New public art coming to Memphis neighborhoods

The Memphis UrbanArt Commission has four public art projects totaling $262,500 open.

Two of these projects are open to artists in the Memphis-metropolitan area, and the other two are open to all artists in the United States. They will include a mural, sculptures and other public art pieces.

The first project, with a budget of $13,000, will be a mural on Frayer's library branch. The selection committee is interested  in a mural installation that will address one of the library’s three themes—connecting, learning and growing—and demonstrates a connection between the neighborhood’s past and present. The opportunity is open to artists living in the Memphis-metropolitan area.
 
The Heritage Landing Sculpture opportunity has a budget of $88,000 and is also open to any artist living in the Memphis-metropolitan area. The selection committee is interested in multiple public art pieces that will serve as landmarks for the Heritage Landing community and allow residents and other community members to engage with the artwork. The project also will include community workshops to design and/or fabricate final art pieces. Heritage Landing is the former site of Clearborn Homes, an inner-city public housing complex.
 
The John F. Kennedy Park call is open to any artist living in the United States and has a budget of $71,000. The integrative sculpture will enhance JFK Park and the Wolf River Greenway and will join two other existing projects along points of the greenway. The selection committee is interested in multiple public art pieces that will attract interest in the park and connect the park’s entrance to the greenway. These pieces should be able to withstand flood conditions.
 
The Army and Navy Parks opportunity has a budget of $90,500 and is open to any artist living in the United States. These historical parks near Central Station, a passenger railroad station in Memphis, are sites where many military said goodbye to family members before leaving for military service. The selection committee is looking for public art pieces for each park that will acknowledge the historical significance of the parks while also benefiting the nearby business corridor and providing visitors with the ability to interact with the art through tactile or auditory elements or other methods.

Selection criteria will include previous experience with the design of exterior sculpture projects. The deadline to submit qualifications is May 20, 2016.
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