RUMFORD — The official artwork of this year’s Moxie Festival is by teacher Brent Bachelder, whose design will be used for T-shirts, posters, marketing and promotional products.

Rumford artist and teacher Brent Bachelder is this year’s winner of the Moxie artwork design contest. (Submitted photo)

Bachelder said he couldn’t resist entering the Moxie Festival Artwork Design Contest when he heard the theme was “Moxie Goes Artsy.”

His winning entry consists of four iconic images. DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, Vincent Van Gogh and a Picasso-esque figure are shown enjoying the distinctively different beverage, while the figure from Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” wails because his bottle is empty.

Moxie Festival curator Julie-Ann Baumer said, “We had 28 entries and we deliberated for two hours. Bachelder’s work most clearly fit this year’s festival them.”

She said that in addition to a $750 cash prize, Bachelder will receive the first 2019 printed T-shirt and may serve as a parade float judge.

Bachelder, originally from Newry, is a visual artist, muralist and sculptor. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and Rhode Island College, he was the designer of Providence’s Wickenden Street mural, a city landmark from 1997 until the overpass was demolished in 2010. He teaches art at Meroby Elementary School in Mexico and runs a full-service art and design studio in Rumford, Club Neopolsi Creations.

The artwork consists of four iconic images, all of them with a bottle of Moxie. (Submitted photo)

But does he like Moxie?

“It’s better than I remember it as a kid,” Bachelder said.

Moxie lovers from Maine, the U.S. and abroad will gather in Lisbon for the 37th Annual Moxie Festival from July 12-14. According to the event website, it will begin with Friday night fireworks, a sock hop and the famous Moxie Recipe Contest.

Saturday will feature the Moxie 5K Race & Kids Run, followed by Maine’s largest summertime parade, a street fair with food and vendors as well as kids activities. At night is a concert in the park The Moxie Car Show will take place Sunday.

“I’ve been meaning to go to this event,” Bachelder said. “I guess I don’t have any excuse now.”

He said the winnings will go toward improvements at his Prospect Avenue home.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net