LEAVES AND PIECES FALLING INTO PLACE!!! :D

Hello, fans and friends! As the fall tour season nears an end and we prepare to shift gears back to studio and strategy work, we have some updates and thank-you’s. This has been one of our busiest months to date, with as much opportunity as we can seize!

Long ago, in late August, was the 13th annual Day in the Park to benefit 4Pete’sSake, a volunteer-run organization in our community that provides relief to distressed residents facing extraordinary financial burdens, through no fault of their own, and who are unable to provide it themselves.  The committee chooses at least one recipient each year, and Nick’s aunt was the second to ever be chosen. So grateful for the assistance when his own family was in need, he’s been on board to assist this cause ever since, donating items regularly to the silent auction. This year, his three works of art raised $1800.

Day in the Park also includes a 5k Run/Walk, 26k bike ride, live music, food from local vendors, kids activities, a raffle drawing, a cake walk, and more.

 

Beatlefest, another community event in our headquarters of Spring Green, was especially busy on the 4th. In it’s 9th year, this was the best yet. The free, family fun day features live music, great eats, local brews, and this year, live and interactive mural painting with Nick Ringelstetter at the Spring Green General Store. Nick assisted many pairs of hands in the the creation of a graffiti style mural. If in the area, consider taking a picture and tagging us with some feedback, and don’t forget to stop into the General Store for so many great treats! We can’t thank owner Karin Miller enough for allowing us to be part of her “labor of love.” As she states on her website, “It truly takes a village to put on a music festival,” and yet it wouldn’t be possible or nearing a decade running without her. This was Nick’s second mural, the first a commission completed just a few weeks ago in a private garden in Middleton.

Mid-way through each September comes another one of Nick’s favorite events… not because *any* art is sold… but because he gets to take the day off and FISH for charity! The 29th annual Junk Fisheree was held on the 16th. In true Junk fashion, Team Atomic7 also donated a pair of custom bag toss “JUNK BOARDS”  featuring found items from around the shop and their tackle boxes. The proceeds from this event are donated to The Giving Tree, an organization helping out families in need around the quickly approaching holiday season. This year, $1200+ was raised.

Most recently, we packed up the van for a 7 hour drive to the Funky Ferndale Art Fair – a maiden voyage to Detroit and MY maiden voyage as a team member, though I’m a long-time supporter and friend of Atomic7! This was one of the last runs for the trusty chariot, a vehicle that has seen nearly the whole nation with Nick over the past 8 years. An upgrade is due, and soon, although it’s still kicking. Confirmed on the inbound trip, you don’t actually *need* a pedal to use the gas, giving new meaning to the phrase, “to the metal.” The uncharacteristically high temps for late September were trying, but camaraderie was running high. We’re grateful to have received coverage by two local papers, as well as an interview with Hot Talent Buffet’s, “Freshness TV.” Stay tuned, we’ll be posting the episode to our social channels!

 

Remaining yet on the fall tour are stops in Louisville, Kentucky and the Chicago Pinball Expo.