Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is an original, limited-edition promotional poster for the 6th Annual Old Pecan St. Spring Arts Festival held on May 5 & 6, 1984. It features a whimsical, multi-paneled design titled 'Texas Street Fair' depicting the diverse footwear, paws, and wheels of Austin festival-goers, rendered in a distinct batik-on-cotton style.
Story
In May 1984, Austin's historic Sixth Street transformed into a vibrant canvas of counter-culture and creativity. Artist Jane Tamako Raffeld captured this energy not through faces, but through the eclectic footwear of the crowd. This poster stands as a joyful time capsule of a city on the brink of its modern boom.
Maker / Origin
Jane Tamako Raffeld is a celebrated Texas artist known for her mastery of batik, an ancient wax-resist dyeing technique. Her work frequently captured the local color, architecture, and community spirit of Austin during its formative artistic era. Her festival posters from this period are highly sought after by local historians and collectors of Texas ephemera.
Condition & Value
The poster is framed under glass. There is some visible light waving of the paper and minor discoloration/spotting on the left margin. The frame shows light wear. Keeping the poster out of direct sunlight will prevent further fading of the delicate pastel tones.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.