Jennifer Kosharek announced winner of 2017 Gasparilla Music Festival Poster Contest sponsored by Hill Ward Henderson in partnership with Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts
TAMPA, Fla. (February 28, 2017) The 6th annual Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) Poster Contest winner Jennifer Kosharek’s original artwork will be unveiled at GMF’s Soundcheck Party Wednesday, February 1st, 2017. Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) issued the Call to Artists and organized the contest, which was presented by Hill Ward Henderson. Artists from throughout the greater Tampa Bay area submitted original works of art to TBBCA. Judges Sarah Howard, USF IRA Curator for Public Art and Social Practice, Ya La’Ford, artist/educator, and the GMF Poster Committee evaluated dozens of submissions based on concept, originality, and how well they incorporated GMF and Tampa Bay’s wide diversity of culture into its design adaptability. Jennifer Kosharek’s selected winning entry will be recognized as the Official Commemorative Poster of the 2017 Gasparilla Music Festival that will take place in Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park and Kiley Gardens Park on March 11th & 12th. Meet the artist and have your poster signed at the festival 2:00 – 3:00 PM at the Kiley Garden merchandise tent.
Jennifer Kosharek is a professional curator, painter, street artist and rag doll maker. She has shown locally and internationally for the past eight years, and her artwork is held in museum archives and collections around the world, including the Smithsonian and the Museums of Modern Art in NY, Wales and Brazil. Kosharek focuses artistically on bright, cheery images that promote the whimsical side of life.
Kosharek reacted to being chosen as the winner, “I really appreciated the call for art to include Tampa culture, music, a positive outlook and a multicultural flair…I hope my poster inspires people to enjoy the music!” Kosharek’s sixteen year old son loves Cage the Elephant so she “included notes from one of their songs ‘playing’ on the river in the painting, together with the Tampa skyline, a vase image from Ybor’s Columbia Restaurant and a trumpet for the jazz influence at the festival”.
As winning artist, Kosharek will receive a $500 cash award and VIP ticket packages to GMF 2017, and her bio will be featured in the GMF program and on GMF social media sites. There will also be a featured poster-signing session at the festival. A special ‘Young Emerging Artist Prize’ sponsored by TBBCA Executive Director Susana Weymouth will be awarded to 14 year old Grace Gayle. The Coleman Middle School student will receive a $100 check and further recognition at the GMF Soundcheck Party. Other selected finalists will be present and their artworks auctioned at the GMF VIP event, with proceeds split 50% to the artist and 50% to benefit Gasparilla Music Foundation arts education and Recycled Tunes program.
Kosharek’s art is currently on exhibit as part of TBBCA Art in Lobbies Program at TBBCA pARTner Vantage Point Advisors of Raymond James, TBBCA Board President Damien Bertucelli offices, downtown Tampa.
About Gasparilla Music Festival
The Gasparilla Music Festival is a 501c-3 nonprofit that organizes an annual music festival in downtown Tampa. The 2017 festival will take place in Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park and Kiley Gardens Park on March 11th & 12th and will feature musical acts from a wide variety of genres on several stages and cuisine from the region’s top restaurants. As part of its mission to support and promote music and education, the organization is involved throughout the year in several initiatives, including providing instruments to local schools and music programs. 2017 GMF Lineup: For an updated schedule, visit www.gasparillamusic.com
About Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA)
Tampa Bay BCA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), one of 11 national Business Committees for the Arts of the private sector network and pARTnership movement of Americans for the Arts. For over 27 years, TBBCA has united businesses in support of arts education, and culture and the arts in our community, based on the philosophy that ‘the arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts’. TBBCA is proud to help support and promote Cultural pARTner Gasparilla Music Festival and Foundation, and individual artists through TBBCA programs including Call to Artists and Art in Lobbies. www.tbbca.org
About Hill Ward Henderson
Hill Ward Henderson is a full-service law firm with multi-disciplinary practices headquartered in downtown Tampa. With more than 100 attorneys, the firm has a wide range of local, regional and national clients. One of Hill Ward Henderson’s guiding principles is a commitment to giving back to the community. The firm is honored to support the Gasparilla Music Festival and TBBCA and appreciates the wonderful work they are doing to bring great artists and art to Tampa Bay.
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