Over its 200-year history, there have been a number of pieces of art created or inspired by the Royal St. John’s Regatta.
But for this year’s 200th anniversary event, the Regatta committee wanted a new piece commissioned, something less traditional than those done in the past, and one that captures all the elements and energy of Derby Day.
“If you go into the boathouse itself, when you come into their office upstairs, it's a great piece of work of the races and the lake, but it's very traditional. There's nothing that encompasses all elements of the Regatta,” says local artist Sailor Danny, who was commissioned to do just that for official 200th anniversary painting.
“They knew me and my style, so they knew coming in it was probably going to be a little different. They didn't want a piece that's been done before in the past.”
The end result of Sailor Danny’s work is a vibrant and striking image that leaps from the canvas, thanks largely to the equal dominance of blue and yellow, chosen to reflect the same colours in the Regatta’s official coat of arms.
Using some images provided to him by the committee and calling on his own Regatta Day memories, the piece depicts both dominant elements of the day — the races and the garden party — and reflects how the event bridges generations.
For the portraits, Sailor Danny used generic models he found online. So, it came as a surprise to him when someone, after seeing the work, sent him a message suggesting that the older gentleman in the top lefthand corner bears a striking resemblance to the late Levi “Shotty” Rogers, a legendary coxswain who steered over 300 winning crews over 53 years and was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.
“It wasn't at all. I didn't even know who he was,” concedes Sailor Danny. “But, it's funny, when you look at the photos I think there is a little bit of a resemblance.”
The prints are available for sale in a variety of sizes through the Sailor Danny’s Art Facebook page, at Posie Row on Duckworth Street, or at his concession stand near the bronze rower sculpture near the head of the pond on Regatta Day.
The same piece of art was also incorporated into two other partnerships with local businesses who were asked to create a special product for this year’s historic event.
The Newfoundland Chocolate Company used Sailor Danny’s art for the label of one of six Regatta-themed bars.
“For us, it's just a real natural fit and we're honoured to be asked by the Regatta Committee to do something to commemorate it,” says co-owner Brent Smith.
The official painting is highlighted on a bar of milk chocolate with blueberries. A chocolate coffee hazelnut bar bears and image of the earlier illustration of the Regatta in 1875; the dark chocolate sea salt variety shows rowers on the lake in 1885; the 1901 record-setting Outer Cove crew appear on a dark chocolate wildberry bar; a photo of the massive Regatta Day crowds was used for the label of the extra smooth milk chocolate treat; and a photo called ‘And they’re off’ was used for the milk chocolate orange variety.
The bars are currently available at Newfoundland Chocolate Company locations throughout the city, and will be available at the company’s concession stand at the head of the lake on Regatta Day. They can be purchased individually or — like a rowing crew — in a sick pack.
The art is also being used in the label for a Yellowbelly Brewery cream ale brewed specifically for the event and appropriately called Up the Pond.
“It’s North America's oldest sporting event, and we're in one of the oldest buildings, on one of the oldest streets in one of the oldest cities in North America... it seemed like a good fit,” says brewmaster Liam McKenna.
“I'm personally very happy to be invited to participate in this event and I know the company I work for is very chuffed and privileged and very happy to do this.”
McKenna describes the dry-hopped ale as light, quaffable, and well-balanced, without a cloying malt or hop character.
“My inspiration was to create a beer for rowers, coxswains, trainers and coaches to drink by the side of a pond on a really hot summer day and that's what this beer is.
“I'm so happy with it. It really is a fantastic beer.”
Given this is the busiest time of year for McKenna and the downtown craft brewery, only 1,000 litres were brewed and almost half of that is spoken for by the Regatta Committee. The rest is available on tap at Yellowbelly Brewery and Public House and at Yellowbelly Takeaway, where customers can also get a growler fill or pick up one of the very limited bottles.
“It's a rare commodity,” says McKenna, “but I'm sure anyone who has some will really enjoy it.”
His advice it to drink it at a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit — about 12 degrees Celsius — and within a few weeks of purchase to ensure peak hoppiness.
The Regatta Committee has also teamed up with Universal Corporate Wear to create a line of 200th Anniversary clothing that will be available for purchase from a booth somewhere near the boathouse.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all the products will go directly to the Regatta Committee.
Twitter: kennoliver79
