Raleigh artist Bob Rankin, who designs the International Festival of Raleigh’s eye-catching promotional posters, will autograph 100 free copies of the 2012 edition on Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Express Library, 336 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh (inside the Wake County Office Building). The public is invited.
The 2012 poster, with Rankin’s trademark vibrant colors, depicts a montage of birds, flowers and iconic international heritage sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. The 2012 festival, being held at the Raleigh Convention Center Sept. 28-30, celebrates the theme, “A Defining Moment in History,” and the poster depicts buildings that have defined periods in time for various cultures. The buildings are presented as birdhouses, and the birds wear traditional hats associated with each culture.
The poster is the latest in a series Rankin has designed for the Festival for the past 23 years. The art has become so popular that many of Rankin’s past International Festival posters decorate offices, classrooms and homes across the Triangle, and collectors acquire all years’ editions.
Rankin will greet guests in the conference room of the Express Library, inside the Wake County Office Building, and autograph each copy.
About the international festival:
The International Festival of Raleigh is staged annually by International Focus, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to showcase and celebrate the many cultures represented by the people of the Triangle region of North Carolina. The Festival is designed to promote awareness of cultural diversity, facilitate communication between all cultural groups and advance the visibility and standing of Raleigh and its surrounding communities’ international diversity.
Organizers expect the 2012 International Festival, being held Sept. 28-30 in the Raleigh Convention Center, to attract approximately 30,000 visitors.







