The Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) unveiled “Love Letter to the Border” by Ansen Seale as the official 127th Celebration’s Commemorative Poster for the upcoming 2025 festivities. The Poster Unveiling Sponsored by Falcon Bank was held at Falcon Event Center on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
“When we set out to choose an artist for this year’s commemorative poster, we wanted someone who could truly capture the heart of our vibrant community with a unique piece of art. We found that in Ansen Seale, a renowned artist from San Antonio with a unique talent for blending tradition with modern techniques. His work, ‘Love Letter to the Border,’ not only looks stunning but also carries deep meaning for our border region. Ansen’s ability to combine his artistic vision with our local history makes this piece a perfect reflection of Laredo’s spirit and heritage. I’m excited to share this beautiful artwork with the community,” said WBCA President Fernando Montemayor.
The WBCA Poster Unveiling has become one of the most colorful events leading up to the start of the Celebration. Since 1982, WBCA Presidents have selected local and regional artists to create original pieces to be used as the official commemorative poster.
“As proud sponsors of the 127th Washington’s Birthday celebration, we are thrilled to unveil this year’s poster, a symbol of the creativity and passion that make this celebration truly special. Thank you to everyone involved for making this event a success year after year,” said Natalie Hernández First Vice President Executive Offices for Falcon Bank.
The official artwork will be used to promote our city and the celebration.
“I am deeply honored to have been chosen as the poster artist for the 127th Celebration,” said Ansen Seale. “My artwork, ‘Love Letter to the Border,’ is a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of our border region. By fusing technology, digital artistry, and creativity, I aimed to transport viewers back to a simpler time, while celebrating the vibrant and diverse community that we are today. The poster features 25 meticulously selected and scanned stamps from my personal collection, collaged digitally with other images and text. I hope this piece resonates with the people of Laredo and evokes a sense of pride in our shared identity.”
Ansen Seale (b. 1960, Texas, USA) is an artist based in San Antonio, Texas. His time-based works of photographic and sculptural art have been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally and have been collected by corporate, institutional, and private collectors. In 2020, he was named Artist of the Year by the San Antonio Art League and Museum. His work is in the permanent collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art, The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas, Austin, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Salta, Argentina, and the University of International Business and Economics, Beijing. Ansen’s ability to merge technology with traditional artistic techniques has made him a standout in the art world, and his work on “Love Letter to the Border” continues to push the boundaries of creative expression.
This event was made possible with the support of our Title Sponsor Falcon Bank and event Sponsors, including Dos Marias Family Kitchen, Happy Kernels, Cakes of Glory, Taco Palenque, Miller Lite, Budweiser, and Abner Miranda.
The 127th Celebration Commemorative Poster, “Love Letter to the Border,” as well as other WBCA souvenirs, may be purchased at the WBCA office at 1819 E. Hillside Road or online at www.wbcalaredo.org. The commemorative poster will also be featured on the cover of the official 2025 WBCA Program Book, and set the backdrop for all promotion efforts for the 127th Celebration.
Throughout the years, the Celebration has grown to be over a month long and consists of parades, dazzling pageants, fireworks, a carnival, an air show, a sizzling Jalapeño Festival, and much more. Combined, WBCA events attract nearly 500,000 residents and visitors and contribute an estimated $14 million every year to the local economy.
