Calling All Memphis Artists: Public Art Opportunities Open

Top: Cleaborn Pointe at Heritage Landing Apartment Community, Memphis, Tenn.; Bottom: Frayser Branch Library, Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis UrbanArt Commission has extended the deadline on two local public art opportunities. These projects are open only to artists living in the Memphis-metropolitan area and provide a special opportunity for local artists to share their knowledge and understanding of the city’s rich history. More details about each project are below.

The Frayser Branch Request for Qualification is for the production and installation of a public art mural at the Frayser Branch Library. The mural should address one of Frayser Library’s three themes—connecting, learning and growing—and show the library’s connection to the neighborhood’s past and present. The total budget for the project is $13,000. The application and more information about the RFQ are available on UAC’s Opportunities page.

The Heritage Landing RFQ is for multiple art pieces (sculptures) that will enhance the Cleaborn Pointe at Heritage Landing Apartment community. Cleaborn Pointe is the former site of Cleaborn Homes, an inner-city public housing complex. This project is part of an effort to transform the 20-block city area south of FedEx Forum—between Beale Street, Main Street, Crump Blvd. and Manassas Street—into a sustainable and interactive community. The proposed sculptural art pieces should serve as landmarks for the community and allow residents and other community members to engage with the artwork, as well as provide opportunities for the community to help design and/or fabricate final art pieces through workshops. The total budget for the project is $88,000. More information about the project is available on the UAC website.

If you live in the Memphis-metropolitan area and would like to submit an application to one of these projects, first create a profile on UAC’s Artist Registry. Then, submit an application to one of these opportunities or any project open through UAC.

We look forward to receiving your responses!

Poetry Slam to Kick Off South Memphis Board-up Project

Students from Freedom Preparatory Academy, Booker T. Washington High School, G.W. Carver High School and Central High School will compete to have their poetry included on public art that will cover an abandoned property located at 952 McLemore.

Three local judges will select the winning poetry to be included on the boards, and local artist Darlene Newman will lead the painting of the boards that will cover the property.

This project, sponsored by Renasant Bank, is part of UAC’s Public Art Outreach program, which provides disadvantaged communities an opportunity to enhance and revitalize their neighborhoods through public art.

This free event will be held at Memphis Slim Collaboratory House on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at 1130 College Street from 1 to 3 p.m. The boards will be painted from 4 to 7 p.m. 

For more information or to volunteer to paint the boards, please contact Siphne Sylve.

I Love Memphis Mural Dedication at "Crafts and Drafts"

The I Love Memphis Murals around town are hard to miss. By now, I’m sure you’ve spied one of the six murals around Memphis—and if you haven’t already seen all of them, well, you’re in luck. This Saturday, November 14th, from 10 AM-4 PM at the parking lot Autumn and N. Watkins in the Crosstown neighborhood (behind Crosstown Arts, Amurica, Hi Tone, Co-Motion Studio, etc.) the UrbanArt Commission, in partnership with the Memphis CVB and support from Crosstown Arts and the building’s owner, will be dedicating the newest I Love Memphis mural to the series. Designed and painted by local artists Kong Wee Pang and Jay Crum, the mural stands proudly in the Crosstown neighborhoods and shows off some serious Memphis pride.

If the mural alone isn’t enticing enough (but we can vouch and say it definitely is), the Memphis Flyer is hosting the inaugural "Crafts and Drafts" shopping and craft beer event in the parking lot right next to the mural. Come out and join us to celebrate the release of the mural with a day of craft beer, food trucks, free (while it lasts) I Love Memphis merchandise, local crafts, and of course, great public art.  And while you’re at it on Saturday, swing by the UrbanArt table and then go take a picture in front of the mural. Tag it #ilovememphis, and you may be featured on the I Love Memphis blog.

 Cash only event, folks—see you Saturday!