The Red Carpet Event Center

***We found a new venue for the art show!***

The Red Carpet Event Center
Saturday, June 30th
1-4PM

***The date and time are the same.***

Please join us on this special day! We have over 50 pieces to display, including those found on this website. We will also have 150 prints of both "The Flat Iron" and "Edna G." for sale ($20). Three framed and signed prints ("Fishermen", "Skinny Dippers", and "Ocelot") will be available through a silent auction. All proceeds will go directly to the Steve Smith Cathedral Art Scholarship Fund...the first and only art scholarship fund at CHS.

This event is open to the public and we especially encourage family, friends, and classmates to attend.

If you have a piece to contribute to the show, please contact Adam Iten (adam@smittyart.com). The artwork will be returned to you after the show.

See you next month!

Athabascan Indian Boy

Title: Athabascan Indian Boy
Owner: Mom and Dad Iten
Received from: Mom
Creation Date(s): 1980's Alaska sessions
Original: No
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...signed (3/500)...all three prints of the Athabascan Indians were drawn while Steve lived in Fairbanks, AK in 1983. This portrait (along with the other Alaskan prints) was inspired by historic photos of the Athabaskan Indians that Steve came across at the library in Fairbanks, AK - noted by Teresa (Steve's sister).

"During the summer of 1983, I worked on Prince of Wales Island in SE Alaska. In August, I traveled up to Fairbanks to visit Steve. During his time in Fairbanks, he was hoping to finally make a living as an artist. Not wanting to create mainstream Alaskan art, he'd research subjects at the Fairbanks Historical Society. That's were he discovered the abundant archive of Athabaskan Indians. Inspired, and in the throes of artistic fervor, Steve created a substantial inventory of artwork in a relatively short period of time. Steve worked at a print shop during the day; then under the glow of the midnight sun, he would sketch. During my visit, I watched as Steve sketched the "Athabaskan Indian Boy" from beginning to end (about three nights). Watching him create his art was one of the most amazing things I ever witnessed."

- Teresa Asleson (Steve's sister)

Lake of the Woods Barn

Title: Lake of the Woods Barn
Owner: Tom Maiers
Received from: Tom
Creation Date(s): 1977
Original: Yes
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: Signed..."the Barn" was a one of the buildings near Tom's cabin.

Fishing Buddies

Title: Fishing Buddies
Owner: Tom Maiers
Received from: Tom
Creation Date(s): 1978
Original: Yes
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: Signed...Steve loved to fish. He routinely took trips to the Lake of the Woods with good friend Tom Maiers. Pictured here are Tom and his dog Jacobi...along with a fresh catch from the lake.

"Schmitty and I used to go up to Lake of the Woods a fair amount. My dog- Jacobi, Schmitty and I were usually the crew. There were some occasions that Runay (Steve's first wife) would come along. As a matter of fact, she went up with us when she was pregnant with Jesse (Steve's son and only child). He snapped a photo of me, Jacobi and a walleye on the dock. That's Canada over my shoulder. I still go up to that cabin quite often."

- Tom Maiers

Historic Homes of San Francisco

Title: Historic Homes of San Francisco
Owner: Linda Loso Stone
Received from: Linda
Creation Date(s): 1970s
Original: Yes
Medium: Oil or acrylic
Framed: Yes
Notes: Signed...painted from a photograph taken during a road trip to California

New Venue

As most of you have heard, O'Hara's Brew Pub and Restaurant closed indefinitely. We are currently seeking a new venue. Please check this website for updates. We will post the new venue soon!


