The Artist's Bio - For the second year Fiestas del Llano was honored to have Jose Manuel Lopez, "Joe", create the poster artwork. Lopez is the owner of Blue Cricket Screenprinting & Graphics, located at 2305 Ave Q in Lubbock. Although he is a small businessman, his creativity and ability to conceptualize other's ideals is larger than life. His goal is to one day create opportunities for youth to develop their art abilities.

The design of the poster, was created with the theme of the 2003 festival, "Celebrating Heroes of the Past, Present, and Future".

The circle shape is an Aztec shield. The center shows rays of sun, symbolic of the future.The drops of blood from the Mestizos hand is a reminder of the blood that was shed for freedom. The chain held by a clutched hand is representative of breaking the chains of oppression through unity. The cross by is a symbolic of this faith driven event. The eagles claw grasping the Aztec snake is a reminder of the symbol on the Mexican flag. One of the most coveted events is the Grito de Dolores, which means, “Cry of Dolores”. The eyes of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla are displayed to emulate the gentleness and passion of when he proclaimed independence from Spain in Dolores, Mexico in 1810. Other figures on the shield include La Adelita who fought alongside the men, Dona Josefa de Dominguez, the Spanish Soldiers, and an Aztec soldier.Other symbols include the ringing bells, the waving Mexican flag, as well as a small banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint who was indigenous to Mexico, and whose image was of a woman of color. All these symbols signify Mexico’s fight for independence. This timeless tradition is observed the eve of September 16.