UNION — The 2018 Union Fair, Maine Wild Blueberry Festival poster has been unveiled. The desire of the poster committee was to have the poster reflect that the Union Fair is a true agricultural fair as well as the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival, and this year’s artisy Gail Hawes of Union captured those themes.

Hawes grew up on a farm in the Midcoast. Her roots are reflected in much of her work. After changing her career from medical research, Gail moved back to Union where she resides with her family. She turned her focus to her creative pursuits, primarily through working with watercolor painting as well as illustration with mixed media.

"Being away for a few years allowed me to truly appreciate the landscape and quality of life in Maine. I try to capture that unique character of Maine living in artworks,” she said.

Hawes also has strong ties to the Union Fair, having grown up traveling to the fair with Holstein cattle for show, and lending a hand volunteering in various roles at the fair. In more recent years, she raised Kathadin sheep with her two daughters for 4-H. These experiences with livestock at the fair served as the inspiration to create the poster art reflective of Hawes’ own fond memories of the Union Fair.

The posters, suitable for framing, are available now for $5 each at Snowdrop Confections 377 Main Street, Downtown Rockland, Union Agway, Route 17 in Union, Sweet Season Farm, 77 Liberty Road, (Rte. 220) in Washington and at the Lincolnville Center General Store 269 Main Street in Lincolnville. Posters both framed and unframed will be available during the week of the Union Fair in the Blueberry Acres Building at the fairgrounds.

The Union Fair, Maine Wild Blueberry Festival is located at the Union Fair Grounds just off of Route 17 in Union. In 2018, the fair will run Saturday August 18 through Saturday August 25. For more information and a schedule of events and entertainment please visit www.unionfair.org.