Artsman Bringing Your Vision to Life
Every Court Tells a Story
Whether you’re browsing our online selection of products or experiencing our incredible visuals at a game, here at Artsman every court tells a story. From procurement to installation each step of our process is meticulously planned to guarantee quality. From one stunning visual to the next, in this blog we’ll dive into the behind-the-scenes process on how we bring one-of-a-kind projects to life.
Creating Relationships
During the past six years, Artsman has been honored to collaborate with historic NBA and NCAA teams to help create incredible projects showcasing their history. Some of these projects can be found on display in their arenas, creating a positive and unique fan engagement. The creation process starts with developing a strong collaborative relationship with our clients. Brian Cloes, Artsman’s Production Manager, has played an important role in developing these relationships alongside our founder Chris Rose. Brian explains, “It’s a tight-knit community, after our first Cavs project, word of mouth led other teams to reach out and help build connections within both the NBA and NCAA.”
Design
Once we’ve finalized a partnership with our client, the first step is design. Working directly with our client’s creative team, we learn about their brand and history, ensuring we capture it properly for the finished project. The design phase is important because it requires careful attention to details and accuracy, while making sure we capture the client’s vision. When asking Brian about the design stage, he mentioned, “We have to be meticulous of the selection of the court and which portions to use.”
Transformation
Once we receive the court, the work really begins to bring their concept to life. First step is prepping the court. The craftsman team is led by Mike Schottelkotte, whose almost 30 years of experience working with fine cabinetry and furniture bring skill and expertise to Artsman. Each court we receive has about 2-3 layers, the top being the maple hardwood which is the playing surface. Below is a layer of plywood and the metal interlocking system. We strip the bottom layers and add a new piece of plywood to flatten the surface. After, the Artsman team puts the panels back together like a puzzle and lays it out. According to Brian, “This is one of the coolest parts, you get to see how big the graphics really are.” While laying out the court, we can visualize the history that has been made here. We pinpoint the exact spots where incredible plays have happened. Not only is the playing area of the court special, but even the sidelines are filled with history. Famous players, coaches, and celebrities have walked and cheered along these very sidelines. We’ve even found confetti stuck in the championship team’s courts, we preserve it and integrate the confetti into the installation. As Brian puts it, “You don’t have to look far to find excitement on these courts.”
Once laid out, we also take measurements to ensure the perfect sizes. After confirming the measurements, our skilled craftsmen cut the court. “We take pride in how we cut into these courts, we prioritize sustainability by not scrapping excess pieces and preserving as much of the court's history as possible.” If needed, we also cut and create custom frames to go along with the court installation. Once the court had been cut and prepped for transportation, we ensure it doesn’t get damaged by transporting the courts ourselves to the destination for installment. Working with our client, we select the perfect date. At the installation site, our skilled team of 2-4 people install the court. Depending on the size of the project, installation can range from 1 day or even up to a week.
Incredible Projects
Looking specifically at one of our most exciting projects, we partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers to showcase their 2016 NBA Championship court in a unique way. We transformed the court into two separate projects. The first, being an arena display mounted on the wall, which allows Cavaliers fans to engage with a key piece of their team’s renowned history. In collaboration with the Cavaliers design team, we choose the center court logo according to Brian because, “The center court logo was a focal point, as it was the largest and most recognizable graphic on the Cavalier court.” The next project we collaborated on was converting the court into a conference table, adding a new take on a traditional and more conventional space of an office. Looking at other projects Artsman has completed, working with local artists we’ve been able to transform courts into works of art. We’ve had the incredible opportunity to create a mosaic of Shaquille O’Neal’s head utilizing the court used by the Lakers from 2000-2012. With the Artsman Custom program, the design is uniquely tailored to our client’s vision resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces.
Long Lasting Impact
Once installed, these pieces give new life to the courts, moving them from warehouses to display and create memorable engagements with thousands of fans. Asking Brian about the court’s impact on fans he said, “People love to physically touch and take pictures with the displays, they really appreciate feeling the connection with the team and history of the court.” As a diehard Brooklyn Nets fan myself, I’ve personally seen one of our courts on display. I particularly love being up close and seeing the court markings, it reminds me of looking at a painting’s brush strokes up close.
Bring Your Vision To Life
These creative installations and the fan reaction are truly impactful. Each one of the projects creates a unique connection between the fan and the game leaving a long-lasting memory. If you’re interested in working with Artsman, we invite you to reach out and see how we can bring your vision to life.
Written by John Markarian