SHAMF's 2024 Poster Art

Barbara Maslen’s new painting, “Musicians at Canio’s Books” featuring blues musicians Jake Lear and Jameson Ellis will serve as the cover art and poster for the 2024 Sag Harbor American Music Festival (SHAMF). The painting will be on view in person at Romany Kramoris Gallery on Main Street in Sag Harbor in the coming weeks.

The original artwork will be raffled off with all proceeds helping to keep SHAMF’s live music free and open to the public. The winner will be announced after the final concert of the festival on Sunday, September 29. Printed posters will be available for sale at the festival merchandise table.

Jake Lear and Jameson Ellis will perform on Sunday, September 29, at noon on the WLIW-FM Stage in Steinbeck Park.

Musicians at Canio’s Books marks the 13th original artwork created for the festival. The tradition began with local artist and longtime SHAMF board member Maryann Lucas, who donated the first 11 paintings raising over $20,000 for SHAMF from 2011 to 2022. In 2023, artist Michael Butler contributed his original artwork “Musicians at St. David’s AME Church” which raised over $2,000 for the Eastville Community Historical Society house roof renovation.

“It was love at first sight. I fell in love with this little Village of Sag Harbor when I moved here alone, from the city in 1990,” said Maslen in a statement. “Renowned for its legacy of artists and writers, architectural gems, and quirky little shops, I have seen a lot of changes in this town. Some for the better, some not so much … but all of them hard fought and certainly hotly debated.

“But change is inevitable — neglected buildings are being renovated, favorite restaurants come and go, mom and pop shops are often priced out, but a real resurgence has been seen in the flourishing of all the cultural arts,” she continued. “Growing up in a family of musicians and artists, I am an ardent supporter of the arts, especially any efforts to bring a live audience and live music together. I am heartened to see how this community embraced [the launch] of the Sag Harbor American Music Festival in 2011, and have watched it grow over the years from one day to now four days of joyous celebration, music and community.

“I was thrilled when they approached me to paint this year’s cover image. Their choice of showcasing the ‘old’ of Canio‘s Books historic façade, with the ‘new,’ plugged-in blues musicians Jake Lear and Jameson Ellis, brings it all full circle for me. Building on our past and moving forward.”

The 2024 Sag Harbor American Music Festival runs September 26 to 29 at locations throughout the village. Visit sagharbormusic.org for details.