Lerma’s design concept selected for Ritz Theatre’s T-shirt contest

A Stephens County High School junior’s design concept has been selected to be featured on a limited-edition t-shirt celebrating the Historic Ritz Theatre’s 80^th anniversary.

On Wednesday, Friends of the Ritz, Incorporated board member Marie Cochran made the announcement that Arly Lerma’s design concept, incorporating The Wizard of Oz and the Ritz into one design.

Cochran said selecting a design was a challenge.

“This was a difficult thing to do—to pick, because everybody had strengths from all of their different designs,” she said. “What we were looking for was something that was a little bit unusual, because one of the things that we were combining was the history of the theatre, which was turning 80, and the fact that the Wizard of Oz was also turning 80. Because on that celebration day we had the screening of the Wizard of Oz.”

Cochran called for a drumroll before naming the winner.

“The winner was chosen based on the design. The thing about t-shirt design, its not dependent on the actual image, its not how well the image is done, it’s the design idea. So, a designer from Threads took the idea and turned it into a finished product,” she said. “Now, like I said before, we’re always looking to take a design and take it to the next level, so this is a little teachable moment for me to say that when you have an idea, there’s all these different ways that you can bring that idea to a stronger statement.”

Cochran says each student who entered the contest received a prize.

“Everybody that entered is going to get two free tickets to an event at the Ritz. And, Arly is going to get a t-shirt and five actual visits a The Studio Gallery in Downtown Toccoa, for drawing classes, which include painting and drawing, and the opportunity to possibly have a solo show,” she said.

Lerma told WNEG news about her concept and what it feels like to have won.

“Mrs. Lauren Copeland (SCHS Art Teacher) put a vision board up of what she wanted,” Lerma said. “I tried to mix the vintage things together and I combined 80th and Oz. It’s kind of overwhelming, I don’t know how to react to these types of things, so it makes me nervous; but, it’s definitely an honor to win and be selected for this.”

The final design for the t-shirt was by Threads, who used Lerma’s concept.

According to Cochran a limited number of the limited-edition t-shirt is available for purchase. She says all 80 for 80 members will receive the t-shirt.

Additionally, the Friends of the Ritz, Inc. will meet on Tuesday, January 28 for its Board Meeting beginning at 7 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre.

The public is invited to attend.

For more information contact [email protected].