shaffer.  There will be numerous dance and theater performances, demonstrations, and workshops throughout the day. See SEMO's website for more information.

The all-day event will close with a performance of “Seussical” the musical at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre. “Seussical” is a musical comedy based on numerous Dr. Seuss books. The musical is written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.  It is a comedy that will be enjoyed by the entire family. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,  calling (573) 651-2265 or by visiting www.RiverCampusEvents.com. Additional performances will include June 18-19, 25- 27 at 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. matinees on June 21, 27 and 28, and a special 10 a.m. performance on June 26.  Get tickets now, seats are filling up quickly!

We, at Old Town Cape, are happy to get the opportunity to work with Southeast Missouri State University campuses on events such as this one. It is partnerships like these that help further opportunities for the University and Downtown and offer a variety of activities for the community to take part in.

This post was written by guest blogger, Alyssa Basler, intern at Old Town Cape.

Nourishing your creative spirit is easy in an area like Downtown Cape Girardeau. Evidenced by the number of art studios, galleries and specialty shops within the 131 blocks of downtown, art is very much alive in the area's culture. One studio exemplifies this and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Here is a little peak into the creative world at The Artist Studio with Owner/Artist, Judy Barks-Westrich.  Being an artist is more than simply creating pieces, cleaning paint brushes and sharpening pencils; it's about sharing your talents and showing the rest of the world how to be creative. 'Iwanted to share with others some fundamental basics that my profession of teaching had taught me about the visual arts,' commented Judy. This premise is the foundation of The Artist Studio that opened at 38A North Main on March 5, 2005.
A full-time Art instructor at Cape Central High School at the time, she participated in every First Friday with the Arts event, worked Saturdays at the studio and conducted evening workshops. After a 39-year teaching career, she retired from public education in 2011 “to” the studio and simply continued her passion with the arts.
Her space is multifaceted. It's a working studio - walk by the storefront and you can almost always catch Judy in the middle of a masterpiece with paint on her fingers. It's an instructional studio - more than 60 workshops have been held on everything from acrylics, watercolor and printmaking, to weaving and paper making.  It's also a display studio - stop in anytime to peruse and purchase her original creations.
'I remember when I sold my first piece of artwork - it was a handmade paper casting. I almost felt a loss... sounds odd doesn't it? But then, I also felt a compliment and realized that someone liked my work - great feeling for an artist!'
With the exception of large stretched canvases, most of Judy's paintings are created in the studio. Inspiration and stimulation motivate her when surrounded by these beautiful pieces. 'I actually seem to gain positive energy from my art.'
Spontaneity is also key to her creativity, allowing her compositions to evolve over time and through experimentation. Acrylics and latex are her typical 'go-to's' with the palette knife on close standby. 'Texture - I love texture,' she expressed. This signature element is always visible in her works whether it be a subtle addition or an intricate expression of the focal point.  
'I express my style through nonobjective, abstract design. I see ideas everywhere and derive inspiration from personal pleasure.' This concept is truly evident when stepping into her studio. Her abstract landscapes - or 'landshapes' - and abstract florals allow you to see a setting or a beautiful flower in a completely different way than you imagined. 'I create to please myself because I love the creative process! When I feel successful, my art reflects that moment.'
If you'd love to create your own masterpiece but don't know where to start, don't know what to do or think you aren't creative enough, give Judy a call. 'I still get excited and gain energy when I instruct workshops and help others appreciate their talents and the arts,' she added. 'The artwork that is created is always amazing . . .'
   'My requirement for a workshop or special instruction is the desire to take time for creative pleasure. Preconceived talent is not important.' By stressing the creative process, people are able to gain a greater appreciation for being an artist and can understand art as more than strokes on a canvas. All workshops are offered upon request - morning, afternoon or evening.
'No, I have not made a fortune; but, my mission of sharing my knowledge and ability with the arts with others has made for a fantastic 10 years!' Her passion with the arts is still in her heart – for that reason, she feels fortunate!
Another year brings new excitements and unlimited creative potential. 'I invite everyone to visit The Artist Studio – let’s talk art!'

This post was co-written by guest blogger and owner of The Artist Studio, Judy Barks-Westrich, and Old Town Cape Project Manager, Christa Zickfield.

