Finding Signs Of Signs

Finding Signs Of Signs

Photo supplied by Robert Wheaton Jr.of Saratoga Springs. 

The search continues and the surprises keep coming.  I received a message and this photo from Saratoga artist Robert J. Wheaton Jr. It's a photo of a framed sign Clem painted several years ago. The sign advertises custom framing and is done in calligraphy. Much of Clem's work seems to be in that same form. The Price's Dairy he painted on my truck was done in the same style. To me this indicates Clem had an artistic desire that ran deeper than simply painting signs for a living. Just hours after seeing this photo another area resident provided another Clem tip. I'm told Clem painted wallpaper designs in a home here in Saratoga.  My hope is to capture a photo and maybe some additional story line to go along with it. I will keep you posted. 

If you're new to my blog you may wonder what is fueling my search for remnants of long time Saratoga sign painter Walter "Clem" Clements. To be truthful I'm not totally sure of the reason. Part of it may be for nostalgic reasons. The main reason was to simply shove off from shore with an idea and a personal mission and see where the journey landed me. I was certain that as I floated along the river of this search that I would discover new friends, buried stories, and hidden treasure. All three of those appeared just days into my first public post about my search for a sign from Clem. As you can see above they are still arriving at my doorstep and I honestly believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. I found a family collection of scrapbooks, a vintage photo of Clem himself, a sign of a sign, and a hot lead to yet another one of Clem's works of art. My links and discoveries are to me what life is all about. It's not simply a yearning for, 'the good old days', it's much, much more than that. My desire to write and share has created a need for connections and fresh ideas. I am not content spending my time waiting for life to come to me. I have enjoyed a good full life so far. In my mind it is just beginning in many ways. I want to see what's out there. I want to write about it because from everything I have witnessed since posting my first story on this blog a few years ago, there are thousands of others out there wanting the same thing. I made a conscious decision to act on that desire and see what happens. I have not been disappointed. Please stayed tuned for more signs, they seem to be everywhere. 

* Robert Wheaton Jr. manages the art department at Soave Faire in Saratoga. The frame in the photo can be found at their store on Broadway.