I drove up from my home in Victoria Friday
morning to register/sign in at the Rutherford Mall. The Mall’s main sign
announced the meet. Good! I’m in the right place.
Since I signed up for the ‘gold’ class, we had to
be there at noon to sign in, as our class started at 1 pm. Signed in and
go to meet Sue Banasky from Source Signs, nice lady. Also got to meet
Mike Meyers, who brought this really cool mirror surrounded by
driftwood. Is it customary to bring a panel? I didn’t bring one, kind of
feeling bad, not a good start.
At 1 pm we are of to the glass class, held in
one of the empty storefronts in the Mall. Since people in the Mall can
watch us through the glass store front, we’ll be part of the Mall
entertainment for the weekend. The class is set up for 20 participants,
each of us with a thick glass panel with a screen-printed outline of a
fairly intricate design.
We get to meet John Jordan, the gold gilding
guru, our master of ceremonies for the class. John is a small unassuming
man, soft spoken, with this gleam in his eye. He showed us a finished
sample; gulp, we are supposed to accomplish this in one weekend? John is
gentle on us, at least the first day. Unfortunately some of us were
unaware that we needed to bring brushes or maul/mall sticks. We all
helped each other out with brushes, and Tim invented some pretty cool
looking sticks, a magic wand with a yellow happy face ball on the end.
Other letterheads were slowly filing into the
mall to sign in. We were all given itineraries, and asked for our meal
preferences for Saturday nights dinner. There was to be a get together
later that evening. I decided to head for home, as we had an 8:30 am
start for Saturday’s gold class, and my drive was 90 minutes each way,
or a $150.00 US cab ride each way, just ask Mike M.
Up early Saturday, started class bright and
early. We did a lot of very detailed painting on our glass panels since
our gold size was still too tacky for gilding, which we’ll do on Sunday
instead. Other classes started in a few different stores around the
mall, as well as a local supplier (Taca/Adcam) with this honking big
large format printer. Coffee/juice and goodies were always available,
and much appreciated.
Just before noon Dan Sawasky had center stage
in the Mall. He brought a small project to demo his concrete carving
technique. While working and answering questions, Dan explained his
‘scientific’ mixing instructions, and the fun you can have with new
people on his crew. Dan had started his project in the morning, and had
it completed by 3 pm.
A group photo was taken at lunch time. In the
middle of the mall off course!
After lunch the afternoon was filled with all
sorts of classes, from airbrushing, to hand lettering, vinyl
application, carving and tool sharpening, and just meeting these really
cool and down to earth Letterheads. Oh, did I forget the window splash
demonstration, almost missed that one. Unfortunately it was impossible
to take all of them, but I tried my best.
Dinner, ask any one of us, was an experience.
There were sixty some odd of us piled into booths and a bunch of tables.
Since dinner took some time to come, we had plenty of time for great
conversation and joviality. Once the dinners did come, mass mayhem broke
out, and I think there could be a few Letterheads still waiting for
their meal? Got home around 10 pm that night and couldn’t sleep. My mind
was just spinning, I was so pumped.
 Sunday took care of that. Gold class again at
8:30 am, time to break out the gold. Woo hoo! This is where things got a
little hairy for yours truly. Picking up gold leaf and applying it to my
panel was an exercise in futility. Who ever gets to vacuum that room
after we left could have made a killing. I rubbed that gilding brush on
the side of my head so many times to try to build up some static, mostly
to no avail. Found out later, when looking in the mirror, where most of
that gold ended up. As for John, this man can spot a holiday in your
gold from a mile away. He’s got an eye for detail, and I’ve got a few
holidays to deal with. Well, none of us got our panels finished,
although some got close, so we have lots of homework left to do. It’ll
be a show-piece (I hope) once it is completed though.
The afternoon, more classes, hand lettering,
pin striping, vinyl striping, prismatic lettering, carving, watching
that big honking printer produce some awesome prints (got to get one, as
soon as I win the lo….). So much to do, so little time. There was a
draw for some donated prices, included a fridge, which was to be
decorated by any/all at the meet. Went through some of the many photo
albums/portfolio’s, again, wow, I’m in company with some seriously
talented people, I am not worthy. Picked up some cool looking business
cards (mementos). Looked over some of the art/sign pieces that were
brought to the meet, and took lots of pictures.
