Congo Square Poster RIP

[Marignygregg]

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/jazz-fest-congo-square-poster-quietly-discontinued-maymay-not-return/article_251ca7c2-f434-11ed-aa8a-f3c4f3141254.html

And the hits just keep on coming.......

[larrybalmur2]

I have Gatemouth Brown and Uncle Lionel Congo Square posters. 2 of my favorites. Shorty, Shamarr, Kermit,and a bunch of the others were cool. Nice to have another option each year.
I am surprised I didn't notice the change but wasn't interested in regular poster or shirt this year so didn't even walk in the tent.

[swag]

I'm not quite sure why nola.co thinks this is news, now? The last Congo Square poster was 2018, so it was omitted before the pandemic, skipped during the pandemic even as art4now was releasing Jazzfest posters when there was no Jazzfest, and didn't return post-pandemic in 2022. Now, a month after the 2023 fest, they get a statements aying only "According to art4now, “the Congo Square poster series may resume, but we cannot project a specific year at this time.”.

Just in terms of the artwork, I always liked the 2001.

20404901-fca1-46c4-8d30-5208c3aa7ab6.jpg

I also miss the Congo Square t-shirts, which often had more interesting designs that the fest t-shirts of that era.

[20/20]

Nice perspective swag and the timeline that you provided calmed me down a bit. The entire ambiance of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is changing. I bailed this year because last year was so disappointing. Marignygregg's post just fired me up again. I like the Congo Square posters and have several but even more I just like the cultural and heritage aspects that the festival has been based upon. I suspect that the Congo Square posters just were not contributing enough to the "bottom line" anymore.

[duende]

Has the League of Artisanal Framing Consultants heard about this, and if so, how did they let this transpire? Considering the timing of this announcement, I wondered if this prompted Corey Henry's FB post earlier re: the Festival not having a shared concern for New Orleans culture and heritage with most of the not-headliner music community. I'm all outta wall space at present and have no plans to upsize our residence, but if Art 4 Now shifts emphasis I'm all over that Bon Jovi Fest poster.

[Marignygregg]

I suspect the Congo Square Poster was too 'ethnic' for the current LineFest demographic.

[stynger]

I suspect the Congo Square Poster was too 'ethnic' for the current LineFest demographic.

Too ethnic? Is it any different than the other Jazzfest posters?

[Marignygregg]

Too ethnic? Is it any different than the other Jazzfest posters?

Congo Square is sacred ground for African Americans. The other Jazzfest posters have featured Pete Fountain, Jimmy Buffett, Al Hirt, Dr. John .....

So yes.

[stynger]

Congo Square is sacred ground for African Americans. The other Jazzfest posters have featured Pete Fountain, Jimmy Buffett, Al Hirt, Dr. John .....

So yes.

I understand that fact but Buffett was the last white guy in 2011. I hope that isn’t the reason but these are indeed strange days.

[Lit]

I'm not quite sure why nola.co thinks this is news, now? The last Congo Square poster was 2018, so it was omitted before the pandemic, skipped during the pandemic even as art4now was releasing Jazzfest posters when there was no Jazzfest, and didn't return post-pandemic in 2022. Now, a month after the 2023 fest, they get a statements aying only "According to art4now, “the Congo Square poster series may resume, but we cannot project a specific year at this time.”.

Just in terms of the artwork, I always liked the 2001.

20404901-fca1-46c4-8d30-5208c3aa7ab6.jpg

I also miss the Congo Square t-shirts, which often had more interesting designs that the fest t-shirts of that era.

I have three Fest posters and three Congo Square posters, and this one of my favorite of all of them. Looking at it as I type; it has a central spot in our house.

And Congo Square had the best kids’ Fest t-shirts, including some awesome tie-dyes.

[Marignygregg]

I understand that fact but Buffett was the last white guy in 2011. I hope that isn’t the reason but these are indeed strange days.

They also diminished the Congo Square Rhythm Festival by combining it with another Festival. I wonder what the African American Threadheads think about it. Oh wait ......

[jjazznj]

I haven't seen a regular Fest poster in many years (except Bo in 2015) that I'd want on my wall but I love many of the Congo Square ones. I have the BB King one framed which is one of my faves and also a few 8.5 x 11 Congo ones (Kermit, Shorty, Uncle Lionel, Rebirth, Gatemouth, Jon)I framed in my bathroom.

[Headless Hornman]

I have Gatemouth Brown and Uncle Lionel Congo Square posters. 2 of my favorites. Shorty, Shamarr, Kermit,and a bunch of the others were cool. Nice to have another option each year.
I am surprised I didn't notice the change but wasn't interested in regular poster or shirt this year so didn't even walk in the tent.

Speaking of the Uncle Lionel: last year Art4Now had a great sale on old posters ( https://www.jazzfestforum.com/forum/...ow-poster-sale ). Bren bought an Uncle Lionel; she thought that it had been listed as sold out at one time. It's numbered around 250/5000. Is 5000 the usual number of Congo Square posters? I've got to assume that they must have found some old stock because it wouldn't be ethical to print another run, right?

[swag]

Speaking of the Uncle Lionel: last year Art4Now had a great sale on old posters ( https://www.jazzfestforum.com/forum/...ow-poster-sale ). Bren bought an Uncle Lionel; she thought that it had been listed as sold out at one time. It's numbered around 250/5000. Is 5000 the usual number of Congo Square posters? I've got to assume that they must have found some old stock because it wouldn't be ethical to print another run, right?

The Congo numbered editions varied in size.

The first few years, just 1500.
That increased over the years, and peaked in 2010 and 2011, as they increased to 5000.
In 2012-16 they reduced that to 3000.
2017 was down to 2000.
2018 was 2500.

[HankAndLeeStamper]

I couldnt paste the images here, but I have and love the 1998 and 2006 Congo posters, but really love the 2001 that Lit posted. The two i have mean a lot to me sentimentally, but the 2001 may be the one i like the look of best.