theStudio - a biannual creative journal from Robert Rausch.

04/20/2024

https://wonderfulmachine.com/article/spotlight-robert-rausch-for-the-new-york-times/

Photographer Robert Rausch documented the Equal Justice Initiative's new Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama, for the NYT.

11/21/2022

As we begin the Thanksgiving holiday week, we can't think of a better time to thank one of our first and most enthusiastic supporters AND advertisers: Rob Carnegie, the dynamic President & CEO at Florence Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau whose enthusiasm for ALL things Shoals is unending.

After he so immediately and graciously came on board (again, when this was just a CONCEPT), Robert and Neilan met with him to brainstorm just WHAT from the area Robert might photograph to craft a really special ad.

As they toured their spectacular Visitor's Center in McFarland Park, something that particularly stood out were the immediately recognizable fantastic tables from local artisan and world-class (and internationally renown) Robin Wade Furniture.

That immediately sparked a thought in Robert who excitedly told Rob about another incredible craftsman in the area (Neal Wright of Wood & Wool here in Florence) who hand carves amazing canoes. To which Neilan exclaimed about master furniture maker Alan Daigre whose stunning carved rocking chair won this year's Best in Show at the Kennedy Douglas Art Center's Arts Alive festival.

The result is the beautiful two-page spread (designed, as in all our ads, by NYC's incredible Jeff Streeper) you see here.

But in addition to thanking Rob and his entire team (particularly Will Harvey), we thought we would use this opportunity to share more about all three talented artisans: canoe maker Neal Wright, furniture maker Alan Daigre, and master craftsman Robin Wade.

And these are just a few of the countless talents in this arena throughout the Shoals and the entire region.

For the record? Robert shot this beautiful photograph at Coffee Slough which is VERY complicated to hike to and is off the Tennessee River east of O'Neal Bridge. (We will see about adding directions below.) And yes, that IS Neal's handiwork seen being paddled in the slough.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. To those in the area? Be sure to include some serious time outdoors in our spectacular area!

11/16/2022

One of our very first potential advertisers to say YES (when this was just a figment of our imagination) was PSI -- namely glamorous partners (and sisters-in-law) Beth Cox and Sandra Cox Johnson.

For their ad in our inaugural issue, we wanted to capture something glamorous to showcase the FACT that they have some of the best gifts and decor items (not to mention an incredible bridal registry) in the REGION. (Not just the area: the REGION!)

So two important things happened. First? theStudio founder Robert Rausch had a famous photograph in mind. And then we invited one of the best looking couples anywhere to be our models: Carter and Brandi McGuyar

What better time to share all this than now. Because FRIDAY November 18th from 11 to 5pm is the next brilliant pop-up at PSI Printers & Stationers, Inc.!

And they are featuring their smash hit from last year to bring their astonishing artistry BACK for the Christmas Pop-Up.

Dinah Petree Rhodes’ artwork will be presented by her sister Cathy Petree Beck of Earbob Braclets who will be showcasing her spectacular range of designs featuring vintage and other jewelry, etc. Both hometown girls have incredibly successful lives in every respect and are now very gifted talents.

Be sure to join Beth and Sandra and the rest of their terrific team this Friday.

And, of great importance? They are sharing the day for a sister-event (so to speak) at their favorite gallery downtown, Stella and Goose! So be sure to see all the spectacular art and magnificent gifts they have for you, too!

And a big thank to them AND Carter and Brandi for being our magazine's very earliest champions!

11/12/2022

Something beautiful and thrilling only happens here in The Shoals a few very select days of the year...and THIS is one of those days!

November 12! 10 to 4pm. Details below!

Dazzling interior designer Paige Thornton and her terrific husband Blair host countless fans of beautiful decor, design, antiques, and more at their spectacular home TODAY in Killen.

Some of the most beautiful homes in the area are just that because some of the most discerning people in the region rely on them to create beautiful settings...so they can live their very best lives!

Join these inaugural advertisers of theStudio Journal TODAY and go find some treasures to add to your own beautiful home!

Paige Thornton
Home Decor
Bits of Life, Home, and Design!
Website coming soon!
-Shop The Farm-
November 12th, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
630 County Road 36
Killen, Al 35645

And be SURE to follow her on Instagram! Link to connect will be posted below!

Note: we will be forever grateful that they were one of those very first advertisers to step up, advertise, and help our magazine truly come to life! Thank you, Paige and Blair! See you today!

10/25/2022

Butler Burdine is another of our terrific advertisers who stepped up immediately to take out an ad – practically the minute he learned about our creative endeavor.

But rather than craft an ad about his own marketing business? He chose to celebrate his clients here – four of the best young companies and entrepreneurs in the Shoals who are directly responsible for showcasing this area to untold numbers of people each year.

