Blackhawk Tapestries
Description: The Kiekhaefer Mercury company began in 1939 when engineer Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a small outboard motor company in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Kiekhaefer's original intention for the Kiekhaefer Corporation was to make magnetic separators for the dairy industry. The purchase included 300 defective outboard motors. Kiekhaefer and a small staff of employees rebuilt the motors and sold them to Montgomery Ward, a mail-order company. The motors were much improved, so the buyer purchased more. Kiekhaefer designed motors that withstood the elements better than his competition and called the motor Mercury (taking advantage of the "Mercury" Motor Car popularity at the time) whilst adopting the logo of the Roman god Mercury.
Description: A dramatic military-themed design featuring a blazing battlefield at sunset with heavily armed soldiers advancing through smoke and destruction while helicopters circle overhead. Large distressed vintage typography delivers the powerful quote: "WAR DOES NOT DETERMINE WHO IS RIGHT — IT DETERMINES WHO IS LEFT." The artwork uses cinematic orange firelight, deep black shadows, and gritty textures to create a bold statement piece with strong anti-war and historical themes. The distressed print style gives it the appearance of a vintage propaganda poster or weathered battlefield sign.
