Welcome to Fond du Lac" is one of the
works by Fond du Lac artist, Tom Remo, during a special exhibit at Thelma
Sadoff Center of the Arts (THELMA) opening Friday, June 17. The opening event
will feature an hors d'oeuvres reception, a program, and concert by Mission
River Band. Proceeds will benefit Parkinson's Research and arts education. Remo
was well-known for his community campaigns commissioned by the FDL Convention
& Visitors Bureau for Walleye Weekend, the Fall Flyway, Lakeside Winter
Celebration, along with two series of limited edition prints "Landmark
Wildlife Art" and "Reflections of the Spirit of
FDL." (Photo: Photo courtesy of Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts)
June 11, 2016
Thelma
Sadoff Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan St., will host a special exhibit
opening of a Fond du Lac artist and his journey with Parkinson’s disease
Friday, June 17. The event also will raise funds for the research of
Parkinson’s disease.
The
exhibit opening features the works of Tom Remo, before and after his diagnosis.
Remo died in 2014.
The
exhibit, a retrospective of a lifetime of Remo’s work, constitutes the largest
collection of his art ever assembled in one place, and will showcase oil
paintings, pencil drawings and sculpture as well as examples of his
industrial sketches, graphic designs and community campaigns.
In
addition to the exhibit opening, the evening includes a reception with hors d’oeuvres
from Colin Mauthe of Chef on the Run and also A & W Restaurants, a short
program and a concert.
The
event begins at 6 p.m. with the program at 7 p.m. and the concert at 7:30
p.m. Tickets can be ordered by calling THELMA at 920-921-5410 or by visiting
thelmaarts.org. A limited number of tables
are available.
Remo
was passionate about finding a cure for the progressive neurological condition,
according to his wife, Colleen Phalen. All proceeds from the event will support
Parkinson’s disease initiatives and arts education.
A
1958 graduate of Goodrich High School, Remo received formal art training at
Drake University. He served as the proprietor of Remo Printing Services and
Metalgraphics, Inc. of Fond du Lac for many years, and as the publisher of the
weekly feature newspaper The Fond du Lac Times.
Active
in the Fond du Lac community, Remo created the first Walleye Weekend poster, a
signature effort adapted and revised for several subsequent festivals, and
designed promotions for many Fond du Lac Convention & Visitors Bureau
tourism events, including the Lakeside Winter Celebration, Fondue in Fond du
Lac, the Fall Flyway, Taste of Fond du Lac, the Landmark Wildlife limited
edition art series and covers for the Visitor’s Guide.
His
graphic design work included logos for many area businesses and events such as
the 1986 Fond du Lac Sesquicentennial.
While
many may be familiar with Remo’s community campaigns and graphic design work
over the years, relatively few area residents have seen his stylistically
distinct oil paintings, which focus on such subjects as trees and nature,
antique automobiles, houses, nautical scenes and portraiture.
Tom Remo in his studio. (Photo: Photo courtesy of Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts)
In
the 1980s, Remo served as a program director for the Franklin Mint in
Philadelphia, where he consulted and coordinated with the Museum of American
Folk Art, the Western Heritage Museum, the Museum at the Palace of
Versailles and the Museum of the City of Paris.
His
paintings, pencil drawings and sculptures have been exhibited at the University
of Wisconsin, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the Franklin Mint and
Congressional offices in Washington, D.C. His art is in private collections in
the U.S., England, France and Japan.
In
addition to the exhibit opening, the evening includes a reception with hors d’oeuvres
from Colin Mauthe of Chef on the Run and also A & W Restaurants, a short
program and a concert.
Taking
the THELMA stage at 7:30 p.m. will be Milwaukee-based Mission River Band,
playing classic rock, and R&B music.
Mission
River Band, which includes Fond du Lac native and Remo brother-in-law Richard
Phalen on bass guitar and vocals, is a unique collaboration of lifelong
musicians whose “mission” is to use their performances to support local and
national charities. Since the band was formed by a group of friends and
business professionals ten years ago, Mission River has helped raise an
estimated $500,000 for a variety of charitable causes.
In
addition to Phalen, band members include Jim Lopina, Bud Bobber, John Yadgir,
Dave Karp and Lou Marino. Chicago musician and Remo nephew Will Phalen will
join the band for its THELMA appearance.
http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/action-advertiser/2016/06/12/thelma-host-art-exhibit-fundraiser-parkinsons-disease/85546474/
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