Local artist Beau Thomas re-created the infamous 'Ski Green Bay' poster photo at 305 S. Broadway Street. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A new, humorous art installation is depicting the complicated relationship between the city and people of Green Bay and the coal piles which have sat along the Fox River downtown for over 100 years.
But the artwork isn’t exactly new. The inspiration behind it has been around for decades.
“I just love the history of that image and the mischief involved, and making do with what you have and having fun in your own backyard,” says local muralist Beau Thomas.
His newest piece at 305 S. Broadway Street shows a man skiing down the ever-controversial Green Bay coal piles.
“My first time painting a skier. That’s a first in my career, but I think it turned out pretty good!” he adds.
Those who have lived in Green Bay long enough know this image well. It’s a recreation of this poster photo, which circulated decades ago:
One of the original ‘Ski Green Bay’ posters that circulated the city in the late ’70s and early ’80s now hangs in Ben Vanderzanden’s home.
PC: Fox 11 Online
“I remember always tuning skis and seeing it in the background,” says Ben Vanderzanden, the general manager of Zeller’s Ski and Sports. He has memories of the poster hung up at his first ski shop job as a teen.
Now, that poster hangs in his home.
“By happenstance, a customer came in probably 15 years ago with the poster, and I was like, ‘I gotta have it,'” he says. “I don’t remember how much I paid for it, but kind of semi-priceless value.”
The story goes that the skier in the photo, Steve — out of his love for the city and for skiing — simply climbed up the coal piles and skied down while a friend took some photos. They made it into a poster and sold it to local bars and ski shops.
“I was always kind of amazed by the photo. I had a friend with the poster,” Thomas adds.
Now, it’s making a resurgence.
“I definitely keep my eye on the news, and this is such a hot topic lately. Moving the coal piles out of downtown has been talked about for years and years and years. Here’s another moment where it’s a crossroads and what’s going to happen with Green Bay,” Thomas says.
Thomas is introducing the photo and Green Bay lore to a new generation.
“I’m a Green Bay native, so I love all the history here, and it’s fun to be able to kind of reflect that and do some tributes around town,” he says.
All the while, the future of the coal piles remains in the balance. A critical deadline in the saga is on Friday.
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