Poster is last in a series
The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has produced a collectible limited-edition Friends of the Festival print to celebrate the festival’s 5th event and the Bantam’s 75th birthday
Every year, an artist has created a print exclusively for the festival. The 2015 print features the Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC) built by Butler’s American Bantam Car Co. in 1940. It will be the final print in the series.
George Gaadt is an artist, illustrator and portrait painter born in Erie. He created a blueprint-style illustration of the BRC for 2015.
The design features illustrated versions of the American Bantam Car Co.’s red logo and a portrait of the company’s president, Frank Fenn.
Another feature is the license plate mounted on the front bumper accompanied by text that explains the content on the plate. It also features an information block, similar to an authentic blueprint.
“Since this is the 75th birthday of the BRC and the last print in the Friends of the Festival series, I wanted this piece to do more than feature the BRC. I wanted it to tell a story,” said Gaadt, who also created the 2012 print.
The bottom of the four-color process lithograph includes the words “American Bantam Car Company” and the festival logo.
Each of the 16-by-20 prints is numbered, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and signed by the artist. Each print costs $100 and only 100 prints have been produced.
Prints can be bought at the merchandise store at Cooper’s Lake Campground as well as in downtown Butler in Diamond Park between 2:30 and 10 p.m. Friday. They also will be available in the festival’s online store after the event.
Terry Hagen of the Associated Artists of Butler County coordinated the project.
There are a few prints remaining from the previous four years. Call 724-234-2291 for information.