Pickett Place and Pickett on Court are two of the best event venues in the entire region and have dramatically reinvented the way people celebrate some of life's most important milestones. Importantly? They often partner with world class couple throughout the year: modern, artful florist Susan Rowe of Flori Designs and husband world-class photographer Abraham Rowe.

Events designed by these young professionals now attract wedding couples from all over the South…and beyond. Consequently, their efforts allow literally thousands of visitors to our shared Florence, Alabama each year come away with the best possible impression of our entire area.

theStudio Journal seeks to speak to and include voices from all over the country. But having the support of advertisers like Butler Burdine right here where we brought this creative journal to life is richly rewarding and will always be critical to our success. And we love showcasing the local talent that Burdine celebrates.

We all – theStudio team, Butler, and his clients -- share a very important common denominator: we’re committed to our home and lives here as we continue to work for and with many from all over the country and world.

Our shared vision is by no means limited to zip codes.

Thank you to them all.

Ad designed by Jeff Streeper of Køl Consultancy (NYC): photography by Abraham Rowe Photography; flowers by Flori Designs; photographed at Pickett on Court, 2022.

09/22/2022

As noted earlier? The REASON we were able to start receiving copies of our inaugural issue of our new biannual magazine THIS week...is precisely because of the advertisers who STEPPED UP and bought ads...when this was still a concept.

Sandra Cox Johnson and Beth Cox (and husbands Mike and Bob, respectively) were swift to respond. They said YES. (Which I love saying since their FABULOUS massive business includes THE best gift registry in town -- along with countless of other major other offers and services for businesses and others.)

Psi has always been a go-to for us all. NOW? They are also one of our key foundational advertisers.

Best of all? One of their amazing pop-ups is happening at their N. Court Street store TOMORROW -- Friday, September 23.

As they note on Instagram (please follow them there!), "We are so excited to be hosting next week our pop up shop with local artists, and ! We hope you will join us next Friday, September 23rd from 11am until 5pm! See y’all soon! 🍁🍂🍁🍂"

Thank you, Sandra and Beth. And everyone at PSI!

09/22/2022

theStudio Journal's founders -- beginning with visionary Robert Rausch -- have been able to realize our collective dream because of those bold initial advertisers, both here in the Shoals and farther away, who believed in what we were creating.

It is therefore with enormous pride that we announce that our very first foundational advertiser (read: believer) is Bank Independent. They said "Yes!" when all we had to share them was an IDEA.

We particularly want to thank the bank's incredible marketing department and spectacular leadership (beginning with 3rd generation family bank leader Macke Mauldin) for embracing this exciting enterprise from the very start. They were literally also the very first potential advertiser we met with.

It's especially generous of them to do so JUST as they were in the middle of one of their most newsworthy (and BUSIEST) periods in recent history. So it's amazing they were able to take the time to even consider advertising, much less be THE first to "sign on the dotted line."

All summer we have watched them in action and it's been incredible: we have been thrilled to see all the events unfold during Bank Independent’s 75 Days of Service in celebration of its 75th Anniversary.

They recently celebrated with an announcement of a $60 million plus economic impact plan and awarded $75,000 in grants to amazing organizations across our communities across North Alabama.

Check out a few photos from their event taken by theStudio Journal friend and frequent collaborator Abraham Rowe Photography whom the bank selected to capture the historic date, then read more about their announcements at https://hubs.ly/Q01k3jl30.

Bank Independent always makes a

09/21/2022

What better way to signal that our first batch of Issue 1 has ARRIVED...than revealing our cover artist for this inaugural issue?!

Robert, our founding visionary, didn't even select a Plan B. His one and only choice (who graciously said YES) is... Christy Lee Rogers.

For a magazine that is alway going to focus on a single issue...and not even have our own logo on the cover? The artwork is KEY.

Since WATER is the theme of Issue 1? Christy was the perfect choice.

"Christy Lee Rogers is known for her obsession with water as an artistic source, and for breaking the conventions of contemporary photography with her use of it. For over a decade her work has been compared to Baroque painting masters like Caravaggio, Rubens and Delacroix, with her use of chiaroscuro lighting and dramatic movement."

Ladies and gentlemen? Our FIRST cover...

On it's way to subscribers and others ASAP. Thank you ALL for being so gracious and patient. Fortunately? Our content is all "evergreen." So none is compromised by the timing of its arrival.

07/21/2022

Four months after two pairs of talents met and immediately agreed to partner on a thrilling new creative enterprise?

The founding partners celebrate the completion of their new collaborative creative magazine, theStudio Journal, Issue 1: Water.

Coming in August to mailboxes, bookstores, and multiple upscale locations throughout The Shoals and around the Southeast.

Could there be a better way to mark the occasion than a characteristic Robert Rausch portrait of the four?

From left: Shannon Christenson Milliman, Robert Rausch, Neilan Tyree, and Simon Eli Milliman.

Photograph by Robert Rausch.
Tuscumbia Landing. The Tennessee River.
7am. Sunday. June 10, 2022.