PONCHOTOULA, La. (WGNO) — For 52 years, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival has ripened, and 47 of those years had festival posters.
The Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club has been the official sponsor of the souvenirs, including the poster.
“The Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club houses all of the posters and we’ve been housing them since 1977,” said Martha Ray, the president of the club.
The festival’s poster is chosen by the club, and anyone can enter, whether you’re from Ponchatoula or not. The poster subject matter range is vast. Everything from controversial folk art in 2015 to a 2010 poster that documented the sweet as strawberry victory of the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl.
Ray gave a hint at what the club might be looking for next year.
“I would love to see more posters that have the festival festivities on them. Everyone draws Ponchatoula, which is fine, but add the festival to it. I think that would really put a poster over the top.”
Emily Borne is the artist this year.
“I have been drawing since as far as I can remember. I started in third grade and have been painting since then,” she said.
Clam shells, an alligator and the cypress tree capture the wild beauty of South Louisiana, where Borne grew up. And, of course, the shine on the strawberries signifies 47 years of strawberry festival posters.
“I was really just sketching one night. I wasn’t even going to be an entry. It was a month before the deadline. I did the majority of it the night before. Growing up, I played outside a lot and went fishing. My favorite thing is the beautiful Louisiana sunset. I really wanted to capture that,” she explained.
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