Best
Local
Awarded to the art gallery/custom frameshop with the best
Community
campaign to advance the arts and give back to the community
Outreach
Show
Winner • RMD Gallery & Framing Studio
Owner • Rob and Michele DeLong
Location • Springfield, Ill.
Web site • www.rmdgallery.com
Michele and Rob DeLong, co-owners of RMD Gallery in Springfield, Ill.
M
ichele DeLong, a music
teacher in the Springfield,
Ill., school district, was work-
ing on a Christmastime project with her
class when she realized she needed to
take action.
As part of the assignment, the students
had been crafting nutcrackers out of
paper towel rolls, but not all of the class
was able to finish in time. So, DeLong
told the students who hadn’t completed
their projects to do so at home. It was
then she discovered that some of the
children could not work on the project at
home because they did not have crayons
or other supplies needed to do so.
DeLong instantly recognized a need
for a local program to support the artistic
2 DECOR September 2009 www.decormagazine.com • www.artandframingsources.com
talents of children in the school district.
DeLong and her husband Rob, who
co-own RMD Gallery & Framing Stu-
dio, decided to approach the school dis-
trict with the concept of an art show that
would highlight the skills and abilities of
local school children. The school district
was enthusiastic about the concept, and
soon after, the RMD Gallery launched
the Art Stars Program.
The Art Stars Program displays
framed and matted artwork of local stu-
dents and then distributes five awards
to some of the best pieces. All winners
receive a plaque and a $50 savings bond,
and all participants receive a certificate
and participation ribbon, as well as their
framed artwork. Additionally, $500 col-
lege scholarships are awarded to two of people for each reception. Stars.
the participating high school seniors. In 2007, RMD Gallery decided to Although the Art Stars Program has
Although the program is supported add a third show to the Art Stars pro- been a positive addition to the Spring-
by sponsors, such as The American gram—Art Stars: Life Without Limits, field community, it has come with its
Legion, some years, RMD Gallery & a program that spotlights the artwork share of challenges. DeLong says the
Framing Studio pays for the majority of of individuals with disabilities. biggest hurdle so far has been getting
the program’s cost. However, the most Life Without Limits started when the word out about the program. RMD
recent Art Stars show was paid for com- representatives from United Cerebral Gallery struggled with this problem
pletely out of pocket by RMD Gallery. Palsy (UPC) came into the gallery to at first, but overcame it by partnering
“On average, with the awards given ask for a donation and saw the Art Stars with local radio stations to spread the
out and with mailing out materials, the display. They then asked if the gal- word about the program, especially the
cost per piece is about $50. We knew lery would be interested in launching People’s Choice Award,  to encourage
something needed to be done, and we a similar program for individuals with people to vote for the award that is open
don’t want the school district to see it disabilities, and RMD Gallery agreed to the whole community. There was a
as something they have to solidify with to host an event fitting the descrip- tremendous response from the com-
funding, and we don’t want taxpayers of tion every year in July. The program is munity, and many people, especially
the area to have to fund a private pro- open to individuals of all ages with both those who work in the downtown of-
gram,” Rob DeLong says of why RMD physical and mental disabilities. The fices, come in to vote for the award.
Gallery opts to pay for most of the pro- artwork displayed in the show is mostly RMD Gallery also utilizes other
gram. “It’s the right thing to do.” collected from summer camps. methods to market the event, including
The Art Stars Program, which started “It really lets us celebrate the abilities a large banner outside the gallery that
in 2006, has greatly expanded since its of individuals with disabilities,” De- reads “Come Vote Here.” The banner
beginning. It initially started off as a Long says of the latest addition to Art helps encourage those in the downtown
small show that celebrated the artwork
of about 50 local students from elemen-
tary to high school age by matting and
displaying their artwork and honoring
three students with awards. The pro-
gram now includes matting and fram-
ing the pieces and five awards: People’s
Choice Award, Mayor’s Choice Award,
Juried Award, City of Springfield Award
and Art Educator’s Award.
The Art Stars Program also has ex-
panded to include three separate shows
throughout the year. A show for ele-
mentary students is held in mid-Febru-
ary every year, while a show for middle
school and high school students is held
in April. The most recent shows high-
lighted 57 elementary school students’
artwork and 45 pieces from middle
school and high school students. The
shows attracted between 250 and 300 Art Stars Program winners receive recognition for their artwork.
