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Everything’s coming up “Rosie” for Auburn artist – “O’Donnell,” that is
By Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer
Auburn artist Jan Kapple Klein’s submission bested 400 others in a logo call for Rosie O’Donnell’s new satellite radio show “Rosie Radio.”

Longtime Rosie O’Donnell fan Jan Kapple Klein is on a Rosie-related roll.

The Auburn artist not only submitted the winning logo-contest entry for O’Donnell’s new satellite radio show.

That won her an original abstract painting created by the outspoken comedienne.

And it also landed Kapple Klein on the air with O’Donnell during her show’s second day on the air Tuesday.

“It’s all kind of a blur,” a star-struck Kapple Klein said. “We talked about my art and we talked about my husband. But I felt like I was a total doof.”

The two did find some common ground. O’Donnell is one of Tom Cruise’s biggest fans and Kapple Klein’s husband, Mark Klein, has created custom stonework at one of the actor’s homes.

Perhaps the best part of the interview was after it had ended and O’Donnell said in her Queens, New York accent that “I love her. She is adorable,” Kapple Klein said.

A longtime fan dating back to O’Donnell’s standup days, Kapple Klein has stayed loyal despite some political differences.

“I’m very politically conservative but I’ve always liked Rosie,” Kapple Klein said. “I like her raw honesty, her brilliant sense of humor and her clever wit. It’s bizarre because I’m not close to being a liberal.”

When O’Donnell was co-host on “The View” daytime TV program, Kapple Klein became a frequent poster on a blog associated with the show that brought together Rosie fans.

This past July, she learned over the Internet that O’Donnell was seeking a logo. With a wide-eyed photo of O’Donnell in mind, Kapple Klein spent 10 minutes putting together a logo that would go on to top 400 other entries.

Kapple Klein’s artwork has graced local posters advertising the Auburn Community Festival, the Mountain Mandarin Festival and AgroArt event, among others. She has also had her own graphic art business.

She said that she took a chance and requested an original O’Donnell oil painting as payment for the winning logo and O’Donnell accepted. It hasn’t arrived yet but Kapple Klein said she’s looking forward to displaying an abstract in a style she has always liked.

“She gets her inside thoughts on canvas, something I wish I could do more of,” Kapple Klein said.

Tuesday’s live interview was a first on national radio for Kapple Klein. While she felt uncomfortable, others have since said she was fine.

And it’s already created a buzz that could help her art gain an even wider audience.

“I’ve already received a call from a gallery in San Francisco interested in my work,” Kapple Klein said.

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3 comments on this item

Congratulations. Jan! What fun. I hope the Journal will give us a peek at the painting you get.

Great work Jan...I can see why yours won.

thanks my auburn peeps - u rock!!

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