This reeks too much of the cult-of-personality campaign associated with Barack Obama. Most people outside Augusta have no idea who Deke is. I can think oof better ways to promote Augusta. I fail to how this helps "sell" Augusta to outsiders.
The plan is to improve Augusta, one cotton T-shirt at a time.
![Daniel Stewart (left) and Alex Wier, partners at Wierhouse, show off their "Do It Deke!" T-shirts. They also plan a Miller Theatre shirt. The Deke T-shirts are available at <a href="http://iloveaugusta.org">iloveaugusta.org</a>. Michael Holahan/Staff](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/spotted/67/671919.jpg "Daniel Stewart (left) and Alex Wier, partners at Wierhouse, show off their "Do It Deke!" T-shirts. They also plan a Miller Theatre shirt. The Deke T-shirts are available at <a href="http://iloveaugusta.org">iloveaugusta.org</a>. Michael Holahan/Staff")
Alex Wier and Daniel Stewart, partners at Wierhouse, an Augusta marketing, advertising and design firm, recently began a charity fundraiser, selling T-shirts emblazoned with a stylized likeness of Mayor Deke Copenhaver and the slogan "Do It Deke!"
"Originally, this was because we really liked what Deke was doing," Mr. Wier said. "We felt like he was changing the political landscape in our town."
Mr. Wier and Mr. Stewart decided to sell the shirts, donating proceeds to Golden Harvest Food Bank because it was a locally run organization the pair felt passionate about, Mr. Wier said.
"We had actually done work for them before," he said. "And my mom is on the board. Daniel had done work for them before he started with me. This was just something we both felt strongly about."
The shirts are being produced in a limited run of 100. Designs have already been drawn up for a Miller Theatre shirt, and the pair hope more T-shirt and charity pairings will follow.
The project is their way to raise money for local causes while celebrating the city, its history and heritage.
Mr. Stewart said the project allows Wierhouse to work creatively without restraint. There is no client involved, and no preconceptions as to what the T-shirt should be. Instead, they are seeking inspiration from a city both feel strongly about.
"Creativity is one of those things you just can't turn off," he said. "And this is a great outlet for that. This is a great chance for us to get stuff out there that we want people to see.
"Basically, we just want some good looking stuff for Augusta."
Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
This reeks too much of the cult-of-personality campaign associated with Barack Obama. Most people outside Augusta have no idea who Deke is. I can think oof better ways to promote Augusta. I fail to how this helps "sell" Augusta to outsiders.
HillGuy: Maybe they are trying to boost the city's image for its own residents. Like school sports teams--they sell merchandise with their logo for their own people, not for the opposing team. This looks to me like Augusta people promoting Augusta, with the money going right back to Augusta. What's the problem?
Must be a very slow news day.
Looks like they are promoting Deke. I happen to like Deke, and I don't think he is the egomaniac this campaign is portraying him as.
I don't think this "campaign" is portraying him as an egomaniac, if you check the website mentioned below the photo, you'll see that there are already two other designs that have nothing to do with Deke just waiting to be printed
I like the idea of promoting Augusta and civic pride by Augustans, but it'll never happen as long as this a subsidy city with a 35% government subsidized population. I'd like to see a campaign to get that number to 5%, just enough to support the needy elderly and that tiny % that are physically and mentally unable to support themselves. Move the free loaders to a job or another town and Augusta will have taken a HUGE step towards growth, solving racial discord and gaining civic pride.
But Patricia, the Feds just gave Augusta more money for welfare housing and welfare programs to attract even more of the generational welfare class to Augusta. What a stimulus!
A more accurate shirt would be a generational welfare recipient at the mailbox opening their welfare check with brood in tow from different fathers exclaiming: "I love Augusta."
The welfare class have to live some where! Everyone is not as fortunate as some. Welfare is like water, it is here to stay.Thank god some of us never had to use the system, but for the ones that do, I for one am glad it is there. I never heard of anyone getting rich off of welfare.Welfare is not only in Augusta it is in every state in the union.Some of you, know people that are getting food stamps, medical, etc,.that don;t make them lazy, or trying to use the system, it makes their lives a little better.If you, for what ever reason, might have to use the system, then it will be there for you, or your family.Stop having so much hate for people that you don't even know.When you point a finger,there is three pointing back at you. Have a good day!!!
I doubt any one is against welfare for the disabled; short term due to loss of job; the elderly unable to work any longer because of age discrimination. What most, if not all hate about welfare are the able bodied, and brood mares drawing it generation after generation,
weir it with pride! nuts to you hillguy, don't you live in co county anyhoo? why don't you print up a shirt with ron cross' discomforting countenance and then complain about that? and nuts to the entitlement free loaders.
Ize libbed in Gilber Manor 18 yearz! You mean like those, Pah4r?
Excellent point mimsy..How did the thread get on the topic of welfare anyway, seems a bit off topic..Oh, I see, the usual suspects got off course...Save the ammunition for the correct target HillGuy...Can't you pay attention and keep on track?
How about this slogan for a shirt: "South Augusta: Live the Dream!"
You could have a Scratch a sniff T-shirt that smells like Hydrogen Sulfide.
Here's another one:
"Augusta: More than Just Crystal Meth."
Another "Welcome to Augusta, Home of the Masters...the golf tournament, not the slave owners."
hill;Are you saying the folks in South Augusta can't afford powdered cocaine like the hill folks?
"Augusta: Proud to be #1 in High School Bomb Threats."
(it's amazing how some can find the negative in everything -- which is why i applaud alex & daniel for doing something positive like this)
Downtown Augusta: On Track to Full Revitalization by 2089.
"Augusta: A River Runs Through It... and you could see it if it weren't for that darned levee."
mimsy, as long as the subject is civic pride, the HUGE overabundance of welfare, free ride, enabling aid just to assure the Dem vote, here in Augusta, will stop any realistic amount of civic pride from ever existing. Yes, some need the help. My comment was concerning the 90% who get help because they'd rather live at that level than make the effort to support themselves. THOSE are the ones I'd like to see moved. Please try to stay on topic.
coco, does this mean you can't see negative? Kind of naive, isn't it?
Hill guy you are not funny. Nobody's laughing that should tell you to stop. Great idea to promote the city. I will purchase a couple of shirts to support the cause.
Patricia thomas don't you live in coulmiba county resident. Augusta does not have 35% of its people on welfare. You are a idot for real. Columbia county probably has 35% of ppl on welfare. But not the city of Augusta. Only around 17% of people in Augusta are living in poverty. And everybody thats poor is not a welfare. There is definitely a working poor in this country thanks to the neo cons. Please show me one link where 35% of people in Augusta are on subsidized programs. I know you want be able to. The usual suspects bringing up welfare on certain articles as usual.
Sprintman... you are delusional. 35% of Columbia County in Poverty?? What turnip truck did you fall off?? And yes, Richmond County has a poverty rate of close to 30%.. anyway PT said that atleast 35% of Augusta population received government subsidies.. which is probably a conservative figure.
The point is... you can't sell "fake" pride. You have to give people something to be proud of first
You know what the deal is sprintman. Dem vote buying is considered a "right" in Augusta. Civic pride is too much effort for the well bought. That second class attitude then leads to a number of other social problems.
"Augusta: Kind of like a pimento cheese sandwich, looks disgusting at first, but grows on you after a while."
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