Adam

Skinny Dippers

Title: Skinny Dippers
Owner: Teresa
Received from: Teresa
Creation Date(s): 1980's Alaska sessions
Original: No
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...not signed...not numbered...a framed print has been donated to the showcase which will be available through a silent auction

The Fishermen

Full Image

The famous six fingered man

Title: Fishermen
Owner: Mom and Dad Iten
Received from: Mom
Creation Date(s): 1980's Alaska sessions
Original: No
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...signed (10/50) 1984...These men may look like cowboys, but are actually fishermen on a pier. You will find this print in Anton's Restaurant in St. Cloud, MN (Steve's hometown). Key question: does the man really have six fingers? Another key question: which guy are you? I'm the guy on the left, pondering life. Do you have one of the t-shirts donning this image? A framed print has been donated to the showcase which will be available through a silent auction. Steve sketched this piece alongside of his second wife Deanna...while she created the "Geisha Girls" portrait. Both are family favorites.

"Steve sketched the "Fishermen" when he was living in Fairbanks, Alaska. When I was up visiting him in the summer of 1983, he had recently finished it. He was pretty pleased with this particular piece of art. He told me that when he realized he made the artistic blunder, he was bummed and thought the artwork was no good and not reproducible. But in typical Steve fashion, he decided to relish in the barely discernable blemish. He said, "damn it, it's my art and I can draw it anyway I want!" He eventually came to enjoy pointing out the "six-fingered man"."

- Teresa Asleson (Steve's sister)

The Flat Iron

Title: The Flat Iron
Owner: Grandma
Received from: Mom
Creation Date(s): ?
Original: Yes
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...signed...The Flat Iron was an old restaurant in St. Cloud. A uniquely shaped building between the railroad tracks and the road (8th Ave and 2nd St S). According to the St. Cloud Times, "The bar and restaurant was known for its greaseless fries, Darrell Burgers and Ginny’s chili. Closed in 1992." Prints will be available for sale at the showcase.

Edna G.

Title: Edna G.
Owner: Carol
Received from: Mom
Creation Date(s): ?
Original: Yes
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...signed...A handwritten note from Steve on the back says: "Edna G. The last steam powered coal burning tugboat on the Great Lakes. Built in 1876. Permanently moored in Two Harbors (MN) in the mid 1930's." Prints will be available for sale at the showcase.

Ocelot

Title: Ocelot
Owner: Teresa
Received from: Teresa
Creation Date(s): 1984
Original: No
Medium: Pencil
Framed: Yes
Notes: B/W...signed (18/50)...a framed print has been donated to the showcase, which will be available through a silent auction...what is an ocelot?

Wesley the Cat

Title: Wesley the Cat
Owner: Patrick J. Eller
Received from: Patrick J. Eller
Creation Date(s): Unknown
Original: Yes
Medium: Paint (oil)
Framed: No
Notes: Received as a gift from Steve...

"Steve was a friend since grade school and we hung out together until later in our high school years when we went our separate ways. When ever we ran into each other we were glad to catch up on what was going on. At least 20 years ago I was in St. Cloud for the evening and stopped at O'Hara's for last call. It was a quiet night and Steve was there alone. He had been drinking and I offered him a ride home. He accepted and when we got to his apartment on East River Road, he invited me up and we talked for awhile. When it was time to go he went to another room and brought out a painting of a cat on a sunny rug in what looked like the house he had lived in near Seberger Park Park in West St. Cloud, maybe not but the painting was more than 'good' it hinted mystery and singular talent. Steve told me it was one of his first and then insisted I take it. I left that night and never was with Steve again."

- Patrick J. Eller

"Pat, What a wonderful surprise to see this painting after so many years! This winter, I was reminiscing through all the catalog of Steve's artwork I knew of. I thought of this painting; then thought maybe my recollection was wrong because I hadn't see it for so long. The cat's name is Wesley (after John Wesley Harding). In 1977, when I was in college at St. Cloud State, I took a photograph of my cat Wesley upstairs in the old corner house I was living in (the house was on 10th across from State). Steve and I both loved the photo of Wesley basking in the sunlight on his favorite rug. When Steve was in art class at State, he used the photo of Wesley in his pensive pose to create this painting. Thanks for sharing. I hope to see you in June at Steve's art reception.

- Teresa Asleson (Steve's sister, aka "Little Smitty")