“Capitol Idea”: How one Overture Galleries piece became the perfect gift

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts aren’t planned. You just know when you see them. 

That’s exactly what happened for one patron during a visit to Overture Center’s Playhouse Gallery. 

Megan Gendel and her husband, Scott Gendel, were attending a Forward Theater performance in fall 2024 when a painting by local artist Hannah Blue caught their attention. The piece, “Capitol Idea,” part of the “Impact!” exhibition celebrating Overture’s 20th anniversary, captured Capitol Theater’s distinctive architecture and velvet curtains in rich detail. 

“The colors drew me in,” Megan said. “And the beautiful way Blue created such realistic draping of the curtains.” 

Right away, she knew this was the perfect gift to commemorate a major milestone: the premiere of Scott’s full-length opera, “Everlasting Faint,” which debuted with Madison Opera on the Capitol Theater stage on Friday, February 13. 

The Gendel’s have a tradition of collecting original art from local artists to mark meaningful life events, and this felt like exactly that kind of moment.   

“I hadn’t given much thought on how to commemorate the premiere,” Megan said. “But when I saw this piece, I knew it was the perfect gift.” 

She kept coming back to see the piece. She would swing by the galleries during lunch breaks just to take another look. By the time she decided to purchase it, the “Impact!” exhibit had rotated out. With help from Overture staff, she tracked down the artist and arranged to purchase the painting. 

Since then, it’s been tucked away at home, waiting to be gifted to Scott.

“It was hidden away for months,” she said. “I opened the box periodically just to take a peek.” 

Part of what makes the gift so meaningful is where the story started. The painting depicts the same Capitol Theater where Scott’s opera will premiere, and Megan first discovered it inside the same building. 

“It’s the perfect connection,” she said. “A piece that captures the theater where the opera premiered, found in that same building. It feels like it’s tied all together.”  

For artist Hannah Blue, the connection feels just as special.   

Blue created the painting as part of Overture’s 20th anniversary celebration, choosing the Capitol’s historic curtains as her subject because they immediately represent the iconic space.  

“When I think of Overture Center, the thing I'm most drawn to is those opulent velvet curtains in the Capitol Theater,” Blue said. “The lush curtains, delicate pattern on the walls, and dramatic lighting—it was the perfect subject for me. I was excited to challenge myself while still paying homage to Overture.” 

She never expected the piece to become tied to a world premiere. 

“Creating it for Overture was thrilling in and of itself,” Blue said. “Megan reaching out to acquire it for Scott was a completely unexpected cherry on top. I poured so many hours of care and attention into the painting, and something about knowing it was chosen to commemorate the many hours of care and attention someone else poured into their passion... it's just perfect.” 

For the Gendels, Overture has long been part of their story. Two years before they even met, they were unknowingly in the same Capitol Theater audience for a Madison Opera performance — Megan in the audience and Scott playing with the orchestra.  

“I was thrilled to sit in the same theater next to the love of my life, watching his dream come true,” Megan said.  

She had been eager to finally give him the gift she had kept secret for months. 

“Scott was delighted to receive the painting,” Megan said. “And I’m excited to finally display Blue’s incredible piece in our home.”