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The poster series began as a simple marketing
project designed to generate pre-season interest
in the Derby Festival in 1981. |
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Though primarily an honor for homegrown talent,
some internationally renowned artists have designed
the poster, including Peter Max, Julius Friedman
and Michael Schwab. |
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According to local framers, the Peter
Max work in 1981 is the most valuable KDF poster. |
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Several artists have had two of their works represented:
Jeff Tull (1991, 1995) Sonny Whittle (1985 collaboration,
1990) and Mark Bird (1985 collaboration with Whittle
and 1993) Janeen & Doreen Barnhart (1994, 1997),
and Karen Boone (1996, 1999) |
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The KDF poster has been designed by twins, Janeen
& Doreen Barnhart twice. |
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….and a QUEEN…1989 artist, Elizabeth
Paige Penna based her work on her experience as
a former Derby Festival Queen |
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The two Tull designs and two Whittle designs are
the most requested to frame. |
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The Festival series has been a tremendous launching
pad for local artists since it's change of focus
to showcase regional talent in the past ten years
(i.e. Janeen Barnhart was a virtually unknown graphic
designer at a local frame shop when she designed
the 1994 poster. Her success with the poster launched
her own design firm.) |
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The Festival poster series creates a giant "boom"
in the April/May retail sales at area frame shops,
It's a real "Christmas in springtime"
as the unveiling creates not only interest in sales
of the current poster, but past year's designs as
well. |
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Louisville is a very "art-aware" city;
the Festival poster seems to heighten that interest
even in people without a real passion for original
art. |
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From art galleries and frame shops to the Targets,
Dillards and beyond, the Derby Festival poster image
is included as a backdrop for sales displays across
the area - as the image is used to stir customer
interest during spring. |
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For over 10 years, the Poster Premiere features
a "silent auction" of custom-framed posters
donated by area galleries. This project has exposed
some extraordinary pieces and afforded the galleries
an opportunity to showcase their handiwork in framing
ideas. An award is given to the local framer with
the best original framing. |
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Midwestern Insurance Alliance is the sponsor of
the Poster Premiere and Official Posters (Their
name is printed after the copyright at the bottom
of all official prints). The Bank of Louisville
sponsored the Official Poster in 1985, 1988 - 2001.
(Bourbon brands co-sponsored the poster in 1986
and 1987). |
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The Festival introduced a new feature at the 2003
event. The first “artistic interpretations”
featured the work of four local artists who produced
original works in their chosen medium based on their
view of Risa Yussman's poster image. From glass
work to a quilt, the artists' take on the poster
image went on public display and was auctioned for
charity.
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