Details
Smokey Joe's Bar and Grill
"Artist's statements that I provide with each of my works usually offer bits of explanation and insight. In that regard, this piece stands alone. I simply started drawing one day with no direction, no plan, no motive... No kidding.At first, it was just the fireman and the fire. Basic. When I added the door, a building came into being, and before long, it morphed into a bar. There is no story behind it. I don't know a Smokey Joe. The only remotely connected particle is the "est. 1923" on the lower part of the sagging sign. My father was born on July 23rd of that year. And that's about all there is to say about that." Allan Albaitis
Wood Photo Boards:
- Made from high quality 1/4" thick birch plywood with beveled and stained edges, featuring two wood support bars for hanging.
- Each sign features a natural finish to showcase the beautiful wood grain beneath the image.
- Heavy metal 21 gauge (non-rust) signs are powder coated and printed for that classic look!
- Signs mount easily via pre-drilled and finished with decorative eyelets.
Allan Albaitis:
In the late 70’s and early 80’s, Allan Albaitis cranked out a monthly a cartoon strip called “Frank & Ziggy” for a 4-state motorcycle magazine, Freedom Rider. Once on the job, there were always situations that demanded an Albaitis cartoon. There is no shortage of material for “gotcha” cartoons in any firehouse. Over the years the “toons” evolved into serious art and in 1995, his first national release, “Return To Glory” was unveiled.
In 1997, Firefighter Albaitis published “Guardians” which features the spirits of long gone old timers in a thundercloud assisting their counterparts below to douse a house fire. The edition of 2500 prints sold out through his website, fireart.com, in 2002.
His “American Grace”, a tribute to the responders of September 11th, 2001 seems to center on the image of an American Flag when, actually what appears to be a flag is the twisted, glowing wreckage of the smoldering towers, a pike pole of a firefighter in the foreground and the lighted windows of a sky-scraper in the distance aligning with the star field area of the illusion; there is no flag in the piece. “If there is an underlying theme or philosophy to my work it is simply, look again. As with all things in life, there’s more than what meets the eye,” he says. “Look deeper and more shall be revealed.” He recently signed his latest agreement with the world-renowned Bradford Exchange, for a seventh project which is providing much of the exposure necessary for his niche artwork.
“The day I hung up my gear for the last time was one of mixed emotions to be sure”, Albaitis says of that day, July 4, 2007. “But through my art, I will always stay in touch with those courageous men and
