UPDATED WITH STORY: 2023 festival poster connects with communities

Patricia Drew Breaux is a Berwick native who lives in Morgan City. Maybe that's why the official poster for the 88th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival gives some love to both communities and more besides.

Breaux's winning entry in this year's poster competition was unveiled Thursday at the Bayou Bash BBQ kickoff event at Morgan City's Holiday Inn Express and Suites. The 2022 festival royalty, Queen Jordan Gallegos and King Greg Hamer, were at her side as the poster was revealed in a packed lobby.

Her acrylic work was chosen by the festival's poster committee from among six entries.

"I started working on my idea a year ago," Breaux said. "Of course, I added to it."

The painting has the familiar festival poster features, including Berwick Bay, the U.S. 90 and La. 182 bridges, the oil derrick and two of what you'd have to describe as jumbo shrimp.

A little hunting will turn up he Berwick lighthouse across the bay.

Flying over the bridge is an airplane modeled after the Weddell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum's Red Lion. A helicopter in green and white hints at PHI's longtime facility in Amelia as well as the aviation connection to Weddell-Williams in Patterson.

The Spirit of Morgan City shrimp boat has a prominent place along with the gazebo from Lawrence Park.

"I always liked the gazebo," Breaux said Thursday.

Breaux got some help with the lettering on the poster entry from James Dinicola at Plus Signs.

She completed her entry between mid-April and mid-June.

Her connection with the festival and her love of painting go back decades.

Breaux's first memory of the festival are from when she was 8 or 10 years old, and the festival was near Front and Railroad streets and the dances were in front of City Hall.

She was Miss Congeniality in the 1969 queen pageant.

Breaux began painting at age 12 and took lessons from Browning Graham. As an adult, she gave up art for 25 years.

That hiatus lasted until 2017. Since she resumed painting, she has completed several commissions, including a work at Central Catholic High.

The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival will have its traditional Labor Day weekend spot this year.

In the meantime, the Bayou BBQ Bash is underway under the bridge in Morgan City and will conclude Saturday.

Leon & the Hot Sauce will perform 6-9 p.m. Friday.

DJ JJ Starbuck will be on stage Saturday, followed at 1 p.m. by Cliff Hillebran.

The winners will be announced at 4 p.m.