In June 2000, I recall being one of the guests attending the 90th birthday party of Phil Smidt & Son restaurant in Whiting, that legendary dining room where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Betsy Palmer and Prince Charles once dined.
The surprise birthday gift unveiled for all 75 guests invited to the private event that night was the reveal of the 31st commissioned South Shore Arts poster, which featured a theme honoring the nearly century-old region dining landmark. Artist Mitchell Markovitz noted at the time it was the only restaurant being included in that new launch series of 52 posters, and the restaurant’s longtime owner brothers Mike and Chris Probst were all smiles.
The huge sheet cake served that night of course was covered with frosting frog depictions, a nod to the famed signature menu feature for frog legs, while the poster art showcased a family of three entering the restaurant through the once very familiar entrance canopy.
Phil Smidt’s restaurant was sold that year for new ownership, and it closed a few years later in October 2007.
However, the South Shore Arts poster series continues to be a beloved brand and promotional tool treasured by Northwest Indiana.
The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA) and South Shore Arts have partnered to invite new artists to contribute to the “Just Around the Corner” poster series. This curated series was started in 1997 to promote tourism to Northwest Indiana while instilling a sense of pride within residents by visually sharing the region’s story.
These posters are a continuation of the South Shore posters series that adorned train stations from Chicago to South Bend throughout the mid-1920s. These vintage posters were designed to attract business and leisure travelers to the area by showcasing colorful depictions of the attractions, events and history along the South Shore of Lake Michigan.
“We take pride in continuing the long-standing tradition of the South Shore poster series which showcases the region’s destinations and local artistry,” said Nikki Lopez, Interim President & CEO, SSCVA.
The “Just Around the Corner” poster series seeks new artists to keep the series thriving while engaging the upcoming generations at an artistic level. As this series grows, it aims to showcase the South Shore and inspire pride within the region.
The goal is to draw in additional sponsors, leading to increased commissions for artists in the area. As the series progresses and gains momentum, the SSCVA is dedicated to broadening the roster of artists accessible to sponsors for the creation of new posters in the series. There are already commissions waiting to be fulfilled, and sponsors are actively seeking artists for their projects.
Submissions are due by May 1, 2024. To submit an application, visit www.southshoreartsonline.org/calls
It was back in 1999 when I first began writing about these wonderful posters after the Northwest Indiana Forum announced a $1 million campaign to resurrect the South Shore poster series to promote the region. The original series of posters, created more than 80 years ago for the same reason, were discontinued in 1929.
Markovitz, with roots living in Knox, Indiana, just a stone’s throw away from my own family farm, was instrumental as the art coordinator for that new series. He also created eight of the first batch of 19 posters unveiled in 1999 with much fanfare during a ceremony in Chicago.
Each of those initial 1999 posters was commissioned by a business or organization that paid $6,000 for sponsorship at that time.
“These paintings reflect the improvements in the environment, the diversification of our economy and our quality of life in the region,” Thomas McDermott, the president of the Forum back in 1999, told me at the time.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.
