Memphis in May poster available now

The fine art poster for the 33rd Memphis in May International Festival, this year honoring Chile, goes on sale today through the organization's Web site memphisinmay.org.

It will be available in a few weeks at area galleries and frame shops.

Local artist Pam Cobb created the original 38-by-48-inch work -- acrylic over gold leaf on wood panels -- drawing inspiration from the narrow South American country's long coastline and mountain ranges, "its most consistent features," she said.

The poster tradition began in 1980, with the festival honoring Venezuela.

"Over the almost 30 years of offering these incredible works of art by inspired local artists," said Memphis in May executive director Diane Hampton, "the Memphis in May poster depicting the honored country has become very collectable. Many of the posters are no longer available through retail, but can be occasionally found on auction or in estate sales."

Cobb, 60, is a native Memphian whose work is represented by Jay Etkin Gallery. She created two public art projects for the UrbanArt Commission and taught at Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis. Several of her large paintings were commissioned for The Westin Memphis Beale Street hotel.

The poster for Chile features sinuous, swimming fish on either side of a central panel that depicts steep mountains and a twisting river.

"Sadly, I've never been to Chile," said the artist. "I checked out eight books about Chile from the library and went online and looked at a thousand photographs. Chile is the land of extremes. The northern part is desert, and the bottom is close to Antarctica, so I decided to concentrate on the temperate zones in the middle."

Sponsor of the Memphis in May poster is Sovereign Wealth Management.

The poster is available in a limited signed edition ($60) and unsigned ($30).

-- Fredric Koeppel: 529-2376

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