South Bend unveils poster to inspire the city's next 100 years

SOUTH BEND — To imagine a poster that would inspire South Benders over the next century, graphic artist Tyler Foley turned to a print that he's owned and loved for years.

That 1922 image, which inspired this year's "The Next 100 Years" contest, first appeared on a brochure commemorating the century that had passed since fur trader Alexis Coquillard settled here in 1823. It touts the world-famed South Bend as the home of the Studebaker automobile. It signals a manufacturing hub depended on for commerce by trains crossing the land. It shows a city of ornate hotels and a bustling downtown.

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Drawing from that historical inspiration, Foley designed a first-place poster in the contest that aims to embody a vision of South Bend for 100 years to come.

"The Next 100 Years" contest, whose winners were announced Monday by The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum, drew 75 entries from nine U.S. states and three countries. Foley, a 39-year-old who lives in downtown South Bend but was born in Portland, Ore., won first place and the $10,000 reward.

Over a backdrop that resembles a map of this city on the south bend of the St. Joseph River, Foley's poster incorporates longstanding landmarks, including the South Shore Line and Notre Dame's Golden Dome. He highlights key elements of the city's future, such as tourism and the arts. His color scheme is inspired by the blue, red, yellow and white that make up South Bend's official flag.

"I have a print of the original (poster), and I've always loved it, so I just thought it would be a really cool opportunity to be a part of that," said Foley, wearing a South Bend T-shirt and a South Bend hat to accept his $10,000 reward.

The Top 10 candidates were chosen by a panel of 10 local jurors who represent a diverse array of perspectives, said Patrick Slebonick, executive director of Studebaker National Museum.

Steve Sult, a designer who built a career at advertising agencies, won second place and $5,000. Bob Green drove more than 500 miles from his home near Rochester, N.Y., to accept $3,500 and his third-place prize on Monday. The other finalists won $1,000.

Green's third-place poster features a split-screen effect: He merges a welder wearing a helmet and holding a blowtorch with a woman wearing a virtual reality headset. Sult, who lives in Niles, drew inspiration from the vibrant colors used by posters made during the Works Progress Administration, a Great Depression-era agency that employed millions of people to work on public projects.

"The winner really had a very difficult task," Slebonick said. "They not only had to capture where we are as a community right now and who we are, but where we hope to be in the next 100 years."

Foley, 39, has lived in South Bend for the past eight years after moving from Manhattan to be closer to family. He studied graphic design during college in Ohio, but he works a day job as a commercial property manager. He tends to limit his work to small local businesses and organizations whose mission he believes in, such as the museum.

All 10 posters will be on display until Dec. 31 at the campus shared by the museums at 897 Thomas St.

Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09