Tourney graphic selected
Teen's design picked for Deep Sea Roundup artwork
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

The chosen one STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER Gina Burgess shows off the artwork she created for the 72nd Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup this summer. The 2007 Port Aransas High School graduate is planning a career in fine arts and already has received recognition for her work.

Eighteen-year-old Gina Burgess created the official artwork that will go on hundreds of T-shirts and posters associated with the 72nd Port Aransas Deep Sea Roundup this summer.

Never mind the fact that fishing isn't one of Burgess's pastimes.

"I had to look online to see what some of these fish looked like," said Burgess, who was salutatorian of the Port Aransas High School class of 2007. "But once I knew what they looked like, it was easy."

Created with watercolor pencils, Burgess's illustration features a Lone Star flag punctuated by a colorful swirl of fish including a blue marlin, a sailfish, a redfish and a trout.

The Deep Sea Roundup, scheduled for July 5-8, is sponsored by Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. Burgess's design was approved earlier this year by the Boatmen's Deep Sea Roundup Committee and the Boatmen's board of directors.

"In the past, we have used people from outside the city of Port Aransas to help us with our designs for Tshirts and logos," said Charlie Zahn, chairman of the Boatmen. "So we were really thrilled we were able to use someone not only local but one of the students, who are the primary beneficiaries of what we do."

Through the Deep Sea Roundup, the Boatmen raise money for scholarships for Port Aransas High School students and to support activities and programs for island youth.

Zahn said this about Burgess's design: "I think it's fantastic. I think it really catches the ambience of what the Deep Sea Roundup is all about - the two divisions of the Deep Sea Roundup, and that is the offshore division and the bay-surf division."

Burgess said she was excited that her design was chosen. She is planning a career in fine arts and already has received recognition for her work.

Burgess created T-shirt illustrations commemorating the Port Aransas Kiwanis Club Beach Dash the past two years. She took first place in an art contest that was part of the 2007 Celebration of Whooping Cranes and Other Birds in Port Aransas.

Burgess also nabbed first place for a sketch she entered in an art competition at the Art Center for the Islands in Port Aransas. And she has won awards in the Rockport Art Festival.

Burgess is the daughter of Rick and Dee Burgess.