Festival announces poster contest winners

The Festival at Sandpoint has announced the three winners of its 2026 Poster Contest.

Cyndie Hammond was selected as the fine arts poster winner for the 2026 summer music series; Ellie Gibson was selected as the series lineup poster winner; and Fennik Johanson was selected as the winner of the Festival’s youth poster contest.

Hammond is a third-generation North Idaho resident, with her grandfather having homesteaded on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille just east of the Long Bridge. 

Her winning art piece, “Shadow Serenade”, is inspired by her experience and memories of the area’s lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests. 

“Memories and joy underpin all my pieces, especially this one,” Hammond said. “My work is an invitation to the viewer, a visual feast of exuberant color and light to evoke personal memories, the warm, often forgotten snapshots of happiness, comfort, and celebration.” 

Each artwork includes two to twenty layers of colored pencil, with the final piece requiring up to 45 hours, depending on the complexity. 

“My work is an act of meticulous building, where layers of brilliant color accumulate to form surfaces that pulse with energy and optimism,” Hammond said. “By pouring this heartfelt intention into every stroke, I hope to connect the viewer to the profound, enduring embrace of joy, not as a fleeting moment, but as a rich, layered, and resonant experience.” 

Hammond's work will be revealed July 7, following the Festival’s annual poster unveiling and sponsor appreciation event. 

The artist’s donation of this original piece is not only a tradition but a fundraiser for the non-profit organization’s mission. The original art is auctioned, with bidding beginning July 7 and concluding at the Grand Finale performance Aug. 9.

Johanson's artwork features the state of Idaho, a guitar, a piano, sheet music, fireworks, and more. He is the first winner of the Festival's new post contest geared to young artists under 14 years old.

Gibson’s work, “Sunset on the Byway”, was selected as the series lineup poster for the 2026 Summer Series. Her piece is inspired by the view from a turn on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway.  

As a college student pursuing a degree in Graphic and Web Design from North Idaho College, she was selected to receive the Festival's 2026 Poster Contest Scholarship.  

The Festival at Sandpoint hosts its annual summer concert series at War Memorial Field in Sandpoint. The 2026 event will take place July 30 through Aug. 9 

For more information, visit festivalatsandpoint.com.

    Gibson
  

    Johanson