What happens when your art piece is owned by a Grammy award-winning country singer? Just ask Mike Ross!
Aspire of WNY recently held an event at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel where, unbeknownst to us, award winning country singer Alison Krauss was staying for a local concert.
While we were hosting our event, which was open to the public, a gentleman passed through and caught the eye of some of the individuals we support. He enjoyed the art, bought some items from the store, spoke to some individuals, and went on his way.
What was so special about this man? He was wearing an amazing purple suit! The individuals attending loved it and could not stop talking about it. We realized that he was attending an event in a nearby room. He was so nice, engaging, and dressed so amazingly that we had to find a way to say “thank you for supporting us!”
Now, how do you thank someone who has made such an impression on the people we support? You gift them an equally impressive piece, and our staff knew just the one.
Enter, “Delicate Arch.”
“Delicate Arch” was a painting created by Aspiring Artist Mike Ross, who attends our Co-Op program. It is an amazingly detailed depiction of Utah’s famous arch. The purplish sky, mixed with its perfect desert arch framing the sunset, made this a perfect piece to gift.
Now that the gift was chosen, we had to meet the man in the purple suit!
Once we met him, we found out something amazing. His name was Casey, and he was the stage manager for Alison Krauss! He was so thankful for the piece and said he was going to gift it to her for her upcoming birthday.
We were so shocked and thankful for this chance meeting. Not only was Casey extremely friendly and thankful, but he also generously offered 10 tickets to individuals we support and their families to attend the Alison Krauss concert the next day. We could not thank him enough!
Staff were able to gather individuals, their families, and staff to attend the show the next day, and they had an amazing time! Unfortunately, Mike could not attend.
Once we were able to meet up with Mike Ross, the creator of “Delicate Arch,” he told us more about how this amazing piece was created.
“I always like to paint different things because you never know how it will turn out. I was trying to find something new to paint when my buddy, Mike O’Brian, mentioned the arch from Utah because his family had gone on a trip there. We pulled up a picture, and I thought it looked neat!”
Mike O’Brian explained to Mike Ross, “we had reached the summit just as the sun rose and that the sun was framed by the arches. The view was breathtaking and transformational.” With that description and some inspiration photos, “Delicate Arch” was created!
When asked how it felt to know a Grammy Award-winning singer owns his painting, Mike R. said, “Oh my gosh! I couldn’t go to her show, but I’m happy she has the piece and that I was asked.”
Art can always start with one amazing story and then take a journey to somewhere you never thought it would go. This is why we are so proud of the artists in the iXpress program and why we love seeing them dedicate themselves to what they love. They create not just art, but stories.
Thank you so much to Casey and the entire Alison Krauss team for hosting us, supporting our artists, and creating a new story that Mike Ross can tell forever.
