On April 19th the ASU Alumni Association and Appalachian State University will jointly release the first ever officially licensed limited edition fine art reproductions of “The First Mountaineer.” The original painting by ASU alumnus Mike Helsabeck will be unveiled at a special reception at the Charleston Forge Gallery in Boone on April 19. The painting will also be on display at the Broyhill Center on the ASU campus beginning April 20.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of the reproductions will help fund Appalachian State’s Alumni Scholarship programs as well as ASU’s successful athletic program. Rob Roberson, the assistant director of the Alumni Association, notes this is only the second limited edition release by the ASU Alumni Association and the first since 1999. “We released prints in 1999 to celebrate ASU’s centennial and it was a huge success, selling out in just a couple of months. Because of our second consecutive national football championship, the Alumni Association decided it was time for another year end celebration.” Roberson adds, “We’re expecting this release to be even bigger since the artist also happens to be an ASU Alumnus.”
Helsabeck, a 1988 graduate of ASU, is a relative newcomer to the art industry. His degree in communications from ASU propelled him to a successful 20 year career in radio. Helsabeck rose from part time DJ in the early 80’s to an advertising executive in the 90’s and in 1996, Helsabeck was hired by Curtis Media in Raleigh as the youngest large market station manager in North Carolina. In 2003 during a promotion with the nationally syndicated John Boy and Billy show Helsabeck met Phil Robertson, known throughout the world as the Duck Commander. The meeting provided Helsabeck the opportunity to pick up a paintbrush and within a year, Helsabeck “retired” from radio to pursue his newly discovered talent.
Helsabeck is currently serving his second consecutive year as NC Duck’s Unlimited’s artist of the year and has been the featured artist of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission in 2006 and 2007. He was selected to create the painting of the new Greensboro skyline for the 100th anniversary of the Greensboro Merchants Association. His artwork has been featured by the NC Waterfowler’s Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the NC Wildlife Habitat Fund, and Quail Unlimited. His gallery, “The Mike Helsabeck Collection,” located at The Shoppes at the Richard Childress Vineyards opened in October 2006 and Helsabeck and Childress produced the 2006 NC Duck’s Unlimited limited edition wine collection.
For more information contact Robin Bivens, Executive Director of the Mike Helsabeck Collection, @ 336-249-DUCK (3825) or robin@mikehelsabeck.com or go to www.mikehelsabeck.com.