Winner revealed in Belle Isle Grand Prix poster contest
Mary McLain was selected the winner of the 2015 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix official poster competition.
Winner revealed in Belle Isle Grand Prix poster contest Mary McLain was selected the winner of the 2015 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix official poster competition. Check out this story on Freep.com: http://on.freep.com/1FZerZB
Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press Published 8:40 p.m. ET April 16, 2015
Mary McLain designed the winning poster for the Belle Isle Grand Prix.(Photo: Special to the Free Press)
Mary McLain felt a bit guilty after her win.
"No, I haven't been to a race," she said nervously. "And I don't have a favorite racecar driver either."
McLain had just been selected the winner of the 2015 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix official poster competition.
The 22-year-old design student from Livonia said she felt lucky to beat out four fellow finalists from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit in winning the award.
"I think I'm going to have to be at Belle Isle this summer for the race," McLain said. "I'd better be."
Despite a non-racing background, McLain said she was inspired by the challenge of designing the Grand Prix poster when her class at CCS was handed the assignment earlier in the year.
"I wanted to show something with rich colors, sweeping vistas and the vibe of a vintage national park poster," explained McLain, who has attended CCS the past couple years. "Belle Isle is such a beautiful place, so full of potential."
McLain's winning image depicts a father and son standing under a tree and watching Indy cars race around the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline in the background.
It showcases the island's unique features both natural and manmade.
"I think my poster is strongly designed with a certain amount of emotion within it," McLain said. "A father and son at the races — sharing a moment together they may never do again."
McLain texted her parents immediately after the judges, who included WXYZ-TV sports reporter and anchor Brad Galli, announced her as the winner at the Walter B. Ford Building downtown Thursday.
"It's a little surreal right now," she admitted. "I've won other design awards, but this goes to the top of the list. All the students did such a great job. I feel very fortunate to win."
Esther Licata, 20, of Farmington was judged runner-up in the poster competition.
"Both Mary and Esther produced outstanding work, as did all the finalists and the whole CCS class," said Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker, another of the judges. "Their work was compelling. It was very tough to pick a winner, but Mary's entry just had the edge, the emotional touch and connection we were looking for."
McLain's poster will officially be launched at the next Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association luncheon April 30 at the One Woodward Building.
Verizon IndyCar Series driver and Target Chip Ganassi Racing veteran Scott Dixon will be on hand to meet McLain and the other poster finalists from CCS.
"I'll be excited to meet Scott and go to the race on Belle Isle," said McLain, who promised to brush up on her racing beforehand. "I'm just thrilled to have won a competition that highlights Detroit and a major summer event here."
The 2015 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, featuring the dual IndyCar races, is slated to run on the island May 29-31.
Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle GP duals
When: May 29-31. Dual 1 is at 3:30 p.m. May 30, Dual 2 is at 3:30 May 31.
Where: Belle Isle Park road course.
Tickets: Single-day tickets are $35 for general admission, $55 for Rows 17 and above ($45 for youths 12 and younger) and $75 for Rows 9-16 ($65 for youths 12 and younger). Multiday options range from $65 for two-day general admission to $175 for a three-day super ticket (Rows 1-3). Available for purchase at detroitgp.com.
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