Restaurant steps in to help artist Dave Blower sell his artwork

Dave Blower is an artist who wanted to find a place for his art. Someone who would treasure it as much as he does. His house on the southwest side of the city is his gallery — portraits, landscapes, shadows and lights.

Sound familiar? Time for an update. This encore is brought to you by people who wanted to solve a problem. Planning has paid off and there will be an art show. All the parties are excited about this.

Where and when? Just a second.

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You may remember, back in May, Dave and his friend Dave Makielski talked about plans for Dave B.’s artwork. Dave B. has always been an artist. His first teacher was his father. His life in art continued at Central High School and Indiana University South Bend. From there, he lived in New York and eventually came home.

He painted a mural for Dave M. for the outside of the Makielski Art Shop on Main Street. The mural was the history of art in 32 feet. The mural was completed in the 1980s and withstood weather and being scraped by a truck in the alley. The mural was repaired and hung on the northside of the building.

The shop closed in town and moved to Main Street in Mishawaka. Eventually, the mural made its way into storage about 20 years ago.

Another part of Dave B’s story is that he had polio as a child and now he is mostly confined to a wheelchair. He said in his youth he made it up and down ladders and scaffolds with crutches and canes.

Now, not so much. It isn’t easy to get around and he hasn’t been out of the house in several years because of accessibility issues.

His family continues to plan for his future and move him into an apartment. But he can’t take all those paintings.

Enough history. Frank Perri, who owns The Lauber restaurant on LaSalle Avenue, read the story. “It was a call to action for me. It got to me.” Frank knows Dave M. from Rotary Club and gave him a call. “I had an idea. We could put on a show here.”

The Lauber’s general manager, Kelsey Landsberg, liked the idea. She likes adding to the art scene in South Bend. “We’ve dabbled in art before,” with some displayed art from co-workers and friends.

Frank and Dave M. talked and met with the artist. “His art touched me,” Frank said. Every piece tells a story about the artist and the viewer.

There were back and forth discussions with Frank and Dave M. The results — Dave M. has been working on installing about 30 of Dave B.’s paintings. The mural has risen out of storage and is now on The Lauber’s patio.

Each piece will be available for sale. “Very reasonably priced. It would be two times the amount in galleries,” Dave M. said.

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The art opening will be Thursday (Aug. 31) from 5 to 7 p.m. Light snacks will be available. For information, call the Lauber at 574-234-2342. The art will remain in the restaurant for six weeks.

Dave M. said his friend is excited about the show. “Friends from southern Indiana are coming and will bring Dave to the show. First time out of the house. He wouldn’t miss it. He has gone through a lot and I’ve never heard a negative word from him. He is always joyful. He impresses me. I love him and I continue to love his work.”

Dave M. said he has been grateful for the responses and the comments for Dave B.

What about the mural? Both Dave M. and Frank hope someone will see the value and find a permanent (inside) home. “I’m pitching it. I’ll pitch it to the mayor. It needs to find a place,” Frank said.

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On another note. Another honor. Notre Dame Professor Emeritus Kent Emery Jr. was recently recognized by The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.

A teaching award now bears his name. The award, which was established and endowed, is the Emery-Mathis Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities. He taught at The Citadel from 1972 to 1979.

The other half of the name comes from Walter Bland Mathias Jr., who also taught at the South Carolina military college.

At Notre Dame, Kent taught in the liberal studies program beginning in 1985 and he retired in 2016. His research concerned the history of medieval philosophy and theology and the critical edition of texts in those subjects.

Contact Kathy at [email protected].