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Artist Chad Shore does a headstand in front of his work. (Photo/Chamian Cruz)
Anderson Village, located in Alto, may be attracting new sets of eyes soon, as the retail center is in the process of being updated. That’s why when Chad Shore started painting a 9.5- by 13-foot American flag on the side of Better Body Fitness 24/7 several months ago, it didn’t go unnoticed.
Sarah Smith, CEO of Hartford House Quality Handcrafted Furniture, said she’s delighted that she, her employees and customers have had the best view of the painting out of all the other businesses. Hartford House is located at the far right of the retail center.
“I think it’s fantastic and my customers and all of my employees loved it,” she said. “… It’s very patriotic. We’re glad to have it. We started with the big flag out there (in the front) and now we’ve got this. I’m just delighted that it’s here for me to look at and my customers and my employees.”
Shore, of Gainesville, said he’s been an artist since 2001 and works all over the country. He graduated with a studio art degree from Piedmont College in 2001. Frank Norton, president of the Norton Agency and owner of Anderson Village, commissioned Shore for the American flag painting.
“We are updating and branding Anderson Village as a gateway retail center into Habersham County,” Norton said. “It has a great legacy and identity, and we are only fine-tuning the work of the Anderson family.”
Norton said the American flag painting was the first of several more works of art that will be painted on Anderson Village’s “blank canvas.”
“The flag was painted with fade-resistant paint and clear coated to give it longevity,” he said. “We chose the flag as a patriotic statement honoring our heritage. Norton and family has flags, stars and [the] Statue of Liberty painted in many … other properties.”
Shore, who does many different forms of art, including abstract, metal sculptures, live paintings, murals, furniture and more, said it took him about five days to finish the painting with the help of his nephew, Clay Gosnell.
“I asked [Norton] specifically, ‘Do you want it distressed?’” Shore said. “And he said very little, and so I just interpreted that. I painted the flag perfectly perfect, like, brand new, and then I kind of gave it that light distress. … Needless to say, he was ecstatic. He couldn’t even stop calling me or texting me. ...
“It’s good working with people like that,” Shore said. “He’s an artist. He appreciates art and he trusts me to kind of do my thing, and so we’ve been working together for a while so he knows when he says something he always let’s me do my thing. It always turns out amazing.”
Shore said the painting of the distressed flag is meant to represent all that the U.S. has gone through since it was founded in 1776.
“From then to now, in my opinion as an artist, we’ve been through a lot, not just to mention 9/11, but all the wars, you know, the Gulf War, Vietnam, World War II,” Shore said. “I could keep going. So when you talk about war and maybe politics, everything this country has gone through, people still fly that flag. People are really proud to fly that flag and it’s like why is that? It’s because it still represents those core values like ‘In God We Trust.’
“We were founded as a Christian nation and people still believe that,” he said. “I’ve taken that nice, pretty, clean flag and just put all of those years of wear and tear and hardship and struggles and death and life and everything and made that painting look like it’s been through all of that, but we’re still here.”
In the end, Shore and Norton hope the new artwork will make more people stop by Anderson Village, as Shore said he doesn’t think “many people know what’s going on over here when they’re come up the road.“ But, so far, Shore has received good feedback on his painting.
“They love it,” he said. “When I was painting it, some of the truck drivers would come by and stop in their cars and they’re like, ‘I love it.’ And, of course, I posted it on Instagram and Facebook and it just blew up. Everyone’s like, ‘I love it. It’s amazing.’ I enjoyed painting it and I enjoyed what it stands for and what it means.”
In addition to the American flag painting at Anderson Village, Shore is currently participating in a campaign to donate part of his proceeds from specific pieces to the Wounded Warrior Project, a charitable organization that helps veterans and active-duty service members.
Shore said he hopes to create 1,000 3- by 5-foot flag pieces, where clients send in a flag, he distresses it and turns it into art, he sends it back and then donates 5% of the proceeds. Including shipping, the pieces cost $550, so if he reaches his goal of creating 1,000 pieces, he will be donating approximately $25,000.
“And if it keeps going, I’ll just keep going and keep giving,” he said. “I’m not going to stop it. … Now you’re saving that flag, turning it into something more beautiful that you can put in your house and save forever, be proud of it, give back to the vets.”
To contact Shore, visit his Facebook page, Chad Shore Art; Instagram, chadshoreart, or chadshore.com.