Wendell August has been honored with a 5 year relationship with Jim, and he will be a major contributor to our Artist Series of ornaments starting with 3 for 2011 which include North Coast Lights, Veterans Bridge, and Cleveland Football Stadium. “The partnership between Wendell August and talented photographer Jim Ptacek is a natural fit and we are so excited to present his photos in a new medium,” says Will Knecht, President of Wendell August Forge. “Jim takes such care in capturing the special nuances of places throughout the region. We share that same enthusiasm and pride in the creation of our giftware.” “After meeting Will Knecht, members of his staff and fellow workers, I was impressed with the feeling of a family atmosphere at all their locations,” says Ptacek. “I am looking forward to working with them and am honored to have my name and artwork associated with the Wendell August Legacy.” Jim Ptacek’s works are unique collages of both the revered and overlooked details of city life. Gone are the noises of the traffic and the bustle of the crowds. All that remain are textured images, graceful lines and the majesty of sophisticated architecture. A native Clevelander, Jim graduated from the Cooper School of art, majoring in Architectural Illustration. His early experiments with photography and silkscreen printing have been refined through the years and his appreciative collectors now range throughout the country. His work has been reproduced as commemorative posters, calendars, silkscreen prints, and greeting cards. His images now include the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Mobile, Nashville, and New Orleans, among others.