Kathleen Whittle and her husband Robert have been living in San Antonio for only two years and, because of the pandemic, have experienced only one San Antonio Fiesta — and that was last year’s truncated version of what is usually a city-wide event.
“We were blown away by it,” she said. “But everyone kept telling us, ‘This is only a mini-Fiesta; wait’ll you see the real thing.’”
Whittle will get the opportunity as this year’s Fiesta returns with a full schedule of events. She’ll also have bragging rights as the artist who created the official Fiesta poster, which was unveiled at the Witte Museum on Wednesday evening.
At the same event, Jazzlyn Ramirez was announced as Miss Fiesta 2023. Ramirez is a junior at the University of the Incarnate Word majoring in business administration and business management. She is also an accounting assistant at Forma Automotive, a San Antonio-based manufacturing firm.
Whittle said her poster was inspired by a Spanish Revival door in the courtyard of the McNay Art Museum.
2023. “Come on In” by Kathleen Whittle
Fiesta San Antonio Commission
Everything about Fiesta: Fiesta San Antonio
Titled “Come On In!” the poster shows a Spanish door surrounded by more Texas iconography than you can shake a rattlesnake at. Bordering the door are tiles representing everything from the Alamo and the Spurs to a margarita and a pair of cowboy boots.
Beneath the door are the six flags of Texas and it’s surrounded by magnolia blossoms, bluebonnets and a crepe myrtle. A colorful papel picado above it reads “Viva Fiesta” and, if you look carefully, you might spot a tiny horny toad basking in the sun.
“The Fiesta Commission is excited for Fiesta 2023 and happy to showcase the poster design from artist, Kathleen Whittle,” said Steve Rosenauert,
executive director of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission. “Kathleen’s design highlights the welcoming attitude and family spirit of Fiesta.”
Whittle describes herself as “incredibly humbled” to have her poster chosen to represent the 132nd edition of Fiesta San Antonio scheduled for April 20-30.
“Standing with the other artists of such high caliber who also submitted posters, it was a dream come true,” she said.
Her poster was selected based on votes submitted by the Fiesta membership.
Whittle grew up in Houston and has a bachelor’s from Abilene Christian University and an MBA from the University of Texas, Austin. She’s a full-time artist and said she plans to open her own art gallery on South Alamo Street in the spring, in part because she and her husband have decided to retire here.
“We knew we wanted to retire somewhere in Texas,” she said. “But we thought that would be Austin or Houston. But the people here have been so welcoming, we decided this is where we want to retire.”
rmarini@express-news.net