Sled Island Turns To All Local Artists To Create Gig Posters

Every year, the Sled Island Music & Arts Festival takes over Calgary, Alberta Canada with a great mix of mainstream, indie, and totally obscure artists.

In recent years, the festival has placed a greater emphasis on the visual art component, highlighted by a poster show which teams local artists with the bands playing gigs during the festival.

These limited edition, hand-silkscreened posters are printed by Burnt Toast Studios and can be purchased for $30 Canadian. There are only 50 copies of each poster available so head over here and grab one today!

Here are some of our favorites over the years:

2017 – Waxahatchee; by Jonathan Dyck

Jonathan Dyck is a freelance illustrator and designer from the Canadian Prairies. He’s also done work for the Polaris Music Prize, GUTS Magazine, Elm Cafe, and more.

Waxahatchee poster for Sled Island 2017 by artist Jonathan Dyck
Photo: Jonathan Dyck

2017 – Silver Apples by Rebecca Dalke

Rebecca Dalke is an Edmonton artist with a multi-disciplinary background, including marketing and graphic design. Her design process is heavy on wordplay, anagrams, and puns.

Silver Apples Poster for Sled Island 2017 by artist Rebecca Dalke
Photo: Rebecca Dalke

2017 – Guitar Wolf by Cam Hoff

Cam Hoff is a designer and illustrator with over 15 years experience based in Calgary. He has won 3 Ad Rodeo Anvil Awards in logo and package design. He’s also an avid reader and a big fan of the Boston Red Sox.

Poster for Sled Island 2017 by artist Cam Hoff
Photo: Cam Hoff

2017 – MONO by Chris Morix

Chris Morix resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and his work has been featured in several galleries and festivals across Canada. His work has also been published in many local and national publications including The National Post and The Toronto Star. He also keeps busy touring with his band Slow Down Molasses.

Poster for Sled Island 2017 by Chris Morix
Photo: Chris Morix

2015 – Ex Hex by Chris Pecora

Chris Pecora runs his graphic design and illustration studio out of Calgary. He’s also created work for Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters, The Calgary Flames, and the Glenblow Museum, among others.

Poster for Sled Island 2015 by artist Chris Pecora
Photo: Chris Pecora

2015 – Drive Like Jehu by Chelsea O’Byrne

Chelsea O’Byrne is a freelance illustrator living and working in Vancouver, BC. She graduated in with a BFA in graphic illustration from Emily Carr University in 2016. She’s currently working on her first children’s book.

Poster for Sled Island 2015 by artist Chelsea O'Byrne
Photo: Chelsea O’Byrne

2014 – Killer Mike by Jarett Sitter

Jarett Sitter is a Calgary-based artists whose illustrations delve deep into dreamlike and fantastical themes. He’s storngly influenced by music and has also worked in music videos. In past years, his video work has been nominated for Juno Awards and Much Music Video Awards.

2013 – Superchunk by Tom Bagley

Tom Bagley is a well-known Calgary artist, musician, and horror-punk composer. In 1988, he started the band Forbidden Dimension and continues to play guitar and create gig posters around Calgary. He’s influenced by everything from B-grade horror movies to Disney’s classic animated film Dumbo.

Poster for Sled Island 2013 by artist Tom Bagley
Photo: Tom Bagley

2011 – Thee Oh Sees by Megan Kirk

Megan Kirk is an artists based in Calgary. In 2005, she started Jiffy-T Productions Inc. which specialized in T-shirt, vinyl, and screen printing and more. She is also the co-owner and Head of Public Relations for Tubby Dog, a gourmet hot dog shop in downtown Calgary.

Poster for Sled Island 2011 by artist Megan Kirk
Photo: Megan Kirk

2011 – The Bellrays by Tanya Lam

Tanya Lam is an illustrator currently residing in Montreal, QC. Her specialties are editorial and children’s book illustrations. Her clients include The New York Times, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Cirque du Soleil and more.

Poster for Sled Island 2011 by artist Tanya Lam
Photo: Tanya Lam