Tulsa Mayfest

Earlier this month I submitted a design for the Tulsa Mayfest 2024 poster competition. 🫀

Alas, last week I learned I did not win, which truly did not surprise me. Based on the posters I’d seen from previous years I didn’t anticipate having a good chance. That said, I enjoyed the challenge and I’m happy with what I created: a 20x30” design titled, My Heart is in Tulsa, a digital collage created using historical artworks and imagery in my usual style. Most notably, the aerial view (or “aero view” as per the original document) map of Tulsa which was originally created in 1918, cleaned up and restored for this piece. Two individuals* can be seen in a hot air balloon in the foreground which is an anatomical heart communicating the concept. (We also have a greeting card design with a similar overall concept.) Fireworks can be seen below coming from the actual (future) location of Mayfest. "MAYFEST" is typeset in the sky behind the heart.

*The gentlemen in the balloon is Robert W. Diez, an African American WWII Tuskegee Airman taken from a 1943 war bonds poster created by the US Treasury Dept. The woman is from a painting by Edward Mason Eggleston promoting Atlantic City in 1936 and the balloon itself was taken from an 1890 Italian poster promoting early flight.

Tulsa Mayfest Poster Submission