by Veronica Sturman - $600. That’s how much you could win, if you won the Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster contest, and it doesn’t matter whether you are nine or ninety.
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[/caption]The Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster contest attracts artists of all ages and experience. Thirty artists have followed in the footsteps of Clementine Hunter, Natchitoches’ oldest winner at age 96. In 2009, a ten year old, Madalyn Sibley, of League, Texas won this competition. Last year, a waitress from Applebee’s in Shreveport took the prize. She was challenged to enter by one of her friends while visiting Natchitoches. The work of local artist, Hazel Nowlin, has been chosen multiple times.
The theme for this year’s poster is “Christmas in Natchitoches.” The completed art should be 18 inches wide and 20 inches tall. The chosen piece becomes the property of the Natchitoches Art Council. The deadline to enter is June 24, 2011.
Any medium can be used. When I viewed the collection, I noticed mediums ranging from stained glass to chalk pastels. Posters and note cards are made from the winning art. These posters are collectors’ items. Some collectors buy the same numbered print each and every year. According to Nancy McDowell, Community Development, one of the most popular posters is from 2008 and is done inside of a fleur de lis. The city did a second printing of this poster after the Saints won the Super Bowl.
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster has been a local tradition for the past 30 years. All of the winning art is displayed at the Natchitoches Arts Council office. You can view it at 420 Fourth Street in Natchitoches. I enjoyed looking at all of the art, and I can’t wait to find out who wins this year.
