SHREVEPORT, La. (ArkLaTex Today) - The finalists for gateway signs to be installed in front of several towns in Northwest Louisiana have been voted for, and the results are in.
On Feb. 5, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC), Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourism Bureau (SBCTB) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the finalist artistic gateway signs designed by Northwest Louisiana artists.
The signs are to be assembled along the 163-mile nationally recognized Boom or Bust Byway, showcasing the vibrant communities of Gilliam, Oil City, Plain Dealing, Vivian, Belcher, Hosston, Homer and Lake Claiborne.
Inspired by the renowned “Thunder Bay” gateway signs in Canada, the laser-cut signs will pay homage to the cultural heritage of Northwest Louisiana but also display the natural beauty of the region’s backdrop.
“The most common statement made about the choices included the fact that the town of Vivian was founded and built around the railroad depot which was a stop along the way for taking on water and supplies for the steam-powered locomotive. The museum represents the original growth factor for the building of the town,” Vivian Mayor Ronnie Festavan said.
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“We absolutely love every one of them!,” Belcher Mayor Jennifer Fant said about the semifinalist designs. Belcher had a very close race, voting several times to determine a final design.
The jury panel that had determined the semifinalists’ designs consisted of collegiate academians from Northwest Louisiana institutions like Centenary, Northwestern State, LaTech and LSUS. There were more than 70 submissions from local artists on SRAC’s Culturalynst. That number was narrowed to eight by the jury panel and to six finalists by the municipalities.
The finalist winners were voted for by the community for each town, among them is KSLA digital content producer and creator/host of the ArkLaTex Artistry series, Brittney Hazelton.
FINALIST WINNERS:
- Hosston, Homer | Brittney Hazelton
- Vivian, Belcher | Dorothy Kristin Hanna
- Gilliam | Julie Burton
- Plain Dealing | Karin Ebbesson
- Oil City | Lisandra di Liberto Torres
- Lake Claiborne | Whitney Tates
Each semifinalist was presented with $500 for each design. Finalists were awarded $1,500 for their designs selected by the community.
These prominent roadside signs will be fabricated with iconic imagery by Dixie Weld-Fab in Belcher, also located along the Byway. A QR code will accompany each sign, offering a gateway to local attractions and insights.
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“This project has been three years in the making for all the organizations involved, and it’s exciting that it will see completion in 2024,” said Crystal Davis, project manager. “I look forward to the communities having an artistic element that gives them pride in their home.”
If you would like to learn more about NWLA professional artists or sign up to be one, visit https://nwla.culturalyst.com/explore.
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