Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[Rae Kridel]

It's always a good idea to know who you're doing business with. It's something I try to tout as an advantage to my clients, the personal service, the one-on-one, the fact that no one will be doing the work but me, so if you have questions or problems, the buck stops here. My business is growing like crazy so at some point, I'm either going to have to turn away clients or hire help, but I'll hold on to this as long as I can.

But this blog post isn't really about me, it's about one of my clients. When I was first getting started with my business, I designed the Web site for a sculptor here in town, Francisco Fonseca. He's originally from Mexico, very talented and trained at his family's foundry in old-world techniques that aren't really used in this country much anymore. The advantage to the way he does his bronze work is that it's cast in as few pieces as possible and reconstructed with as few welds as possible. It's much more difficult to do, but much more stable that way. But he doesn't just do bronze, he does amazing fiberglass work, HUGE pieces, many of which you've seen around town. The big tennis shoes that dotted the downtown landscape a couple of years back for the Final Four? He did every one of them. The big Weber kettle grill hanging over the door of the restaurant on Illinois? Another of Francisco's pieces. He can do restorations on existing works and re-patina a sculpture that's lost its luster. You name it, he can do it. If you look at the online portfolio of 2nd Globe, two of the pieces they have on there, The Regatta and The Curtain, Francisco did the fiberglass work. But does he ever get a mention? Does the press hear about him? No. None. Zip. Nothing. Nada. He's the man behind the curtain, and in this case, literally, The Man Behind The Curtain.

If you work for a church, non-profit, business or public organization, do yourself a favor and check out his online portfolio. His work is varied and and he can do small, table-top pieces to large installations. The Web site is a little complex and in need of an overhaul, as it's grown (in an unwieldy manner) over the last couple of years, but don't let that deter you. You can click on any thumbnail and see a larger photo of the piece.

[Marla Ruth]

Rae, Thank you for including me on the email about your recent entry. I am glad to know more about local artists and I am impressed with Francisco's work. I did some foundry work in sculpture class, and I know it isn't easy.

[Rae Kridel]

And you're just the man to do it. It seems that the limelight has been illuminating you lately. BTW, I can't make it Friday, but my friend Shirah will be at your studio with a friend of hers. I've been trying to get her to go to your showings for months now, so she's finally doing it. She's a very talented painter and I'd like her to hook up with others in the Indy art scene who are outside of her Herron network.

[wug laku]

i'll be working on that.

[Rae Kridel]

I agree. Unfortunately, that doesn't always translate to the bank account, especially if the agencies who hire him keep him a secret. It would be nice if he got some local exposure in his own right.

[Nancy Lee]

Rae, thanks for bringing well-deserved attention to this brilliant artist. I have checked out his website in the past. This community is very fortunate to have an artist with his skill, passion, and creativity living right amongst us regular folk.

[Rae Kridel]

Yes, he really is a nice guy. I still have some new photos to add to his site tonight, a very big enlargement he did, a bronze commemorative piece commissioned for the Indianapolis Colts and a few other things. I hope people spread the word.

[wug laku]

good for you, rae, for bringing francisco into the light. on top of all that talent, skill, passion and romanticism, he's a real nice guy, too. i hope everyone gets the chance to meet him and have a conversation.