Call for Artists –2013 Parkridge Mural Design Contest - $1,000 Cash Prize
Introduction:
Residents of Parkridge, working with the Community Design Center and in conjunction with the City of Knoxville, are currently seeking artist submissions for a mural project in the Parkridge Neighborhood. This project is made possible by a recently awarded Parks & Recreation Challenge Grant. The purpose of the project is to beautify and enhance the First Creek Greenway by installing public art, a painted mural, in the I-40 Underpass between Washington and Glenwood Avenues. The 6th Avenue underpass is currently an ugly, unfriendly, and littered place that attracts graffiti and illegal trash dumping. It is a classic example of urban blight. The mural project will be a community-based project carried out by volunteers in the Parkridge and adjacent neighborhoods, and in conjunction with the local arts community. Local youth and volunteers will assist with the mural installation. It is the hope that the winning artist will assist with the mural project during the installation phase if possible.
Mural Site
The mural site consists ofboth sides of the I-40 Underpass located on Sixth Avenue between Washington Avenue and E. Glenwood Avenue. The 6th Avenue underpass has four large panels with adjacent “Columns” that are ready “canvases” for the mural (see below). The panels are in sets on either side of 6th Avenue. Each panel is approximately 22 feet in height. Panel widths vary slightly, but are between 11.5 and 13.5 feet. The accompanying columns are approximately 2 feet in width/diameter. The decision to include the columns as part of the mural would be a design decision by the artists who choose to enter the design competition. It is recommended that applicants visit the site in order to gain better understanding of the space.
(Images below represent 2 out of 4 total panels and do not represent the additional columns)
Suggested Content
In keeping with the historical quality of the surrounding neighborhoods, it is suggested that the applicants submit proposals that are relevant to the historic fabric of the area. Artists are encouraged to research the neighborhood history. The recent publication, Park City: A Knoxville Neighborhood History by author Margery Weber Bensey, is a good resource. Another reference might be Doug McDaniel’s Historic North Knoxville, or his other publication Images of America: Park City. Your local library or the McClung Collection are also good resources.
Possible subject matter might include:
Transportation: Early trolley cars, local railroads, the horse and buggy, etc.
Architects/Architecture: George F. Barber, Bauman Brothers, J. C. White, etc.
Commerce & Industry: Standard Knitting Mill, Tom’s, Sunbeam, Lay’s Market, Crystal Ice, Hayworth Lumber, etc.
Early Maps: Shieldstown, Park City, Edgewood Improvement, Hazen’s Addition, etc.
Landowners: Moses White, Joseph Bell, John Shields, Joseph Mabry II
Imagery that celebrates our cultural diversity is highly encouraged. The subject matter above serves as examples in order to assist you in choosing your theme. Please include with your submission a brief statement that explains your design’s subject matter. This subject matter should relate directly to the neighborhood’s history in some form or fashion.
In addition, when creating your design please keep in mind the ability to transfer your design into mural format. Designs that are more graphic and less “painterly” will be easier to apply.
Judging Process:
Entries will be juried in three steps, structured like the zoning process: professional input, community input, put before committee for final approval. The professional input will come from an outside committee of at least three judges, but no more than six. Judges will be composed of local individuals who are artistically, historically, and municipally oriented.
The “professional” judging panel of three to six individuals would be the ones to narrow the initial selection of submissions in February for a public vote in March. Depending on the number of submissions the panel would narrow the submissions and vote for their favorite. Then the submissions would be displayed for public voting in March.
Due to the fact that the mural will be installed on TDOT property, both the mural committee and TDOT reserve the right to make the final decision on the competition winner. However, all effort will be made to make an unbiased and fair decision, based on content and artistic quality.
Timeline:
December 5: Call goes out to artists.
December 3-February 15: Submission Period
February 16-23: Panel of judges representing the arts and historical communities, the city, and adjacent three neighborhoods narrows the selections for public display.
March 1: First Friday event in the Parkridge neighborhood for public voting for the final design (YMCA)
April 5: First Friday location for the sale of non-winning submissions (TBA)
(20% of purchase going to artist, 80% going to mural project)
April: Installation of mural
May 18: Completion of mural installation, public unveiling, payout of artists from sale and competition.
Mural Installation:
The mural will be installed during the month of April depending on weather situations. Local youth, volunteers, and neighborhood residents will assist with the installation. Outdoor acrylic paint will be used for the process. In addition, a protective coating will be applied in order to preserve the mural and will also act as graffiti deterrent. It is the hope of the committee that the chosen artist will assist with the installation of the mural. The project will conclude with an unveiling ceremony that will be announced closer to the mural completion date.
Design Criteria:
Your proposed design should be in a 24” x 36” format. Canvas, paper, or art board submissions are preferred mediums. If you have concerns about your chosen medium, please contact us. Please do not submit anything that would make public installation difficult.
On a piece ofpaper, canvas, art board, or whatever medium you choose--as long as it measures 24” x 36” inches--show us your plan for painting a mural on this underpass. You can use pencil, pastels, paint, or whatever you are comfortable with, to draw the plan. Your design should at least cover the vertical panels in the underpass. Some or all of the columns may also be incorporated if you wish.Remember that the design will have to be scaled up to underpass size and that the painting will be a community-based effort (as in people who cannot paint a straight line will be helping with the painting!). The winner will provide a version of the design that can be scaled up by projection on the underpass and/or outlined by volunteers. Volunteers will then paint the outlined spaces with specified colors (in many ways, like a custom paint-by-number project). Acrylic concrete paint will be used to paint the mural, and a protective coat will be applied to protect the mural from unsolicited graffiti.
How to submit your entry:
To enter the 2013 Parkridge Mural Competition, please complete the following information and contact Calvin Chappelle at 865-951-6614 to arrange for drop off of your submission. You may also reach Mr. Chappelle at . For additional information, you may visit
.
Artist/Applicant Information:
Name:
Date of Birth:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Rules and Conditions
Artists who participate in the Parkridge mural competition understand that all artwork and image rights become the property of the Parkridge mural committee and/or the Community Design Center (or TDOT).
Artists understand that if their work is selected for exhibition then the work is subject to sale with the artist receiving 20% of the sale proceeds. The remaining funds will go to support the mural project. Work that is not sold at the exhibition will be returned to the artist at the closing of the exhibition.
Contest winner will prepare installation copies of the artwork that can be transferred to the underpass for painting and agrees to be present at an award ceremony in which the mural is unveiled, and will participate in the mural installation if physically possible.
Checklist
- Completed Applicant Information
- Completed statement concerning the mural project. This should encompass your overall vision for the mural, including the significance of its content and any additional information you feel would help with the judging process.
- Completed mural design in 24” x 36” format (landscape)