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  • Owasso artist Doug Henderson explained the numerous elements to Claremore Chamber of Commerce ambassadors Dale Fuzzell, center, and Myrtle Prather that went into the making of this year’s Bluegrass & Chili Festival poster at the Claremore Chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon. PROGRESS PHOTO/Tom Fink

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August 25, 2010

Chili Reception: Chamber unveils poster art for Bluegrass & Chili Festival

Tom Fink Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — Owasso resident Doug Henderson must be doing something right.

For years, the local man has earned a living as an award-winning photographer, graphic designer, and artist.

This year, he was asked back to Rogers County to again create the poster art to promote Claremore’s annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival.

“We’re so honored that Doug agreed to create the Bluegrass & Chili Festival poster for us again this year,” said Dell Davis, Claremore Chamber of Commerce president. “He’s done such a tremendous job for us in the past, and every year, he manages to outdo himself — I’ve seen this year’s poster, and this year is certainly no exception to that.”

This year marks Henderson’s tenth time to be tapped by the Claremore Chamber to create a poster meant to invoke the spirit of the annual festival, and which will be used to promote the event in media outlets around the city, the state, and even across the country.

The fruits — and peppers — of Henderson’s labors were revealed for all to see yesterday afternoon, when he unveiled the official Bluegrass & Chili Festival poster at the Claremore Chamber offices in downtown Claremore.

“For this year’s poster, I was thinking about a country fruit stand,” Henderson said. “Only this fruit stand is kind of selling bluegrass — and chili. In shopping for a fruit stand (to use for the poster), I couldn’t find one like the old-fashioned ones used to be — they’re all aluminum now — so I ended up constructing this menagerie in my back yard.”

As in Henderon’s previous Bluegrass & Chili Festival posters, event sponsors are seamlessly featured on the artwork — RCB Bank and 1st Bank logos appearing on baskets of apples and peppers, respectively, LaFarge North America’s logo hidden on a burlap sack — with performers listed on the menu as “Today’s Special.”

Henderson said he completed this year’s poster in only one week — “Record time, for me” he said — but the actual work was preceded by several weeks worth of “stewing time.”

“Doug always does a great job,” Davis said. “It’s amazing how he can pull so many elements together and turn them into an amazing piece of art and a collectible poster, yet one that serves the purpose to promote the spirit of bluegrass for our Bluegrass & Chili Festival.”

The 31st annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival will be Thursday, Sept. 9 through Saturday, Sept. 11 in Claremore, and feature performances by artists Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, the Grascals, and others.

Henderson’s 2010 Bluegrass & Chili Festival posters are available for purchase at the Claremore Chamber of Commerce offices at 419 West Will Rogers Boulevard, and will be available at the Bluegrass & Chili Festival on the grounds of the Claremore Expo Center. 

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