Published: September 26, 2005 03:38 pm            

South Fork artist creates winning Celebration logo

JOHNSTOWN — It’s almost midnight on New Year’s Eve, and the clock at Johnstown’s City Hall is about to strike.

This is the scene set by Karen Blaisdell of South Fork in her winning entry in the “Celebration Johnstown” logo contest sponsored by The Tribune-Democrat and Johnstown Magazine.

Celebration Johnstown is a family-oriented and alcohol-free gathering to ring in the new year. It will be held at various sites in downtown Johnstown.

Blaisdell’s initial reaction to hearing she had won was an unbelieving “No way,” but she said she was pleased and honored.

“I thought this would be an exciting project to try,” said Blaisdell, a freelance graphic designer who has a small studio in her home. “I’m raising three small children, so I take opportunities when I can. I have a smaller client base, but I plan to expand as I have time.”

Blaisdell got the inspiration for her winning entry while looking through a copy of Johnstown Magazine.

“I saw the clock on City Hall, and my friend who’s a photographer had taken a picture of it, too,” Blaisdell said. “I thought ‘this is definitely Johnstown.’ I made it changing to the new year to make it appropriate.”

She chose soft, contemporary colors for her design, not wanting it to appear too bold.

“The colors are similar to the natural colors in the clock,” Blaisdell said. “I got my inspiration from the photo.”

Blaisdell graduated in 1985 from Greater Johnstown Area Vocational-Technical School, where she took graphic arts classes. After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, she worked in Altoona as a graphic artist and in Cleveland for the American Greetings card company.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Blaisdell worked locally and earned her teaching degree.

She is a member of Allied Artists of Johnstown.

Four out of five judges picked Blaisdell’s entry as the top contender.

Norman Ed, an art teacher at Westmont Hilltop High School, liked the subtlety and simplicity of Blaisdell’s design.

Blaisdell’s design will be used in advertising, “Celebration Johnstown” buttons that will go on sale the first week in November and other promotional merchandise.

She will receive two copies of all promotional items featuring her work.

Judges said her design successfully depicts the theme of community, celebration and the new year with artistic merit.

In addition to Ed, the judges were Rosemary Pawlowski, executive director of Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center; Marilyn Kopco, an art teacher at Bishop McCort High School; Jeanne Gleason, a member of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and Tom Menna, owner of Menna Designs and Productions.

The winning entry was picked in a “blind” judging process, which means that judges didn’t know whose design they were voting for and didn’t know how the other judges voted.

Honorable mentions went to Teena Petrus of Westmont, owner of The Crystal Quill; Lisa Mull of Davidsville; and David Reed, an illustrator and graphic designer from Ashville, Ohio, who is a former area resident.

Twenty-four entries were received from professional artists and high school and college students from Johnstown to Altoona.

Art mediums used included colored pencil, ink, chalk and computer-generated graphics.

Such Johnstown icons as Morley’s Dog, Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown Flood Museum, the Inclined Plane and City Hall were depicted. Fireworks to celebrate the new year appeared as a frequent theme.

Dawn Edmiston, marketing director of The Tribune-Democrat and Johnstown Magazine, said, “It was inspiring to see so many positive images of Johnstown in one place.”

Laura Conrad, general manager of Johnstown Magazine, said she was thrilled with the number of entries.

Edmiston and Conrad hope to set up a display of all entries received before “Celebration Johnstown” takes place.

All entrants will receive a complimentary subscription to the magazine.

        

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