CRESTVIEW — Artist Nicole Weaver is the winner of the News Bulletin’s Redesign the Rack contest.
Weaver, who says her seven children inspire her colored abstracts, painted themes that reflect North Okaloosa County for her submission.
The newspaper's management plans to use her design, with a few suggested revisions, on the rack outside the newspaper's 638 N. Ferdon Blvd. office. Weaver also wins a $100 check.
News Bulletin staffers selected the artist’s design from two other finalists' submissions. All the finalists submissions were impressive, but when the time came to choose the first-place recipient, the decision was clear, Editor Thomas Boni said.
"Nicole's attention to detail, her submission's reflection of North Okaloosa culture and values and her artistic skill are to be commended," Boni said.
The winning design resulted from a spur-of-the-moment burst of creativity shortly after the newspaper announced the contest in early July, Weaver said.
“I did it because I had free time that day,” Weaver said. “It was a one-hour thing that I did. I will work with Thomas to refine it.”
The News Bulletin rack will be Weaver's first local public installation, although she had done some pieces of public art in her native Germany.
Weaver recently exhibited at the Crestview Public Library and will conduct student art workshops at Northwood Arts and Science Academy in October.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview artist wins News Bulletin's Redesign the Rack contest