One of my former students, Taylor Rhodes, won
a national contest to design a picture for the
rock group, Boston, for their 40th anniversary tour.
Boston was popular when I was in college . . . 1977-1979.
Taylor also conducted the Utah Symphony when he was in my class!
(As a side note, my patriarchal blessing,
that I received at age 15 1/2, says in one section:
"Teach the children the way that they should go, and they
will rise up and call you blessed.")
I interpret this as how successful my students have become!
So many accomplishments!
Click under labels on "Proud Miss Mitchell Moment" to see them all!
(This is post #101 with that label!!!)
Alpine
resident's winning design proves 'More Than a Feeling'
Perhaps it shouldn't come as a total surprise that Taylor Rhodes
was in church when inspiration struck.
Never mind that he happened to be scrolling through the Facebook
feed on his smart phone at the time, but the second Rhodes saw details of a
national contest sponsored by iconic rock band Boston to design an original
graphic honoring the group's 40th Anniversary Tour this summer, the Alpine
resident's mind flooded with potential ideas.
"I learned about it in the third hour at church, and I
couldn't concentrate because I was thinking of what I could do," said
Rhodes, 23. "It suddenly came to me. That's why I guess you can call it
'divine intervention.' "
Rhodes' original artwork went on to capture first place in the
contest, netting him a $1,000 grand prize, the thrill of seeing his work appear
on some of Boston's official merchandise, and tickets and backstage passes for
the band's concert Saturday at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City.
Recognizing that he was referencing a song by another popular
rock band from Boston's genre, Rhodes said he had kind of a "Jukebox
Hero" experience when he saw Tom Scholz and Co. for the first time, which
was a rainy night at USANA Amphitheatre just two years ago. He was so moved by
the show that he immediately went out and bought a guitar and started playing.
"I bought a gold top Les Paul copy. Yeah, Boston
fanboy-ism!" Rhodes said, noting his guitar is visually similar to
Scholz's main axe. "That was the guitar I bought and put in (the winning
graphic)."
Rhodes' winning entry features that guitar prominently placed
between an otherworldly pair of hands, and pays homage to Boston in ways that
are both obvious and subtle. The guitar features some lighting additions that
bring to mind the band's iconic spaceship motif, while also referencing the
40th Anniversary Tour. Rhodes said he even switched the color of the pictured
guitar pick to match the baby blue of Scholz's Rockman amp line.
All that effort and inspiration paid off when Rhodes -- a music
major at BYU-Idaho who is home for the summer in Alpine -- received word in
school that he'd won the contest.
"I freaked out," he said. "I couldn't even focus.
I didn't expect it."
Boston sent the Daily Herald a statement about Rhodes' entry
through the band's longtime publicist.
“We didn’t have any predetermined expectations about the designs
that would come in," the statement said. "We just knew that the 40th
Anniversary Tour of Boston was something very special and we wanted our fans to
have a chance to be part of the overall celebration if they were so inclined.
Graphic arts, like music, is an individual preference. We were heartened by all
of the beautiful submissions that we received. There was something distinct
about Taylor’s design that moved us.”
Rhodes said his whole family are big Boston fans. The first
album he remembers listening to was "Third Stage," but soon after he
found all the band's CDs in his parents' collection at home. On Saturday,
they'll have the opportunity to tell band members in person just how much their
music has meant to them.
"I'm so excited to meet the band," Rhodes said.
That's when his journey from inspiration to "Peace of
Mind" will come full circle.
Here are pictures from the concert:
The family wearing Taylor's design is on all of the shirts sold at concert.
Hannah Smith, from my last class, is on the left.
Setting up the stage
Taylor's sister, Lauren, from my last class.
HERE'S THE ARTICLE FROM THE GROUP:
Thank you to all of the artists that entered the BOSTON artwork contest.
We received many great
designs by a lot of talented people, and really
appreciate all the time everyone took to get creative!
The winner is Taylor Rhodes, who created the following image, which will
appear on some merchandise this summer. Taylor will receive $1,000, plus
a pair of tickets and backstage passes to a BOSTON 40th Anniversary Tour show.
Congratulations, Taylor!!!
CHECK OUT THESE OLD CARS FROM THIS
