It was a sure sign that the Rose Festival is almost here as I headed to the event on Thursday night (April 24) to unveil the 2008 Poster. In what's become an annual event to give Rose Festival sponsors and supporters the opportunity to network with each other, the poster unveiling has become a tradition as well.

In addition, another new piece of Rose Festival artwork was unveiled -- the label design for the 2008 Rose Festival Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, produced by Oak Knoll Winery.

Calling himself a "retired winemaker," Oak Knoll founder Ron Vuylsteke presented a scholarship to wine label artist and Oregon College of Art & Craft student Christopher Kramer, then assisted him in unveiling the label design. The colorful rosebud provides a stunning contrast to the dark green bottle -- an excellent fit for this special vintage.

All eyes turned to Portland Rose Festival Foundation President Mark McGirr, as he introduced artist (and Royal Rosarian) Tedd Chilless, telling us about Tedd's background in architecture, as well as his career as an artist. A collective "aaah" was heard when the poster was unveiled -- an amazing representation of Tedd's original oil painting picturing a couple in a ballroom dance pose, with the Portland cityscape in the background.

Tedd invited forward the couple he'd used as his 'inspiration' for the poster which focused on the Festival's 2008 theme, "Romancing the Rose." Tedd said, "What's more romantic than a lovely couple dancing and holding a rose in the early morning sunlight above our beautiful city with Mt. Hood in the background!"

For most people this might have been just another Thursday, but for many of us it was a delicious and artful reminder that Rose Festival season is here!

-Carol Ross, PRFF Ticket & Event Program Manager