Few Shad Fest posters have political theme

The deadline for submitting the artwork has been extended.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — Last year, emotions ran high during the George Bush-John Kerry presidential race.
   As a result, some posters submitted by artists for the Shad Festival poster auction carried a political theme, including one of President Bush and Saddam Hussein.
   This year, with the flood that occurred earlier this month still fresh in everyone’s mind, politics are taking a backseat.
   "To my knowledge, there’s not a wide group of political posters," said Tom Martin, president of the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the festival. "This year the topic is floods."
   At least one of the politically themed posters last year provoked complaints, according to Mr. Martin. And those complaints led the organizers to ask artists to refrain from using the auction as "a political forum."
   Instead, artists were asked to submit posters that would further the auction’s goal of raising scholarship money for local high school students who intend to pursue an education in the arts.
   Artists were insulted and upset by the request, which was issued as a notice on the back of the blank poster forms distributed by organizers. They said the notice trampled on free speech and free expression and was akin to censorship. There was talk of boycotting or perhaps submitting even more politically themed posters.
   Mr. Martin said he has not seen all of the posters yet, but most of them do not contain political themes. Whether it’s the result of changing events or a response to an expressed desire by the auction’s organizers to veer away from politics, no one is sure yet.
   At least one poster depicts a flood scene on Lambert Lane, Mr. Martin said Tuesday.
   The 150-plus posters already submitted do not indicate fewer artists are participating, although Mr. Martin said he did not have a specific count available Tuesday, and he was not yet able to compare the number to previous years.
   "They’re still coming in," Mr. Martin said.
   The April 18 deadline has been extended because of the necessity of changing the location of the Shad Fest office. The office had been located in the Justice Center on South Union Street, which was damaged by the flood and remains closed.
   The deadline has been extended from between 10 days and two weeks, according to Mr. Martin, who did not have a firm closing date yet.
   Posters may be submitted at the new office at 63 Coryell St. or at Sojourner, 26 Bridge St.
   The poster auction to date has raised more than $220,000 to help aspiring artists pursue their education, according to the chamber.
   The Shad Festival will be held May 21 and 22. The poster auction will take place May 22 at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on North Union Street.
   For more information, e-mail [email protected] or phone 397-SHAD.