The winner of the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s poster contest is an
old friend to the herb-infused event that draws more than 100,000
garlic-lovers annually.
The winner of the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s poster contest is an old friend to the herb-infused event that draws more than 100,000 garlic-lovers annually.
For the second time, Ruth Johnson-Irving – a middle school art teacher – has come out on top in the annual contest. Her vibrant rendition of three garlic bulbs is currently hanging up in her art classroom at Martin Murphy Middle School in Morgan Hill and her students stop by to offer words of praise.
“I always encourage my students enter poster contests,” said Johnson-Irving, 57. “And as an example, I enter my work too. My contest is the Gilroy Garlic Festival Poster Contest.”
Johnson-Irving has submitted several entries since the contest’s inception in 1985 and won in 2002. She said she usually winds up at least in the top 10. This year, her poster was chosen from 42 entries and Debbie Geiger, chair of the festival’s retail committee, said Johnson-Irving’s poster was chosen in part because “it’s colorful and lends itself to many retail items.”
The painting originally began as a watercolor, the artist said, but is now covered with oils and pastels. From start to finish, the process took about three days. Though her past entries have highlighted some of the festival’s more unique touches, like the must-try-once garlic ice cream, Johnson-Irving decided to get back to basics this year.
“When I sat down to do it, I knew I needed to get back to focusing on the garlic,” she said.
The poster features three bold bulbs, framed by a mosaic of multicolored tiles.
Johnson-Irving, who has lived in Gilroy since 1982, graduated from college at age 40 and still remembers her Gavilan College art professor as someone who influenced her outlook on art. He always told her, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” she said.
Creating the festival’s signature poster isn’t her only tie to the event.
“The best part for somebody from town is being able to volunteer,” she said.
This year, festival goers can find Johnson-Irving pouring wine in the Gilroy Rotary Club tent.
Second place was awarded to Beverly McCullough of Carlsbad and third to Peggy Dean of Gilroy.
Johnson-Irving received a $750 cash prize.
The 2009 Gilroy Garlic Festival will be held at Christmas Hill Park on July 24, 25, and 26. Prints of the winning poster will be available at the Festival’s Mercantile stores for $10.00 each, and the artist will be on hand to sign copies. For more information, contact the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association office at 408-842-1625.
