Official artwork selected for Jubilee Festival
- Updated: Jul. 29, 2011, 1:06 p.m.|Published: Jul. 29, 2011, 12:06 p.m.
DAPHNE, Alabama — The planning committee for the 23rd annual Jubilee Festival has been busy organizing the event, which takes place in Olde Towne Daphne on Sept. 24 and 25.
The official artwork that will be printed on posters and T-shirts was created by photographic artist Michael Thomas of Gulf Shores. It is titled “Pelican Racers.”
The work depicts two brown pelicans racing through the bay, enjoying an early morning swim. It is a mixture of digital painting that overlays photos, creating the appearance of a real painting.
Thomas has a long background in photography, dating back 35 years when he was employed at a photo lab in Detroit. He worked in the darkroom developing film and enhancing images for the automobile industry.
When digital photography technology was launched he went to work for Meteor Photography and expanded his knowledge in the field. He relocated to Baldwin County nearly 3 years ago and found a new way of living and further developed his creative abilities.
“I started working on painting digital photography using various programs when I moved here,” he said. “I print the images on canvas so they will have the appearance of a painting.”
He said he prints his images on a variety of items such as coasters and postcards.
Much of Thomas’ work can be found exhibited in the Windmill Market in Fairhope, the Mobile Kangal Gallery and at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina.
Shea Dean, the chairwoman for the Jubilee Festival, was having lunch at the Windmill Market when she discovered his work and asked him to submit some of his artwork to the committee to consideration.
His work was awarded third place in the Weeks Bay Foundation photo contest last year, plus an honorable mention. This year, he received four honorable mentions in the contest.
“I take pictures every day,” Thomas said. “I travel around early in the morning and shoot from the American Legion pier in Fairhope, the Fairhope Municipal pier, Bon Secour. The pelicans were shot at the boat launch in Fairhope.”
Thomas said the artwork depicts a celebration of wildlife in lower Alabama. His love for the water has been his lifestyle since his youth living around the lakes in Michigan. Moving to Gulf Shores and exploring the region was a perfect fit for him, he said.
“I love the lower Alabama climate and the culture here,” he said. “It’s a slower pace and the people are so nice.”
Festivalgoers will be able to see more of Thomas’ work at the Jubilee Festival. He will have a double booth set up showing and selling. His company is called mic designs. Visit the Web site at www.micdesigns.com or friend him on facebook.com/micdesigns. The T-shirts and posters will be for sale at the information booth.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The festival takes place on Main Street in front of the Daphne City Hall. Kids Art in the Park will have 10 booths set up for kids to explore their own creative side for a few tickets each. There is no admission charge to the festival.
For more information, visit www.eschamber.com or call 251-621-8222 or 251-928-6387.