The 2018 Natchez Trace Festival Poster was inspired by the artist’s grandsons from Arkansas, who always make a trip to the courthouse square when visiting their grandparents, Earl and Melinda Price.
“I was thrilled and excited when I was asked to use my painting of the Kosciusko water tower as the festival poster,” said Melinda.
From an early age, she said her oldest grandson, Hayes, has had a fascination for the water tower. When learning the alphabet, she said he recognized the lettering on the water tower as having a letter in his name and would claim that the water tower belonged to him. As his brother Sims began to visit the square and enjoy playing on the lawn, Melinda said he too grew to enjoy the seeing the water tower. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Price of Conway, Ark.
Melinda said the water tower has significance as a landmark standing as a sentinel over the town. “I consider it as much a part of Kosciusko as the courthouse. I was glad to have my painting chosen to be associated with the festival,” she said.
Painting from the back porch of their home on Brantley Street and her use of blue prompted naming her studio Back Porch Blue. “I mix paint to get the shade of blue I like,” she said.
Melinda said her love of art began at an early age when she painted fruit, bird nests and flowers. Lessons taught by Inez Dickerson broadened her talent leading to her love of semi-abstract. “I don’t like perfect,” she said.
Examples of her art are seen hanging in the central office of the Kosciusko School District. She has recently completed paintings of all the schools, central office and Landrum Field with the baseball fields, a work in progress.
Although retired from 27 years of teaching in the Child Care Program of First Baptist Church, she goes back each week for a few hours of teaching art and music.
On the day of the Natchez Trace Festival, Melinda will be among the artisans at the Pocket Park located across from the Kosciusko-Attala Partnership office.
The festival poster is also depicted on the festival T-shirts.
