Heart of Lincoln Land

Lincoln Apparel’s display at the 3rd Thursday Art Show in the library of the Hickox Building, a Lincoln-era building at 518 E. Capitol on September 15, 2011.

This past June, I stopped in Andiamo! on 6th Street once while wearing my shiny new "Hair Metal Lincoln" T-shirt. The people working there that day complimented me on my shirt, and I told them that I designed it (and other Lincoln shirts) like I often do when someone says they like my shirt (I make it a point to always wear one of my shirts). They told me that on third Thursdays, there’s an art show at Andiamo! where I might be able to sell them. I handed them my card, had a nice discussion about art, and then left to go find out more about the show (the person in charge of it was not working at that time).

I later went back and Mandy (one of the people that helps run it) told me about the show and about the website, which is at www.thirdthursdayartshow.com. (They also have a Facebook page.) I looked over the website to find out how to get in, what it cost, etc. It turns out that it’s free and anyone of any talent level can bring in their work (not to mention – there’s great live music), so I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by trying it. Since it was past the third Thursday in June, I decided to try going there on the third Thursday in July.

I brought the 4 designs I feel are my best – "Hair Metal Lincoln", "80s Abe", "Young Mr. Lincoln", and "Back to Springfield" (those are my 4 favorites in no particular order). The nice people there helped set me up with a table in the back. I wasn’t getting a whole lot of traffic back there, so about halfway through the show a couple people helped me move the table with my shirts to a more visible spot behind the band. I sold 3 shirts after that. A woman by the name of Mandy (a different Mandy than the one who helps with the show) even put on the "Hair Metal Lincoln" shirt she bought right after she bought it. I asked her if it was OK for me to take a picture for my "Wearing Lincoln Apparel" section on my site and I did.

Mandy wearing Lincoln Apparel’s "Hair Metal Lincoln" shirt at the 3rd Thursday Art Show at Andiamo! on July 21, 2011. She looks great in that shirt, doesn’t she?

Even though it was slow at times (not many people know about this show) I enjoyed the experience. The people there were friendly, the music was great and it was fun talking to the other artists who were there and looking at the other art that was there. It was a much different atmosphere than the Old Capitol Farmer’s Market artisan area, where you more or less just sit in your booth and people come and look and if they want something, they’ll buy it. (Not saying I don’t enjoy being there either, I’ve met some great people at the market, just that Third Thursday is a different experience).

I was happy with the show, so I decided that I’d keep coming back and see how things unfold. Yesterday was my 3rd 3rd Thursday show, this time I was in the Hickox Building (a Lincoln-era home at 518 E. Capitol Avenue in downtown Springfield that contains Norb Andy’s in the basement). They added this location (in addition to Andiamo!) due to the number of artists. There is live music present at both locations.

Even though I only sold 2 shirts this past Thursday, I enjoyed being there. My shirts were in the library – it seemed like the perfect place for them. I got a lot of great comments on the shirts, and it seemed like a lot of people looked at them. It was fun to be in a Lincoln-era building I’ve never been in before. I explored the building and looked at the other art (I also went over to Andiamo! for a bit just to see what was there).

Kenzie looking awesome in her new black "80s Abe" shirt at the 3rd Thursday Art Show in the Hickox Building on September 15, 2011.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was when a girl named Kenzie got one of my "80s Abe" shirts (her mother bought it for her, allowing her to pick which one she liked the best). I asked her if she’d be willing to pose in it for me and she did, and wore it around the rest of the show. She really seemed to love the shirt! I think it looks awesome on her, don’t you? (This picture is also in my "Wearing Lincoln Apparel" section now).

I also had a lot of fun talking to the other artists and people who were there again. I’m slowly getting to know them and maybe I’ll make some new friends there!

In any case, I’ll also likely be at the next Third Thursday on October 20th. I’ll probably be in the Hickox Building again. I’m glad I know about this now, I think it’s a great thing for artists in Springfield.

I’ve added the show to my Lincoln Apparel Local page now. Hope to see you there!

I will also be coming out with another new design – "Awesome Abraham Lincoln" – soon!

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