“FEATHER LIGHT RIDE” by Fred Schlatter. Courtesy image
Benician Fred Schlatter wows locally, nationally
By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor
Benicia artist Fred Schlatter recently completed a series of entry signs for Hampton Bay Condominiums, located at Southampton Road, Hastings Drive and Devonshire Drive.
Add those to the “Welcome” sign that greets visitors to the city, the sign for the Benicia Cat Clinic on East Second Street and signs for The Rellik Tavern and Olson Realty downtown — to name just a few — and Schlatter’s might just be the most visible of all Benicia artists’ work.
“I take great pride in my local work. This is where I live,” said Schlatter, who has lived in Benicia with his wife, Angie, since 1986, raising a daughter and son here. “This is where I shine.”
As proud as he is of his local work, Schlatter, 70, also has a lot of clients throughout the country — “Well over 90 percent of the people I have done business with, I have never met face to face,” he said — and lately he has received national attention for his carvings, too.
Some of the artist’s work recently drew praise at a premier contemporary online network that hosts artists from all over the world.
FRED SCHLATTER’S newest civic addition, a sign for Hampton Bay Condominiums in Southampton. Courtesy photo
Schlatter is currently among the featured artists at ArtSlant.com, where viewers can find photos of his work, biographical information and news about awards and other accolades.
ArtSlant has about six juried competitions every year, each of which receives up to 800 submissions. “Out of that, each time, they select about 30 of what they consider to be the top artists in different kinds of mediums,” Schlatter said. “Some of them are very established artists.”
Juries consist of top gallerists and other artists from all over the world, who review select pieces and determine which become the 10 showcase winners. This year Schlatter’s “Feather Light Ride” was selected, “and I am very humbled by it,” he said.
“Feather Light Ride” is a modified 1930s wood-spoke truck wheel with 40 hand-carved maple feathers radiating out from it. Like much of Schlatter’s work, it was inspired by his love of old cars.
“I have always been fascinated by antique classic cars. I restored a ’29 Chevy when I was in high school,” he said.
If “Feather Light Ride” becomes one of the juried select winners of 2012, it would be exhibited in a top art city or art fair. “Probably this year it would be in Miami Beach,” Schlatter said.
“I’m in the running, and that’s one of my very exciting pieces that I like, and everybody seems to like,” he said.
Schlatter doesn’t work exclusively in wood. He has been doing stone carving, too — with the help of Benicia’s most renowned artist.
“Manuel Neri’s been giving me tips on carving stone. I’m working on one right now called ‘Plymouth Rock’ that is a 1937 Plymouth hood ornament, and I’m sculpting it into a piece of black Canadian soap stone.”
Schlatter’s signs can be seen at www.carvedgraphics.net, and his fine art at www.fredschlatterart.com. Visit ArtSlant.com to see photos of some of his “Woodies Series,” in which he combines antique automotive body parts and other details with woodworking.
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Just for fun, you can try a little trick with this photo of Feather Light Ride. If you move it up and down with your scroll bar or with the wheel on your mouse, it will appear to flap its feathers and seem to fly up and down.
Fred,
Your signs are as beautiful as any I’ve seen. Years ago we were passing through Hyannis, Massachusetts and noted that the downtown area at the time was very plain with uninteresting/uninviting facades. What they did have were colorful, carved signs like yours and this prompted us to stop and look around, which we would not have done otherwise. If I were a business owner I’d love to have one of your signs. By itself this would add a lot to First St if there were more of them.