        
        

Have you ever been downtown on a First Friday evening? Shops are open, galleries display new and original artwork as part of the Art Walk, signs line the sidewalk and the sound of live music wafts onto the street. People who make it a point to visit downtown during a First Friday with the Arts event will tell you there is great energy in the air.

Local galleries and studios started First Friday with the Arts in 2003 as a way to engage the community with the arts. At the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, we understand the power and importance of the arts as a unifying force. For this reason, as of January 1, 2015, the Arts Council is excited to announce that it has become the coordinator of these monthly events.

To kick off this transition, a downtown-wide Cookie Spree will be held on Friday, February 6^th, from 5–9pm. During the Cookie Spree, participating businesses and galleries will offer different types of cookies at their locations, and guests can receive a stamp on their First Friday Stamp Card for every business they visit. Those who go to 5 or more downtown galleries or shops will become eligible for a ½ price appetizer at The Bar, which was featured in the newly-released film Gone Girl! Stamp cards can be picked up at any of the participating businesses listed below.

If you would like a complete listing of cookies available, make the Arts Council your first stop. We will have delicious chocolate-chunk cookies, courtesy of Chick-Fil-A, as well as handouts for the different types of cookies offered (including several gluten-free options!). We hope you’ll make it a point to visit Downtown Cape Girardeau this Friday, and bring your sweetie. There will be enough sweet treats to go around! 

Participating Businesses and Galleries:
Annie Laurie’s Antiques, Artisan Gifts, The Artist Studio, The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, The Bar, BLack Door Gallery, Brick Street Gallery, Cup N. Cork, DazSpell Creations, Gallery of Inspiration, Lattitudes, The Painted Wren Gallery, Philanthropy, Renaissance, Social’s Café, Somewhere In Time Antiques, The Tangled Yarn, WESTRAY Studio, Yearning for Yarn, Yoga East Healing Arts Studio

Other First Friday Partners:
Old Town Cape, The Library Bar, Something Blue Photography, StevMark Inc. and The Wright Group



This post was written by guest blogger Murielle Gaither, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

This post is written by guest blogger, Steven Amrhein, Intern at Old Town Cape.

With all of the art popping up in downtown Cape Girardeau lately, it's nice to see some art coming out of Cape Girardeau. No, I don't mean that in negative way like pieces are being removed, but rather in a good way as a local artist was recently recognized and a piece of his was chosen for a festival. The Charleston Dogwood Azalea Festival has been held every year for the past 40 years and in 2015, the festival organizers will use a piece of artwork by Johnny Thurman to identify the event.

What began as an idea at work for Johnny is now going to appear on t-shirts for the festival - how cool! He created a drawing of the state of Missouri with the state flower inside of it using trace paper, prism color ink pens and colored pencils. Because this piece turned out so well, he soon had clients from Illinois, Kentucky and even Arizona asking him to do similar work with their respected states and flowers. One of Johnny's friends took the liberty to post a picture of the original drawing on social media and it got almost immediate attention by one of Johnny's grade school teachers. Now working for the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, the teacher thought the drawing was perfect for the festival and plans are being made to use it!

Johnny has been interested in art since he was a kid. In fact, his 4th grade teacher even called his mom when he was in grade school to tell her that he had an eye for detail and that he could go far with it. This skill probably comes from his background as he grew up with an artistic family where his mom was constantly drawing and his aunts had paintings hung everywhere. He became inspired by his surroundings and grew to love drawing. Recently, he took drawing a step further and began working as a tattoo artist at A Different Drummer where he is able to tailor his love into a more permanent form. His favorite part of the job is having the ability to make suggestions for changes to a tattoo idea and bounce other ideas off of people in order to create the perfect piece.

Johnny has grown from drawing fliers for local bands to using skin as a canvas while still honoring his signature style of pen and ink watercolors. He believes that doors have been opened for him submitting new works due to the festival choosing to use his piece. Of course, this will be in a primitive form if his clients want something original, but they will also have the choice of a hand drawn piece rather than one created using computer software. "You're your own worst critic" is the phrase that Johnny left me with. When you spend twenty-three hours on a pencil project and are only an eighth of the way done, I'd say he's right. He continues to tweak the piece for the festival and explained that it's only done when the artist says that it's done.

