(photo copyright of Kevin Bate)
What started out as indistinct black patches on a neutral ground has, layer by layer, come into focus as the confident, alert face of Nikola Tesla. To his left is a stern Charles Babbage, complete in sepia. These are two of the six founding fathers of technology, the latest mural by Chattanooga artist Kevin Bate. Kevin begins each painting with the darkest areas, forming shapes that anchor the rest of the painting to come. He then builds up the rest of the detail one shade at a time, and finishes a piece by adding the lightest, brightest touches. At first it isn’t clear how all the layers will add up, but as Kevin’s other work has proven, the results are always beautiful.
Kevin’s method is similar to the way a business is built. At first it starts with an idea, and the pieces put in place seem miles away from anything that could add up. But slowly you add more employees, more customers, and define more elements of the brand. The details fall into place, and the finished product takes on a life of its own. The momentum builds, and others begin to see your vision as a cohesive whole. Customers and clients take something away from the business, and it contributes to their own professional and personal experiences.
When Woople first started, there were a lot of pieces to put into place. Our team of software engineers developed the platform. Woople Studios in Wildwood, Georgia filmed the first videos. Together with our Customer Care team in Kansas City, Missouri we all networked with our earliest clients and introduced them to the great system we’ve built. The Woople founders had to trust their inner vision would guide them from those first brushstrokes to the ever-growing body of work we have today. In just a few short years, we’ve grown enough that we needed more room in each of the cities we call home.
We are very excited for our company to take its next step by moving to our new location on Frazier Avenue. We know we will be right at home in downtown Chattanooga; the city itself has experienced a cycle of growth akin to Kevin’s work. Since the 1980s, Chattanooga has grown from an ill-defined city darkened by pollution and crime to a brilliant highlight of the Southern technology corridor focused on the environment and the arts. As we renovate the new building this winter, we are so happy that Kevin’s beautiful art is serving as our initial introduction to our new neighbors. We can think of few artists whose style so perfectly parallels our vision as a company, and whose artistic process so beautifully matches our business process. Both are simple, bold, and fun. We can’t wait to see the completed mural, and to show you what Woople is all about!
