Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jen Jolliff “Brings on the Fun” as 2008 Fair Poster Artist For local artist Jen Jolliff, inspiration for the 2008 Alaska State Fair poster arrived in a little red wagon. “My inspiration for the poster came with the idea of looking at the Fair from the perspective of my son and his two friends, as they are pulled through the Fair in a wagon,” said Jolliff, the creator of the 2008 Fair poster and mother of a 1-year-old. “They are all about exploring their senses – licking lollypops, smelling swine, peering at people, listening to laughter, petting animals, ogling stuffed bears, grabbing balloons, reaching for stars.” Jolliff will be signing copies of the Fair poster, which is centered on the 2008 Fair’s ‘Bring on the Fun’ theme, on Saturday, August 23 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Craftsman Art Gallery on the fairgrounds. Posters, which are $10 each, will also be for sale at the fairgrounds throughout the 2008 Fair, which runs August 21 – September 1. Dean Phipps, Fair marketing director, said the goal of this year’s poster was to showcase fun at the Fair, while also tying in with Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood celebration. It was a goal Jolliff met. “I love how the different elements of information about this year’s Fair are embedded into the artwork of the poster – Palmer and the statehood celebration logo on the wagon, the big dipper in the stars of the little girl’s tiara, and the depiction of families doing what they love … having fun at the Fair,” he said. Jolliff got her start as a “professional creator” 18 years ago, when she began creating fleece hats made to look like bears, puffins and other Alaska critters. Over the years, she expanded her business, Gimmee Dat Art, to include painting, printmaking, woodcarving and mosaic tiling. Her work has been displayed at the International Gallery, Anchorage Museum, Alaska Museum of Natural History and Alaska Botanical Garden. In addition to creating murals, mosaics and custom art installations for private homes, museums and businesses, including a 150-foot mural at the Anchorage Town Square and a mural/mosaic at Creekside Elementary School, Jolliff also works as a contract art teacher for organizations such as the Anchorage Museum, Alaska Children’s Services and the Artists in Schools Program. For more information, please visit www.alaskastatefair.org. Or contact Dean Phipps, Fair marketing director, at 907-746-7153 or dean@alaskastatefair.org. ### |
July 24, 2008