Wooden Boat Festival Poster 2008

Theme: Rhythm of the Sea
Artist: Chris Witkowski

The votes are in and the winner of this year's festival art competition is Chris Witkowski. Chris is best known locally for "Flora", the unforgettable lady adorned with a Victorian hat of organic vegetables, a poster that branded the PT Farmer's Market and catapulted its image and success. Chris later produced notable illustrations used in logos of some of Port Townsend's most popular "local" companies: Cape Cleare, Port Townsend Brewing, Pan D'Amore and Provisions. Now residing in California and marketing her work throughout the western US, Chris tailored a painting of the historic ferry dock to this year's Wooden Boat theme Rhythm of the Sea.

"It was a year of surprises" said Kaci Cronkhite, seven-year Festival Director. "Finalists included a photographer, a prominent children's book illustrator, a three dimensional driftwood collage and Chris' re-work of a painting showcasing the original ferry dock. In the end, the significance of ferries to our town's history and waterfront combined with Chris' whimsical inclusion of the theme in a treble clef over a boat on the bay that clinched it." Like the 2007 poster art by Kees Prins, it was the whole story surrounding the artwork that lead to the final choice.

Visit the artist's website: www.chriswitkowski.com

Purchase your poster online: Wooden Boat Chandlery