2002 OFFICIAL POSTER ARTIST AND THUNDER PIN DESIGNER ANNOUNCED
2002-01-10T14:43:10
The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that local artist Jason Koetter has been selected as the Official Poster Artist for the 2002 Festival. The poster will be unveiled at a gala premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 5:30 PM at the Louisville Palace Theatre, 629 S. Fourth St. This is the 22nd year of the Official Poster Series.
Koetter is director of graphic services for Advanced Reprographics & Supplies in Louisville. Jason’s work may already be familiar with the public, as he is also the designer of the 2002 Thunder Commemorative Pins, which are on sale now at area Kroger stores, Republic Bank branches and other participating retailers.
“I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about being selected,” said Koetter, a native of southern Indiana. “I was aware that this was a pretty big deal, but not to the extent that I am now. This is really quite an honor.”
Koetter, a 1995 graduate of the prestigious Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla., was one of six seniors selected to be members of the Ringling Design Center. In the 2000 PRINT Regional Design Annual, Jason’s artwork was among the less than 3% of the submissions that were included in the publication.
Said Derby Festival Chairman Linda McGinity Jackson: “The Festival has enjoyed some wonderful and creative images for the Poster Series, and this year is no exception. Jason has come up with an eye-catching design that is worthy of other artists in the Series.”
The Derby Festival Poster is published by The Festival Gallery, which returns as the Official Licensee of the Kentucky Derby Festival merchandising program for 2002. Last year, The Festival Gallery formed a strategic alliance with MPC Promotions to design, produce and market Official KDF merchandise, and MPC assigned the balance of its contract to The Festival Gallery in November. Said Festival Gallery President Ben Isaacs: “There is a rich community tradition associated with the Official Poster and merchandise and we have a wonderful product line to unveil for the upcoming Festival.”
Over the years, the Festival's Official Poster Series has become a unique symbol of this community. Past designs decorate offices and homes throughout the region. Peter Max's expressionistic "Bluegrass Pegasus" launched the series in 1981, and a stylistic and geographical mix of artists have been showcased over the years. The signed collector editions continue to significantly increase in value, and the quality of the Poster series has been recognized worldwide.
The first official event of the 2002 Kentucky Derby Festival is sponsored by Midwestern Insurance Alliance. Contributing sponsors are Oldies 103 WRKA and Greater Louisville Inc. Tickets are $12.50 in advance by calling the KDF office at 584-6383 and $15 at the door. The event is open to the public.
