From BLACK SWAMP ARTS FESTIVAL
Kathleen Pahl has been selected as this year’s Black Swamp Arts Festival Poster design artist and during the Firefly Nights Friday the anticipated poster was revealed to the Bowling Green community.
Pahl, is a fine artist and used her medium of watercolor and ink to create this year’s poster which is the main element used in the brilliant design.
“For this piece I worked in ink and watercolor. In the first mock-up I wished to give the feeling that the salamander is in the water surrounded by vegetation and sunlight. I feel watercolor is a great match for this poster due to the environment of our area. Within the salamander are scenes of native swamp life: heron, frog, cattails, lily pads, and ferns. In many ways I view Bowling Green’s art presence much like an ecosystem within an ecosystem,” Pahl explained.
“Art and music starts in a home, expands into our neighborhoods, congregates in our city and reaches outside of our city, through the Black Swamp Arts Fest, to celebrate the human experience. For Bowling Green, the Black Swamp Arts Festival is an integral part of our community, identity and a part of our social ‘ecosystem.’”
Along with the watercolor design, this year’s poster also includes a back side for artists of all ages to color themselves. Erin Holmberg, who has designed three previous BSAF posters (2015, 2016 and 2018) assisted in the graphic design elements of the poster. Homewood Press, Inc, located in Toledo printed this years poster.
Grounds for Thought, who has been a supporter of the festival since the festival’s inception and allowed the BSAF to use their location for the expected poster release.
Kat Pahl was on site handing out posters and coloring utensils were available for those that want to take a respite during the festival.
Firefly Nights also included the poster release as part of its scavenger hunt which encourages festival goers to visit the Downtown Bowling Green businesses, as Firefly Nights has been moved from Main Street to Church Street.
Posters can be picked up for free around the community t in locations such as Grounds for Thought, The Four Corners Center, and the Wood County District Public Library.
All work for the festival, including the poster design, is on a strictly volunteer basis. The Black Swamp Arts Festival would not be possible without the work of many dedicated volunteers in the area.
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a three-day, free live music and arts festival committed to providing quality art and music experiences. Held in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio the first full weekend after Labor Day, there are three stages of music, two art shows, Youth Arts, Artists at Work, Chalk Walk, and more.
For more information and to connect to the festival, visit www.blackswampfest.org, Black Swamp Arts Festival on Facebook and @blackswampfest on Twitter and Instagram.
