Almost everyone has a hometown-be it a place you grew up or a somewhere you find yourself among loved ones. Landmarks and scenery evoke a feeling of familiarity and calm; home is place you can always come back to. So what happens when a landmark you have grown to love is suddenly threatened with destruction?
Rosenblatt Stadium has been held close to the hearts of many Omahans since it became home to the College World Series in 1950. Eager to secure a piece of Omaha history, many find the limited edition, locally crafted “Remembering Rosenblatt” plates will help keep the stadium’s memory alive once it is gone.
The stadium portrait on the 14-inch glass plate was an original watercolor painting by Maureen Beat, administration assistant for Ratio Studiorum Program at the Center for Student Success and Retention (CSSR). Working as a free-lance artist, Beat correlated with Peggy Karr, a glassware designer, and Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry to create the plates that are fast becoming popular among the stadium’s fans.
Sitting calmly at the front desk in the CSSR, you wouldn’t suspect Beat of having years of artistic expertise under her belt. Mainly working with painting and acrylic wash, Beat finished the original Rosenblatt watercolor painting about seven years ago, before she was aware the stadium was scheduled for demolition. She sold the prints in gift shops over the years, and during the 2009 College World Series, Beat set up shop in Embassy Suites and found that the “Remember Rosenblatt” prints were a very popular item. According the Omaha World Herald, around 1,000 have already been sold since the plates were revealed in September 2009.
Last year, it was suggested that Beat approach Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry with the proposition to collaborate. According to Beat, Karr was enthused about the project and thought that the collaboration would be a good addition to her collection of fused glass plates.
Because of the plates’ success, it has been decided a series of plates, appropriately named “Hometown Heritage,” depicting Omaha landmarks will be produced, one every September. The “Remembering Rosenblatt” glass plates are available at Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry for $54.00 until September 2010, when the next piece is revealed.
“The point of the series is to generate nostalgia for all those who consider Omaha their hometown and identify with special landmarks” Beat said. Smiling secretly, she couldn’t reveal the upcoming piece in the series, but seemed upbeat about the variety of possible Omaha landmarks to choose from. “People have been guessing for a while now,” Beat said.
Beat has done a variety in the world of art, from logos and painting furniture, to murals and watercolor paintings. After free-lancing as an artist for 10 years, Beat worked a variety of jobs until finally coming to Creighton about three years ago. Since then, she does different projects and commissions upon request. With a full-time nine month job at Creighton, the three months in the summer are mostly focused on art, Beat said. Her Website www.artexpressionsltd.com, provides background information and a portfolio of her art pieces. For a look at Peggy Karr’s pieces, her Website is www.peggykarrglass.com.