Strawberry Festival Poster Unveiled

While many farmers are contending with their valuable strawberry crop rotting in soggy fields, California Strawberry Festival officials Tuesday unveiled an image much more conducive to promoting the annual event.

This year’s festival poster by Ventura artist Stephanie Elise, which features four perfectly ripe strawberries nestled in a crystal dish, was displayed for the first time during a ceremony at a Mandalay Bay resort in Oxnard.

“It’s a festive piece of art,” said the 50-year-old watercolor artist. “I’m sharing a little sunshine and that’s what my art does. . . . It’s a feel-good piece of art.”

With recent winter storms causing an estimated $18 million in damage to the county’s strawberry crop so far, the industry needs all the sunshine it can get.

The 15th annual homage to the crop is scheduled for May 16 and 17 at College Park on Rose Avenue. With sales of about $150 million in a good year, strawberries are the county’s No. 2 crop behind lemons.

Elise, who won a first-place award at the 1991 Ventura County Fair and at last year’s California Gold Coast Watercolor Awards, will receive an unaccustomed level of visibility from the general public with her latest creation.

Her poster will not only be seen around the county in advance of the festival, but the image will also adorn T-shirts and sweatshirts sold at the celebration.

“There are many artists that sit and paint and get no recognition,” she said. “You’re just lucky when you get chosen for an award of any kind. . . . Everyone appreciates accolades.”