THUNDER GETS IT OWN POSTER
2003-02-01T15:25:37
With temperatures in single digits in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival brought the promise of spring at its first event of 2003 in January. Local artist Risa Yussman was selected as the Official Poster Artist for the 2003 Derby Festival and her work was unveiled at a gala premiere at the Central American Airways Hangar at Bowman Field. The heaters were in overdrive as more than 600 guests mingled among vintage planes in an airline hangar transformed to a boarding gate for the 2003 Festival kick-off. This is the 23rd year of the Official Poster Series.
Event attendees were treated to hors d'oeuvres, an art auction and the opportunity to meet the artist and have posters signed. Jeff Ramsey and Gary Clark of Oldies 103 WRKA hosted the evening along with 2003 Festival Chairman Doug Hamilton, Norm Risen of Midwestern Insurance Alliance - the poster's sponsor and the Derby Festival Princesses.
Said Derby Festival President & CEO Mike Berry of Yussman's art, "The poster is a real departure from the last several years. Risa has captured the entire Derby season from the Festival's opening ceremony, Thunder Over Louisville to the legendary race."
Yussman is a free-lance graphic designer who graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in design and fine arts. She is a mother of three and also has her own line of specialty clothing, which is marketed through a local company.
"I am so excited about being selected Official Poster Artist I can hardly stand it," said Yussman. " I had submitted designs twice before, so I guess the third time's the charm. I've been working very closely with the Derby Festival on designing pins and merchandise and I'm having a ball with it."
Also introduced at the poster unveiling was the newest addition to the KDF poster series, a special commemorative poster for the Festival's Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville. The vintage-style piece reflects the theme of Thunder 2003 - "Centennial of Flight" - a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers historic take-off at Kitty Hawk. Risa's design includes an old-fashioned bi-plane and a modern jet fighter.
The Thunder poster is 24 x 30 in dimension and retails for $35 at Louisville area frame shops or online at the KDF store. A 6 x 7 postcard is also available for $2 and a Limited Edition Thunder Giclee print (32 x 40) is $200. Festival fans can also purchase the Thunder poster with the official KDF poster for $60 as a set.
Merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats with the vintage Thunder design will also be available in stores and at the event.
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 new Thunder poster is sure to add to the series popularity.
