John Ross Palmer's
First Class Club
History
The John Ross Palmer First Class Club ("F.C.C.") was created in the Summer of 2010 before the artist's trip to Berlin, Germany. This elite group of art collectors, limited to only ten member individual or couples each year, support Palmer by generously underwriting his annual study-abroad adventure. In return for being a member of this privileged group, participants receive an original paper piece of art that Palmer creates specifically for them on his trip, preview privileges of his international art series, a pricing incentive if they choose to acquire a piece of the limited series prior to the public unveiling, personal correspondence from the artist during his travels, name acknowledgement in the Catalogue that documents the series, and, unique to 2011, a Members Only cocktail party and a personal chat via Skype with the artist from his art studio abroad. As long as an F.C.C. member consecutively remains a part of this exclusive group, their annual membership "dues" will not increase and their benefits will remain the same--no matter how exponentially the value of John Ross Palmer's original artwork increases.
2011 F.C.C. Members Only Cocktail Party
Process
Once the group of ten F.C.C. members is filled with ten member individiuals or couples, John Palmer Art provides each member of the exclusive group with Certified Documents confirming membership. Along with their Certification of Membership, they receive a list of the formal rules, regulations and privileges associated with being a First Class Club participant. As described above, then the real fun begins. After sending Palmer off during a fun and friendly cocktail party at his art gallery, the group follows along with his international journey via Facebook, the John Palmer Art Blog and Member's Only e-mails and text messages from Palmer and his husband Ryan Lindsay. Upon Palmer's return to Houston, Texas, a random drawing takes place where the artist selects the order in which the F.C.C. members will preview his latest international series. In 2011, after Palmer's trip to Dublin, Ireland, F.C.C. members will view a video montage of the journey to Ireland before soaking up the new series in Palmer's art gallery. In hand, they will each have a professional and personalized copy of the Dublin 2011 art series Catalogue. Members of the F.C.C. are not required to purchase a piece of the international series and then it is entirely optional if they would like to remain a member of the First Class Club in the following year.
F.C.C. Certified Membership Documents Palmer Selects Preview Slots for the 2010 F.C.C.
City Selection
In 2010, the city of Berlin, Germany was already selected by John and Ryan prior to their development of the First Class Club. In 2011, the 2010 F.C.C. members were requested to write an essay and choose from three cities as to which one would be the most inspiring for Artist John Ross Palmer. The three cities were Dublin, Ireland, Rome, Italy and Zurich, Switzerland. The business of John Palmer Art then submitted the essays to a local celebrity, Frank Billingsley--Chief Meteorologist with Houston's KPRC, to select the winning essay. Billingsley selected the essay of inaugural F.C.C. Members Scott & Yvette Hill which directed John's study-abroad adventure to Dublin, Ireland. For 2012, the 2011 F.C.C. members were requested to write an essay that supported John's next study-abroad adventure to a specific type of destination. Five were natural (a beach, a mountain, a cave, a glacier and a river) and five were man-made (an athletic stadium, a place of worship, a bridge, a zoo and a palace). The business of John Palmer Art then submitted the essays to national Fox News Correspondent Ainsley Earhardt in New York City to select the winning essay. Earhardt selected the essay of 2011 F.C.C. member Dr. Susan Catlett which directed John's next study-abroad adventure towards a Place of Worship. After much research and deliberation, John and Ryan decided that the 2012 study-abroad art series would focus on a Place of Worship in Jerusalem, Israel.
Frank Billingsley and John Ross Palmer Ainsley Earhardt and John Ross Palmer
2012 First Class Club Members
J.P. Anderson & Alfredo Tijerina II*
Dr. Susan Catlett II
Dr. D. Lynn Dickens III
Dan & Pam Ellis II
Brian & Janet Franklin II
Scott & Yvette Hill III
Richard & Joan Jennings III
Bill & Judy Lindsay III
Julio Montano III
Robin Palmer & Joan Taliaferro I
*Indicates the number of years of membership in the F.C.C.
Member Quotes
"Art is not stagnant, nor should the artist be held to only one geographic impression; if they truly want to experience the entire makeup of art locations in our environment." Alfredo Tijerina
"The wisdom and energy gained from these experiences are then captured in his paintings, so the rest of us benefit vicariously." Dr. D. Lynn Dickens
"Being open to new stimulations can only help John grow as an artist because his creativity will have the added benefit of these new environments." Richard Jennings
"John is fun to watch. It seems that he really absorbs every experience he has--be it meeting a new person, installing a painting or just having a conversation. You can almost 'see' his mind working, saying 'how can I use this to create something of meaning?'" Janet Franklin
"Art is a way to represent our feelings and travel is the best way to experience new feelings, whether just cultural or artistically." Julio Montano
"Besides the fact that he is super-talented and constantly-evolving--he is vulnerable, strong, witty, personable, honest, approachable and inspirational. His art is not gimicky-it is real and raw." Yvette Hill
When asked what aspect of being an F.C.C. Member she most enjoys, Judy Lindsay teases, "Take me with you!"
When asked why she decided to become a Member of John Ross Palmer's First Class Club, Susan Catlett responds, "I have been a huge fan of John's for over 10 years. I love to see his work from all of his summer journeys and love collecting pieces that are a departure from his norm."
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