Autumn Fiske, a Ryegate, Montana native, submitted the winning entry for the 2013 Sweet Pea Festival Poster contest. Autumn now resides in Chinook, MT. She first attended the Sweet Pea Festival as an MSU student.  A classmate invited Autumn Fiske to go hear some live music at the Festival.  Autumn said when she strolled into the Festival she found plenty of music and so much more. “I was delighted by the art, the food, the myriad of vendors, the wide array of live performances and the overall community vibe,” said Fiske. “The whole Festival atmosphere was so casual and relaxing, but exciting and vibrant – all at the same time, “ the artist remembers.

It’s been a few years since Autumn enjoyed the Sweet Pea Festival.  Now residing in Chinook, MT (five hours away near Havre), she’s excited to return for the 2013 Sweet Pea Festival this August.  Autumn also applied for the poster contest in 2012.  Second time’s a charm for this Montanan who is taking home the purple ribbon and the $1,000 cash prize!

Autumn enjoys art immensely and views it as a great connector of people.  “Everyone is attracted to beauty, and I love the universal element of art,” she explains.  Predominantly, she works with acrylic paint, but she also works with pencil and watercolors. Often, Autumn paints portraits.  She enjoyed branching out and creating art for the Sweet Pea Festival.   In regards to her winning poster design, Autumn states that she was very drawn to the color palette she selected.  The vibrant green she used as her background color showcases the lush, well-watered environment where Sweet Pea plants thrive.  She likes the bold way the green color off-sets the sweet peas she painted.

Second Place was awarded to Chelsey Croskey, Third Place went to Ian Schumacher and Honorable Mention was Daniel Taylor.

All entries will be on display at the ERA office located at 8 E. Main Street until July 24th and the public is invited to cast their vote for the People’s Choice award. Posters and other Sweet Pea merchandise, as well as three-day Festival wristbands are now on sale at the Sweet Pea office and various outlets throughout Bozeman. For a complete listing of outlets visit: http://sweetpeafestival.org/sweet-pea-tickets/.