from NPR:

Once the scene of tragedy, a school in the West Point slums of Liberia is now a work of art — and it’s an international affair. Street artists from Baltimore collaborated with Liberian artists to create murals on the Nathaniel Varney Massaquoi Elementary and Junior High School.

A glimmering sunset, a vibrantly colored butterfly and a roaring hippo welcomed students last Friday when the school reopened.

Hundreds of parents, teachers and students in brand-new uniforms proudly paraded through crowded streets to celebrate. A marching band led the way, greeting onlookers with trumpet fanfare.

At the peak of the Ebola outbreak in August, the school served as an Ebola holding center. Angry residents raided the school, forcing the patients to flee and bringing blood-stained bedding out on the streets.

Weeks of rioting left the school in shambles. But after months of disinfecting and major renovations by a coalition of aid agencies and nonprofits, the school is a school once more. It’s even got a new face to inspire its returning pupils.

With funding from German Agro Action, one of the organizations that helped rehabilitate the school, street artist David “Nanook” Cogdill, who’s worked on murals in Baltimore and other U.S. cities, traveled to West Point to give the building a face lift.

He began by outlining a large and intricate design on the front of the building. Then over the past weeks, Nanook worked with three local artists to fill in the intricate details with colorful paint.

To paint a pygmy hippo, he worked with 14-year-old Abel Dassin, who likes to call himself the youngest artist in Liberia. Nanook coached him on how to paint the skin so that it would look realistic.

Dassin says he wanted to be part of the project to remember Shacki, a 16-year-old boy who was shot during the riots and later died. “Shacki was of my age. I feel sad for his family. I paint for him,” he says. “I also hope that when other children see the painting they feel motivated to go to school.”

At the front gates of the school courtyard, Nanook worked with Kingston Sylla, an artist from Guinea who’d moved to Liberia years ago, to cover the concrete wall with shapes of all sizes and colors. The pattern was designed by Baltimore artists Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn and brought to life by the team.

Unlike the other mural, this one faced outward. The idea is that the community should also be able to enjoy the art as well — not just the students.

 

 

In these troubling times, Center Stage has decided to take action and get involved in the healing of our Baltimore.  Tomorrow (Saturday, May 2nd) at 3:30pm the International Cast of Marley will host a FREE community concert at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North Ave. We want to offer healing and what better way to do that than through the music of the legendary Bob Marley.

All the info is in the flier below. Please help us spread the word. We want to create an atmosphere of peace and support, so everyone is invited to join us.

There will be a carpool shuttle leaving Center Stage at 2pm. We will make multiple trips.  Please contact Kristina Szilagyi at kszilagyi@centerstage.org if you would like to carpool with us.

Torpedo Factory: Open Call for Mural Proposals

Deadline: March 31, 2015

This is an open call for artists to design and execute a mural to cover the exterior of the Torpedo Factory Art Center loading dock (rolling door along Union Street, see diagram for measurements.) This call is open to all local and regional professional artists (living in the DMV area). The selected muralist will be awarded $4,000, with a supply budget of up to $2,000. Proposal selection will be conducted by an independent arts professional in consultation with the Torpedo Factory Art Center CEO.

Download complete prospectus before applying online

Apply Online

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) seeks mural artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for consideration and inclusion in the Baltimore Mural Program’s Mural Artist Registry. The Mural Artist Registry will be used to aid the selection of qualified artists for Baltimore Mural Program commissions and to distribute notifications regarding upcoming mural artist opportunities. This registry will also be made publicly available for groups seeking artists for hire.

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE MURAL PROGRAM
Created in 1975, the Baltimore Mural Program aims to make Baltimore neighborhoods more attractive, instill a sense of pride, provide employment for artists in their own field, combat graffiti in neighborhoods, and engage people in the beautification of their communities. Since then, the Baltimore Mural Program has produced more than 250 murals across the city, creating an outdoor public museum for the enjoyment of the people of Baltimore.

ELIGIBILITY
1) Artists 18 years of age or older are eligible to apply.
2) Artists must demonstrate their ability to design and successfully execute large-scale, exterior, wall-based work.
3) BOPA employees and their family members are eligible to apply for inclusion in the registry, but are not eligible for Baltimore Mural Program commissions.

