Published: April 30, 2009 11:29 am      

ARTS: Albion natives collaborate after more than 25 years

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL-REGISTER

The last time they worked together, Laird Ogden and Patrick Riviere were both co-starring in Albion High School’s production of “My Fair Lady.”

The year: 1983. Ogden was “Higgins” and Riviere “Doolittle.” They would both win awards at the Geneseo theater competition for their performances, and each would continue on paths that included the arts.

Recently, former Albion English teacher and high school theater director Kate Konigisor suggested that Riviere ask Ogden if he might have any suggestions concerning the paintings of Riviere’s late mother. Konigisor is now a professional actress and director in New York City.

“Kate edited my book for me which highlights some of my Mom’s paintings,” Riviere said. “It is those paintings that have received such well-deserved attention — I just didn’t know how I would share them outside of my book.”

Ogden had recently acquired a special printer and was happy to help Riviere find a way to share the work with a broader audience. In addition, Ogden has been developing an original, online animated series with another Albion alumnus, Larry Basinait — also a co-star in that same production of “My Fair Lady.”

When casting for voices, they asked Riviere if he would consider taking on a couple of the roles.

“When we wrote the first story treatments, we hadn’t seen Patrick in probably 20 years, but the parts could have been written for him,” Ogden said. “It was sort of uncanny. The first recording session definitely felt like ‘old home week.’ I think having old friends working on them helped the chemistry immensely.”

The series, a spoof of old sci-fi television shows from the 1950s and 1960s, is set to launch in late May (www.captainstargood.com).

Great pains were taken to reproduce the paintings, all by the late Genevieve Monacelli Riviere. To ensure faithfulness to the original works, a special process called a “giclee print,” was employed. This is an elevation in printmaking technology in which images are generated from high resolution digital scans. They are printed with archival quality pigmented inks onto various substrates, including canvas, fine art, and photo-base paper. The giclee printing process provides better color accuracy and longevity than other means of reproduction.

The originals are in the care of the artist’s son, and he has chosen five of the collection for a first and very limited run. Each painting will be signed and numbered. It is expected that a second, “special” edition print may take place before a more commercial run is completed.

Genevieve Helen Monacelli Riviere — Gen to all who knew her — was born Sept. 30, 1924. During her lifetime, she worked in a canning factory, her parents’ restaurants in Albion and Gaines, the U.S. government, as a VITA volunteer and as an amazing mom. Her work as an artist was primarily a secret until her death March 4, 1997.

“I want people who knew her and cared about her to be able to get these prints at a more reasonable price,” Riviere said. “And working with Laird and Larry on both of these creative projects is pretty amazing!”

More info on the giclee prints can be found at www.patrickriviere.com.