Known for its rich history of producing a premier summer arts festival that has become a unique forum for artistic expression in Marblehead, Marblehead Festival of Arts (MFOA) will be celebrating its Annual Logo Premier Party announcing 2023 Logo Winners on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at The Landing Restaurant on 81 Front St.
Each year MFOA is represented by a new logo selected from a design competition and chosen by public vote. This year, the three finalists were chosen from a competitive crowd of 65 entries. They are Cara Grazado, Denis Whalen, and Fiona Barr.
“One is a software CEO and artist by hobby. One is a college student, and one is in middle schoo . . .all unknown to the judges. Each year, we’re pleasantly surprised by the number of people of all ages, professions, and passions that share their artistic talent in this competition,” said Bill Smalley, Chair of the Logo Contest.
The panel of experts who made the tough decision were among Wayne George, the owner of F.L. Woods Nautical Merchants; Mary Melilli, a graphic artist and professor of Media and Communication at Salem State University and Kristen Nyberg, owner of Nyberg Design and the 2019 logo winning artist.
“We had great participation in our logo contest this year, and we are always excited to present the finalists to the town,” said Smalley.
According to Smalley, The finalists struck the judges as uniquely representing the spirit of the festival and the historical, coastal town of Marblehead.
“The entries were all distinctly different conceptually and visually, which was very interesting and made selecting the finalists a real challenge,” added Smalley.
The votes were cast in November at public locations in Marblehead, Swampscott, and Salem to select the winner from the top three finalists. The winning logo will be displayed on all products sold during the 2023 Festival as well as MFOA promotional materials throughout the year.
“In addition to celebrating the winning logo and kicking off the festival year, the evening has become a great way to chase away the winter blues, meet and greet Festival friends and hear about the 57th Festival plans in the making. Those interested in becoming volunteers are especially encouraged to come to learn more and enjoy the fun,” said Amy Thompson, co-chair of the Logo Premiere.
Traditionally held each year over the July 4th holiday, the festival hosts a wide range of art exhibits (painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, etc.), outdoor music concerts overlooking Marblehead Harbor, Literary Festival, Street Festival, Children’s and Boat Building activities, Artisans’ Marketplace, Film Festival and many other cultural activities designed to provide a fun and enriching experience for the entire family.
The MFOA is an all-volunteer organization comprised of more than forty committees and involves several hundred volunteers. It operates year-round and relies solely on donations to fund its operations. Individuals, families, and businesses may become Festival Sponsors by making a tax-deductible contribution.
For additional information on MFOA, a calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, and sponsorship, please visit www.MarbleheadFestival.org.
Robert Simonelli, Manager of the Landing, is generously donating a percentage of all meals and drinks purchased during the event to support the festival.
Festival Board members will be on hand at the Logo Premiere to answer any questions attendees may have and describe the opportunities available.
To learn more about logo contest details, please visit Marbleheadfestival.org. To reserve a table from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Landing, please call 781-639-1266. Reservations are strongly encouraged.