SELECTION CRITERIA
1) Artistic Quality
2) Technical Ability
3) Community Engagement Approach & Experience

APPLICATION
Applications are available online at:https://boparegistrations.wufoo.com/forms/baltimore-mural-program-mural-artist-registry-rfq/

APPLICATION DEADLINE
FEBRUARY 13, 2015

NOTIFICATION
March 5, 2015

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The application will require the following:

1) Artist Statements: Brief descriptions of your work as an artist, your interest and qualifications for the Baltimore Mural Program, as well as your experience and approach to working with communities.
2) Resume: A current resume / CV. Artist teams or collaborative groups may submit a combined resume.
3) References: Name, address, email, and phone number for three (3) professional references.
4) Images: Five (5) images of past artworks. All image files should be in JPEG format, max 1240×1240 pixels, and should be titled: LastnameFirstname_IMAGE#.jpg (SmithJane_01.jpg). If the artist cannot submit an image of a mural, it is recommended that the artist produce one sample design for a hypothetical mural that reflects the artist’s style and imagery, in addition to images of existing work.
5) Image List: Attach a document detailing information regarding each work sample image including:
– Title of Work
– Dimensions
– Medium
– Year
– Location (if applicable)
– Three (3) sentence description.

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maggie Villegas, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts,mvillegas@promotionandarts.org

Baltimore Mural Program

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) seeks mural artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for consideration and inclusion in the Baltimore Mural Program’s Mural Artist Registry. The Mural Artist Registry will be used to aid the selection of qualified artists for Baltimore Mural Program commissions and to distribute notifications regarding upcoming mural artist opportunities. This registry will also be made publicly available for groups seeking artists for hire.

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE MURAL PROGRAM
Created in 1975, the Baltimore Mural Program aims to make Baltimore neighborhoods more attractive, instill a sense of pride, provide employment for artists in their own field, combat graffiti in neighborhoods, and engage people in the beautification of their communities. Since then, the Baltimore Mural Program has produced more than 250 murals across the city, creating an outdoor public museum for the enjoyment of the people of Baltimore.

ELIGIBILITY
1) Artists 18 years of age or older are eligible to apply.
2) Artists must demonstrate their ability to design and successfully execute large-scale, exterior, wall-based work.
3) BOPA employees and their family members are eligible to apply for inclusion in the registry, but are not eligible for Baltimore Mural Program commissions.

SELECTION CRITERIA
1) Artistic Quality
2) Technical Ability
3) Community Engagement Approach & Experience

APPLICATION
Applications are available online at: https://boparegistrations.wufoo.com/forms/baltimore-mural-program-mural-artist-registry-rfq/

APPLICATION DEADLINE
FEBRUARY 13, 2015

NOTIFICATION
March 5, 2015

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The application will require the following:

1) Artist Statements: Brief descriptions of your work as an artist, your interest and qualifications for the Baltimore Mural Program, as well as your experience and approach to working with communities.
2) Resume: A current resume / CV. Artist teams or collaborative groups may submit a combined resume.
3) References: Name, address, email, and phone number for three (3) professional references.
4) Images: Five (5) images of past artworks. All image files should be in JPEG format, max 1240×1240 pixels, and should be titled: LastnameFirstname_IMAGE#.jpg (SmithJane_01.jpg). If the artist cannot submit an image of a mural, it is recommended that the artist produce one sample design for a hypothetical mural that reflects the artist’s style and imagery, in addition to images of existing work.
5) Image List: Attach a document detailing information regarding each work sample image including:
– Title of Work
– Dimensions
– Medium
– Year
– Location (if applicable)
– Three (3) sentence description.

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maggie Villegas, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, mvillegas@promotionandarts.org

WC_MF_logoprog

Call For Muralists — The West Colfax MuralFest is a vibrant art experience in 40 West Arts District designed to celebrate creativity and the character of historic West Colfax. Juried artists from across the country will create an outdoor art gallery of murals-culminating in a one-day celebration of art, music, food, and creative activities on August 8, 2015–free for the whole family. For more information on the mural opportunities, click link below.

Deadline for entry: January 30, 2015.

http://www.westcolfaxmuralfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Call-for-Muralists-and-Creative-Brief_v4.5.pdf

 logo

 

Mural Artist Prequalification Program

Call for Submissions:  deadline January 9, 2015

The Arts Council of Indianapolis seeks to establish a new pool of highly qualified artists and artist teams for a number of open calls and commissioning opportunities for outdoor murals (wall-based artwork) over the next several years.

Artists who qualify will be eligible for selection for mural projects with budgets up to $100,000.  Budgets are inclusive of design, travel, artists’ fees, fabrication, installation, insurance coverage, and all other costs associated with the design and production of mural artwork.

 

Eligibility

  • Artists working in all media and styles are encouraged to apply.
  • Artists must be at least 18 years of age and live in the United States
  • Prior experience with public art commissions is not a requirement; however, applicant artists and artist teams must demonstrate the ability to design and successfully complete large-scale, exterior, wall-based work.

