Posted on Dec 07, 2005

Images of stars are popping up around the local area as publicity posters for First Night's New Year's celebration get distributed. The artwork was produced by a CSUMB graduate (and current university employee) and is the result of a partnership between the university and the event's organizers.

For three years, First Night has worked with CSUMB in a competition of sorts to develop the art that goes into the buttons, posters and on the Web to promote the annual New Year's festival.

Students in Professor Bobbi Long's publications workshop find out what its like to work on a real-world project and First Night gets high-caliber art that helps define its theme.

"Part of the mission statement of First Night is to involve the community, so it was a perfect partnership," said Sue Ann Hillyer, visual arts director for First Night.

The work of Francine Aguirre (who graduated last May) was chosen to promote this year's festival. Aguirre, a resident of Salinas, is now employed as a graphic artist at the university.

Her winning design is dominated by a field of stars on a blue background, symbolizing this year's theme of "Night of a Thousand Stars."

Each Dec. 31 for more than a decade, the non-profit First Night has staged an afternoon and evening of visual and performing arts throughout downtown Monterey to welcome in the new year.

View the full poster here.