Claude Shade

When Warren first mentioned that someone from Goodby Silverstein was designing our inaugural Strictly Bluegrass poster we were surprised.  We expected something more organic.  Then we saw some of Claude’s work and understood.  It was original, he embodied something very unique and it could only be expressed through his eyes.

Claude designed every poster for the festival from 2001-2015.  It was a process.  Deadlines were not something he particularly addressed.  We could stress all we wanted but in the end we were always blown away with his finished product.

To say that he was a photographer does not do justice to his talent. He was a character; an artist without pretense.  He was genuinely fun to be around, usually smiling at you while his eyes were illuminating elsewhere.  It was how he viewed the world and how he shared his mindset with the rest of us.

The void Claude left when he passed away last week won’t ever be filled.  We are devastated to lose a friend and visionary who shared his passion with us.  Claude was warm, funny, clever and irreverent.  When I read Jeff Goodby describe him as “All Rick Moranis on the outside & Tom Waits on the inside” I smiled, he captured Claude’s spirit precisely.

We were extremely fortunate to have Claude as a colleague and friend.  His contributions to the festival will be with us always. – Sheri Sternberg & Hardly Strictly Bluegrass