Did you know that there are over 100 pieces of public art in Cape Girardeau? And that 85 of those pieces are located downtown? Our community is full of art in many ways, shapes and forms and it thrives off of the many talents that the local artists bring. In fact, come April 4th, two local artists will each have sculptures in the city's first ever Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit: On Broadway.

Before we go further, however, let's rewind time a bit. Two years ago, a group of community members from the City of Cape Girardeau, Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Old Town Cape, and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce came together to form the Public Art Committee. This group worked to develop a public art policy to give framework and guidelines on how public art would be managed. Following City Council approval of the policy, the effort to host an outdoor exhibition began. Pretty cool, huh?

In August of last year, the committee released a prospectus to invited artists with the hope that the project would increase the number of arts-related activities within the region and provide an additional revitalization strategy for Old Town Cape. Proposals for consideration from the artists were due in October and the jurying process culminated in mid-November. The exhibit was juried by Tom Stancliffe, Professor of Art at the University of Northern Iowa, who has exceptional experience in creating sculptures, jurying exhibitions, and assisting communities in arts development strategies.

The two sculptures I mentioned earlier along with five others will be unveiled at a special reception kick-off event at 6 p.m. on April 4 at the Vasterling Suites Courtyard (Broadway & Fountain) and you're invited! Remarks will be given by Stancliffe and committee members and appetizers will be provided by Port Cape Girardeau. Following the reception, I encourage you to walk Broadway to view the pieces that will be in place for one year - you won't be disappointed!

The pieces are as follows:

'Splintering' by Beth Nybeck (Kansas City, MO)

'Quill' by Dan Perry (Waterloo, IA)

'Natures Quintet' by Stephanie Sailer (Swisher, IA)

'Lineage' by Ben Pierce (Cape Girardeau, MO)

'Victoria' by Chris Wubbena (Cape Girardeau, MO)

'Home Spun' by Andy Arvantes (Chicago, IL)

'Immigrants' by Mike Baue (West Chicago, IL)

For more information on the exhibit, visit the Cape Girardeau Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit website or Facebook page. I'll see you on the 4th!

The blog committee wants to share with you the stories of the volunteers that work behind the scenes of Old Town Cape. This series will allow you to get to know our volunteers, find out how they became involved, learn what their interests are, and discover their goals for both downtown and themselves.

Don Greenwood, a local artist, currently serves on the Board of Directors and Design Committee for Old Town Cape. He is a native of New Orleans, LA but currently resides in downtown Cape with his wife, Roseanna. Greenwood became involved with the organization many years ago and was even the President of the Downtown Merchants Association at one point before Old Town Cape was formed. He has always had a passion for downtown and, therefore, has been involved with organizations that relate to promoting and enhancing the area ever since.

As a committee member, he provides information on the history of downtown, an artist's perspective, and knowledge about the murals - all of which are important to Old Town Cape. One of his goals for downtown Cape is to further promote the arts that are present. Thanks to his first cousin, he is very passionate about art and wants the community to know that there is a variety of talent locally.

Outside of his volunteer work for Old Town Cape, Greenwood is a man of man talents, including illustration, engraving, and performing as a musician. He has illustrated books such as, The Saving of Dogtown by James W. Riley Jr., The Loch Ness Adventure by Walter and Mary Hearnes, and Gordonville Grove by Jerry Ford. He has also created designs for national and international greeting card companies including, Hallmark Cards, American Greetings, Buzza Cardosa, and Charmcraft. Throughout his career he has created art for Walt Disney, Hughes Tool, President Reagan, Versace Fashion Design, Wedgewood China, Crane Paper, Crown Foil, and Murata Kimpaku. When he's not working in the art field, you can find him kayaking on one of the many nearby rivers or lakes with a group of his closest friends.

Don credits his success and knowledge to his wife and family. Coming from a large family, he quickly learned how to communicate well and get along with most everyone. He has no words of advice to share, but instead believes that everyone learns something important from those that they surround themselves with.

You can check out some of his work by visiting the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri galleries, or by taking a stroll past one of the directional kiosks downtown. Like many, I bet you didn't know that the little people and animals on these maps are courtesy of Mr. Greenwood!