The 2025 Santa Barbara Summer Solstice season is off to a start, with local artists submitting art for this year’s poster and T-shirt designs. Last Saturday evening was the opening reception at Wylde Works at 609 State Street.
The winning entry will not only become the 2025 Poster and T-shirt design. I believe it will also win a cash prize. The art work will be on display until the end of this week. Hurry on over and vote for your favorite design! And check out all of the other cool art!
Here are my many photos from the reception, including most of the art entries. This year’s Solstice Theme is “Wild World“. Appropriate to hold it at Wylde Works!
There is not space here to show all of the designs, so I will just showcase some of my favorites. In my decades of observations, the most successful designs are bold, simple and clear with bright colors and without too much intricate detail.
This one by Larry Vigon is certainly bold, but it is not clear how it relates to the “Wild World” theme.
He submitted two other entries, including these intricate hummingbirds.
I think these were my favorites for being bold and capturing the theme. This one by Lorilyn Froerer includes elements of past Solstice parades like the zebra (created by Diane Stevenett), as well as including other Wild World bits and Santa Barbara scenery. And, of course, I love the juggling jester! The title: “Some of us Santa Barbarians are Wild Things”.
And this one by Irene Ramirez. She captured the usual kinds of Wild Things, but also included whimsical space alien Wild Things! Very Solstice! Irene created the amazing Flying Pig float and ensemble in Solstice last year.
Of course my friend Pali entered a new design, along with some previously submitted designs. It is beautiful and whimsical, but he admitted it is not up to his usual standards. He said he rushed to complete it in just two days. Here he kindly posed with his art.
Here he posed with his wife Raven and with Solstice Executive Director Penny Little.
Long time Solstice volunteer Richard staffed the table as people lined up to vote for their favorite designs. This year they are allowing you to vote for two favorites.
Reggae/Ska band Koalishon provided live music. Some watched and listened and others danced.
Solstice Board President Justin Gunn (L) played backgammon outside.
Long time volunteers and participants Meighann (L) and Krystal posed with their partners in colorful outfits.
Jeremy was a huge help to Pali last year. He posed for me and then photographed Merlie and me.
Here are a few more poster designs that caught my attention.
This one represents Pali, Raven and me (on the unicycle). Created by Nao, who is the partner of Pali’s former landlord. The title is “Wild Crowd”.The style is a bit coarse, but I realize that is a popular art genre in recent years.
This is a kiln-formed glass piece “Circling the Sun” by Judith Geiger. I own a Judith Geiger original at home. I love her style.
This is “We’re Here” by Stephanie Ingoldsby.
This is by Erik Davis and is called “Summertime”.
Come on down to Wylde Works and vote for your favorite design!
Visit the Solstice web site for more information and/or to donate to help make this year’s Solstice the best ever!
https://www.solsticeparade.com/
– Robert Bernstein
PLEASE NOTE! The closing reception is this Saturday February 22 from 5-9PM at Wylde Works! At 609 State Street.
Be sure to stop by Wylde Works then or earlier to cast your vote for the best poster art for 2025!
SBROBERT – I love that you’re in one of these posters! “Wild Crowd,” indeed!
VOTE ONLINE UNTIL WEDNESDAY! If you missed voting in person, you can now vote online until Wednesday! Cast your vote for the best Solstice poster art for 2025!
Here: https://www.solsticeparade.com/about/poster-art-top-contestants
And the winning poster art design is… Revealed here!
https://www.solsticeparade.com/engage/poster-art-winner-2025
Winning artist Larry Vigon is not the usual Solstice artist. Highlights of his artistic career include induction into The Album Cover Hall of Fame for recording artists as Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Counting Crows, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra, and many more. Check out his fine art and commercial work at http://www.larryvigon.com