And The Winner Is...?

Wichita, Kan. - Wichita Festivals, Inc. (WFI), producer of Riverfest, today announced the winning design of the 2011 poster artwork competition. Artist Scott Dawson created the design that will be used for the 40th annual Riverfest. The design reflects this years' theme "Rediscover Riverfest" with a butterfly coming to life.

Dawson originally created his poster concept a few years ago, before the poster competition began, and filed it away. "I came across it last summer and decided to try and rework it and see if I liked [the art] better," says Dawson. Once Dawson learned the poster competition was being re-introduced, he decided to enter and requested an entry form.

"Once I read the theme "Rediscover Riverfest," I thought it was a good fit with my idea," says Dawson. Like Riverfest, butterflies are seasonal and there are new forms of butterflies every season.

"Scott's art and the theme are representative of the changes and new additions being implemented for this years' Riverfest," noted Janet Wright, WFI President/CEO. "The change in dates for the festival and the new venues we will be using, all work together to reflect the theme and the art," explained Wright.

And the Winner Is...?

In honor of the 83rd annual Academy Awards, we're going to play a guessing game today on the 94th day till the 40th annual Riverfest begins. In November Wichita Festivals, Inc., announced that they would be reinstating an annual tradition that was on a 4 year hiatus. Yes that's it, the poster artwork competition is back, and I'm here not to announce the winner of the competition but to give you a clue to who the artist is. The winner of the poster artwork competition is a freelance illustrator, working for over 20 years. The winner is a children's book illustrator, whos first book was published last year called "Fearless." Stumped? The winner's name will be released March 15th, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at a press conference held at Wichita Festivals, Inc. at 1820 E. Douglas. Happy Guessing!