My feelings about my first meet:
· I was awestruck at the talent that came to the meet
· Impressed with the organization of the meet
· Thrilled to meet some of the Lettervillians from the Bullboard
· Elated that I didn’t break my glass panel by accident or spill some
paint
· Empowered and inspired by the whole event
· Humbled by the whole experience
Would I attend another meet? Without question, yes!
Peter Schuttinga
DZines Sign Studio
1617 Millstream Rd
Victoria BC
 What
an incredible experience!
Susan, you did it! and with great style and professionalism. I cant
thank you enough for such a great time, and the new friendships and
skills I got to take home with me. Thanks also to all your helpers who
worked so hard to make our experiences ones to be treasured.
So much to do and so little time. I only wish there was more time to
fully participate in all of what was going on. Glass gilding with John
Jordan was the topper. John is a kind and gentle man, and with what must
have been extreme patience to continually answer our same questions over
and over. I think many of us beginners were intimidated by the fine
detail of the glass panel we were about to produce but John managed to
instill confidence in us all. By the meets end, all the panels I saw
would hang with great pride in their respective shops.
I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with John on Monday while
we were waiting for our ferry and the trip back to the mainland. I
thoroughly enjoyed our time together and the many stories, and look
forward to it again sometime! I do hope you made your flight ok. I know
it was going to be cutting it close.
 As I had the time when my glass panel was drying before the next
process, I did get the chance to drop in on some of the other events
taking place throughout the meet. I saw some awesome airbrush effects
being laid down in George MacKinnon's class and also some intense chrome
letters coming out of Rhonda's group. I an saddened that I missed all of
Mike Meyers hand lettering classes, but I did have the chance to look
over his shoulder on many occasions as he slung his brush around all
over the panel jam room. It was truly amazing as he made it look so
effortless, but you know that each stroke was placed with care as to
where it was going.
Pat Welter! Thank you so much for taking the time from your project to
help me sharpen my new chisels. I believe it was me that you were
thinking about giggling away as I made some chips with my new tools. I
should also thank Clark Garnett for allowing us into his shop late after
hours that night to continue working on our projects. And then there is
Cal Trauter who I was in awe with as I watched him twirl and spin his
brush. It was magic! I thank you as well for putting down your brush to
make sure that my new brushes were properly prepared, oiled and ready
for action.
Another high point was watching Dan Sawatsky as he shaped and stroked
his giant chicken sculpture. If you stood close enough, you could just
feel the joy coming out from this man as he created one of his
masterpieces. And Adrienne Morgan's window splash was another fine work
of art, and I am glad to hear it lead her to more work before she leaves
for home. It would have surprised me if it didn't! It was a treat to
spend some social time with you, and what a neat Lady.
Shmooozing right along! There was lots of it about, and what a diverse
bunch of fantastic people and talent. It made it hard to say goodbye
when the time came. I enjoyed the company an conversation of so many
people. John Lennig, thanks for the panel, I hope to stop by and return
the favor one day. And Donna was simply just a fun person to be around,
and I do have your "happy (maul) stick" made which I will send out to
you. Brian Diver, please talk to my publicist before you post any
pictures of me thank you, hehehehe. Adrienne has the only shot approved
for release at this point! I was glad to meet Peter Schuttinga, another
fellow firefighter. Being sneaky and stealing the plate is how its
supposed to be done, good job man!
It didn't stop there, Stevo, Glenn Thompson and wife Nancy, and the many
many more fine folks I chatted with. Forgive me that I cant mention you
all by name here, but everyone of you added to my experience at the
Splash as one that will be lingering in my mind for many days to come,
and truly never forgotten.
There are a special group of people out here in the world, and they are
called Letterheads! Get out there and meet some. You wont be
disappointed!
Thank you all from a humbled Tim.....
--------------------
Tim Rieck Signs
Halfmoon Bay, BC
tim_rieck@dccnet.com
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Meet Host Susan Banasky & Her Mum
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