2024 BSAF Poster Reveal
Local legend, Becky Laabs, designs this year's poster
2024 Black Swamp Arts Festival Poster Reveal
Black Swamp Arts Festival (BSAF) is pleased to reveal its 2024 poster in anticipation of this year’s festival, scheduled for September 6, 7, and 8.
This year’s festival poster features the art of local resident and artist, Becky Laabs, and will be formally unveiled at a Poster Reveal event scheduled for 5:30pm -7 pm Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at art-a-site! gallery and studio, located at 139 W. Wooster Street, in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio. Event attendees will have the opportunity to receive an artist-signed copy of the 2024 poster.>
Laabs shared the following artist statement regarding the poster:
“As a townie and longtime fan of the festival, when asked to design this year’s poster, I immediately envisioned all the imagery that comes to mind when I hear the words: Black Swamp Arts Festival. I wanted to not only represent the art and music but highlight some of the little things that make our festival unique. I thought the watercolor itself would reflect one of the many media our artists use to create the work they bring to the festival...work created when the head, hand and heart work together. This year the logo has been designed to represent the cooperation of hundreds of “town and gown” volunteers we count on to make the festival happen each year. (It also is positioned to represent a gate or entrance to the joy and magic that awaits you inside). Our beautiful and charming downtown provides an idyllic backdrop for all the art, music and many activities we all enjoy. There are details like “Think BG”, the hanging baskets from BG brackets, bricks in the sidewalks and versions of actual (Bowling Green, Ohio) buildings downtown that no other festival would have. The little girl with her paper hat, the sidewalk chalk drawing, a dog drinking water provided by downtown merchants are all things festival goers remember and look forward to seeing every year. My hope is that this montage of images will not only remind you of the essence of Bowling Green, Ohio and the Black Swamp Arts Festival but also encourage you to join us again...each year...the first full weekend after Labor Day!” ~ Becky Laabs
Laabs has been an integral part in the local arts community for decades. Currently, she is the owner and main instructor of the art-a-site! gallery and studio, which offers services including art classes, workshops, birthday parties, and group programs for children and adults. She previously taught art at Bowling Green Middle and High Schools, Bowling Green State University, and University of Toledo.
All work for the BSAF, including the poster art and graphic design, is on a strictly volunteer basis. The festival would not be possible without the work of many dedicated volunteers in the area. Volunteers are still needed for this year’s festival, and information about volunteering at the festival can be found at www.blackswampfest.org/support.
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a three-day, free live music and arts festival committed to providing quality art and music experiences. Held in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio the first full weekend after Labor Day, there are three stages of music, two art shows, Youth Arts, Artists at Work, Chalk Walk, and more.
For more information and to connect to the festival, visit www.blackswampfest.org, Black Swamp Arts Festival on Facebook and @blackswampfest on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