The Art Stars ribbons
www.decormagazine.com • www.artandframingsources.com DECOR September 2009 3
 Best
Local
Community
Outreach “My wife would tell you
Show
the hardest part about
doing the program is liter-
ally the coordination of in-
ONLINE EXTRA! formation—coordinating
Visit DECOR’s Web site—
information with the school
www.decormagazine.com
kids, getting information to
—to view a detailed
parents, getting informa-
timeline of how the Art Stars
tion from teachers,” Rob
Program came together.
DeLong says. The RMD
area to come into the gallery and look Gallery staff is completely in charge
at the children’s artwork on display. of this process because they don’t want
In addition, before each show, a press the school district to have to do any-
release is sent out to every local media thing, aside from bringing the artwork
outlet. to the gallery, because they do not want
“Our biggest partner we’ve got- to place a burden on the school district
ten with is local radio, specifically talk to help run the program.
radio,” says DeLong of the main mar- Although they spend much time col-
keting tool for the program. A local lecting information from teachers and
radio personality even spoke at the students, as well as sending informa-
2009 reception for Life without Limits tion to parents about the program, the
about the importance of the program. RMD Gallery staff has chosen to be
Michele doesn’t find marketing to selective about what information they
be the most challenging aspect of the display with the artwork.
program, however. “One thing we identified early about
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4 DECOR September 2009 www.decormagazine.com • www.artandframingsources.com
this show is that we didn’t want to put
any information on pieces being judged
that would weigh a decision. Each piece
displays only the child’s first name and
grade, no geographical information or
last name is included,” DeLong says.
In addition to Art Stars, RMD Gal-
lery has other programs that encourage
the community to be involved in the
art-and-framing industry. One such
activity is the Art Walk, which is held
three times a year. The gallery even in-
vited pop artist Ed Heck to the commu-
nity last October around the time of an
Art Walk. Heck conducted 15 sessions
at local schools and art clubs while in
Springfield, Ill. He read stories to chil-
dren in the elementary schools and also
held sessions that allowed people in the
community to sit down and draw with
him. Heck even looked at and signed
each drawing.
The gallery also participates in
events during the downtown holiday
celebration and occasionally hosts a
local artist showing.
RMD Gallery also services many
corporate and medical clients. One
of the gallery’s most recent projects
has involved working on a three-story
medical facility in Taylorville, Ill.,
which will include an entire wing of Ed
Heck artwork in the pediatric facility.
RMD Gallery is to be the sole provider
of all the artwork and framing services
involved with the construction and
renovation of the facility.
“All this comes, quite frankly, from
the Art Stars program. One individual
knew us from Art Stars program, and
chose us to do artwork for the facilities,”
DeLong says. In fact, the individual in-
volved is a parent of an Art Star student,
who sits on the committee that selected
RMD Gallery as the major provider.
Another project generated by the Art
Stars program is a contract with Ameri-
can General for a new facility in Spring-
field that includes more than 100 items
that will be provided by RMD Gallery.
Together, the two projects have gener-
ated more than $80,000.
Visitors who come into the gallery
for the People’s Choice Awards also
have started to bring in artwork to be
Parents and
students gather
for an Art
Stars Program
reception.
One of the winning Art Stars award entries The students
with their Art
framed and recommend the gallery to Stars awards
acquaintances. Additionally, the school
district uses RMD Gallery’s services
for its annual student art exhibit, as well
as for school board awards.
“The neat thing is; Art Stars isn’t a
program designed to make money,”
DeLong says. “We’re not selling any-
thing off the wall; people come to see
the Art Stars shows and celebrate the
kids.
“We get a residual effect. Family
members involved in Art Stars now
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come here to get items framed. Corpo-
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rate customers that have had affiliation
with Art Stars have now led to corpo-
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to draw consumer business and get big
contracts.”
Published Ad Size:
In all, perhaps the biggest payoff of
27p9 x 29p3
Art Stars has been the program’s ability
to raise awareness and advance the arts
in Springfield.
“If we can continue to encourage
kids to express themselves positively
through art, then hopefully we’ve cre-
ated the next consumer for fine arts
business,” DeLong says.
—By Catherine Martin
www.decormagazine.com • www.artandframingsources.com DECOR September 2009 5