MI Farmers Market Adopts IMS Student's Art for Official Poster

posters going up around the Island will feature the artwork of 13-year-old resident Maeve O'Briant, winner of its 2011 Poster Contest.

The poster contest announcement and award was one of the highlights at a Celebration Dinner and Auction to benefit the farmers market before opening day, 10 a.m. on June 12. Nearly 100 people attended the event, held at Lilly's Restaurant at , and organizers say over $6,000 was raised to benefit the non-profit farmers market. 

Maeve's watercolor painting was one of 34 submissions sent in to volunteer judges from  to be featured as the market's official poster for 2011 under the theme, "Farms, Families, and Friends - Experience our Market!" The contest was open to 10-18 year-old Mercer Island residents.

A 7th grader at , Maeve said she loves art and prefers to draw "everyday sketches" with pen and paper. Largely self taught, she credited IMS art teachers Julie Biggs and Kathy Shaner with refining her skills and expanding her repertoire to include watercolor, oil and acrylic paints.

"I basically just jump at the any chance I can get when it comes to art," she said.

In addition to having her art displayed on the official farmers market poster, Maeve was also awarded a $50 gift certificate to use at any vendor at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.