Finch Artist Laura Stevens Winning Artwork on Official IPM Poster

SDG Counties, Ontario – The artwork for the official poster for the Stormont Dundas Glengarry 2015 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) was unveiled in County Council Chambers today in Cornwall.

Local artist Laura Stevens of Finch, created the winning artwork selected from sixteen entries submitted to the art competition and received the grand prize of $1,500.  Stevens studied art at the Sheridan Institute of Art, obtained a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts from Bishop’s University and also studied illustration at the University of Worcester in England. After several years in western Canada she has returned home to SDG with her husband and young family.

Two executive members from the 2015 IPM Executive Committee and one from the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) selected the winning artwork in a blind, numbered competition.   It wasn’t until after the selection was made that the judges realized the winner was from Finch, the location of the 2015 Plowing Match.

The artwork will be the calling card on thousands of Official IPM Posters distributed across Ontario, Quebec and Northern New York. The match is expected to draw 70,000 to 100,000 visitors to the region over the five-day event.

Quick Facts:

• Finch artist Laura Stevens is the winner of the artwork competition for the 2015 Official IPM Poster.
• Winning artwork was designed and created with mixed media of acrylic paint, marker and magazine clippings.
• The tagline for 2015 IPM & Rural Expo is “Link to the Past…Look to the Future”.
• Competition was open to residents of all ages in SDG, City of Cornwall and Awkesasne.
• The 2015 SDG International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will be held September 22-26 near Finch, Ontario.
• The IPM is the largest show of its kind in North America. Studies show economic impacts greater than $10M are generated from tourists and event operations.  Over 60% of visitors travel more than 40 km to attend the event.

“As Chair of this year’s IPM & Rural Expo, I congratulate Laura Stevens on winning the poster design competition,” said Jim Brownell.  “Tradition was upheld and recognized with this design selection. Plowing match posters are an important component of the IPM and over the next few months will ‎invite one and all to the IPM and Rural Expo in September.”

“This poster initiative is truly a win-win as it promotes the upcoming International Plowing Match, and it also showcases what great artistic talent we have in SDG,” said Eric Duncan, Mayor of North Dudndas and Warden of the United Counties of SDG.  “People are starting to talk more and more about the IPM coming to our area, and excitement is certainly building.”