 

Selection Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

  • Artistic quality: artist’s submission displays a record of appropriate, yet innovative, concepts brought to a site or project, and documents creative and stylistically distinctive solutions to design and site challenges
  • Aesthetic sensibility: artist’s work displays an aesthetic that would be desirable for a project for Indianapolis
  • Technical ability: artist’s submission indicates skill with materials and techniques similar to those that would be required for likely projects
  • Experience: artist’s submission has indicated familiarity with clients and conditions similar to those that would be used on likely projects, or has demonstrated the ability on past projects to quickly acquire the skills needed to be successful on a project similar to what the artist will encounter in Indianapolis
  • Process: artist’s materials indicate that the working relationship will be pleasant and the completed project will successfully meet likely challenges, including completing all documentation and managing the given project budget

 

Submission Requirements

Artist must submit the following on one CD:

  • Applicant Information: Complete the questionnaire on page 4 and 5. An editable digital version can be provided upon request.
  • Cover Letter / Statement of Approach: This letter should be no longer than one typed letter-sized page using 12-point font and 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • Professional Resume or CV: No longer than 3 pages
  • Work Samples: (up to 10 digital images)
    • Please submit examples of artwork that best represent your experience, style, and ability. You may also submit images of any other pieces (large scale or otherwise) that best represent your work over the past 5 years.
    • Format: JPG or PDF files for static images.  BRIEF video clips in Quicktime, MOV or MP4 may also be submitted.
    • Good quality, no smaller than 3” x 5” at 72 dpi
    • No hard copies – electronic files only
    • Name files according to the following format:
      • jpg, LastName_02.jpg, etc.
    • Work Sample List: Include a list of the work samples included on the CD and as much information about each of the samples as possible (include name/title of piece, year completed, client name, location, medium, dimensions, process, and any other applicable and pertinent information). Here is an example of a an entry:
      • Searching and Finding, 123 N. Main Street, Indianapolis, IN, acrylic on brick, 10’ x 30’ x 4’, 2009, JaneArtist_01.jpg.

Each artist must label the submitted CD with his or her name and “MURAL PREQUALIFICATION PROGRAM”.

 

Delivery of Submissions

All required materials must be delivered by 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, January 9, 2015.

 

Submissions MUST be delivered or mailed to:

Arts Council of Indianapolis

Attn: Mural Prequalification Program

924 N. Pennsylvania Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-1021

 

We will not accept submissions via email.

 

 

Please review the following for more information:

 

Why are you prequalifying artists?

Because there will be calls for artists coming out up to twice a year or more, it does not make sense for every highly qualified artist to reapply for consideration each time.  Creating a pool of prequalified artists makes it easier for such artists to indicate their interest without having to go to the effort of sending materials each time.  Having a pool of prequalified artists also makes it efficient for the Arts Council to address “pop-up” mural projects as funding and time permit, and to turn projects around more quickly.

 

What does “prequalified” mean?

Being named as a prequalified artist means that when a new call comes out, you can simply email the Arts Council by the given deadline and indicate that you want to be considered.  The selection panel has already reviewed and approved your aesthetic, experience and technical skill and you will automatically move into the finalist group for that call.

 

Am I guaranteed a commission if I am on the prequalified list?

No.  The entire finalist pool—prequalified artists as well as artists who applied at the time of the open call—will be reviewed for a good match between artist, site and community.  There will almost always be more interested and qualified artists than there are commission opportunities, so some finalists, including prequalified artists, will not receive commissions.

 

Are prequalified artists given preference for new projects?

No.  Although the artist’s skill, experience and quality have been approved, much more goes into the matching process.  Every finalist—prequalified or not—is considered equally at the time of each fresh group of opportunities.

 

Once prequalified, will I stay prequalified forever?

No.  The designation will last for three years and then you will need to again send your materials in response to an open call for mural artists.

 

If I am not prequalified now, when will be my next chance to try again?

Simply apply to the next open call for mural artists.  When we review the applicants we will ask the selection panel if they feel any should be on the prequalified list.  We will do this for each open call.

 

I’ve applied to several Arts Council mural projects but never received a commission.  What can I do to improve my application so I can become prequalified?

The path to prequalification will differ for each artist.  The best thing to do is to set up an appointment with the Arts Council’s public art staff for a private consultation.  We can analyze your selection panel score records with you and help you develop your next steps.

 

Additional questions?  Contact:

Julia Muney MooreDirector of Public Art

jmoore@indyarts.org

(317) 631-3301 x240

Lindsey LordPublic Art/Artist Services Coordinator

Llord@indyarts.org

(317) 631-3301 x214