ORANGE SHOW CENTER FOR VISIONARY ART ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2D & 3D MOSAIC WORK IN SMITHER PARK
$3000 – $25,000 commissions available for artists living within Texas
Deadline: December 30, 2015
Artists Notified: January 20, 2016
Artist’ work onsite: February 1 through August 30, 2016
Link to submit applications: https://www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=3044&sortby=fair_name&apply=yes
HOUSTON – The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, one of the leading arts organizations of its kind in the country, announced that it will be coordinating a call for entries for 2D and 3D permanent mosaic installations to be created for its newest project, Smither Park, Houston’s first folk-art inspired green space located adjacent to the world famous Orange Show on Munger Street just southeast of Downtown Houston. The call is open to all artists living within the state of Texas, and focuses on eight different projects including pathways within the park, the outer galleries of the Vinson & Elkins pavilion, the swingsets, and the interactive tower.
Started in 2011, Smither Park is dedicated to the late John Smither, a longtime board member of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and collector of folk art, and is designed by acclaimed builder Dan Phillips of Phoenix Commotion. Now in its final stage of completion, Smither Park boasts a 400 foot memory wall covered in mosaic panels from nearly 100 artists, an amphitheater designed to look like an amphibious creature emerging from the ground, a covered pavilion area to hosts special events, oversized swings, a meditation garden, a 30-foot interactive marble-roll tower, and ample space for picnics and celebrations. “The spirit of Smither Park comes from the incredibly creative and unique mosaics artwork that the participating artists have produced,” said Orange Show Center for Visionary Art executive director Lynette Wallace. “We are excited to be in the final stages of completion and look forward to the space becoming a destination not just for the city or the region, but for national and international visitors.”
Artists are required to submit a proposal describing the work and imagery they envision, digital images of past work and sketches of proposed work, as well as a project budget and schedule of work to completion. Submissions will be accepted through midnight on December 30, 2015 at which time a panel of jurors made up of curators, artists, and Orange Show Center for Visionary Art stakeholders will select the finalists.
Interested artists may find the complete description and full requirements, as well as submit their applications on the CaFE (callforentry.org) site, by visiting:
https://www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=3044&sortby=fair_name&apply=yes
For details and images regarding each of the eight projects as well as a full description of the call, visithttp://orangeshow.org/Smither-Park-call-for-entries/
For images of Smither Park, visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2glic4qgoldi1l4/AADM40m26b8co2pdLDDAmIU1a?dl=0
For any additional information or to schedule interviews and photo shoots, contact:
Jonathan Beitler
Barrelhouse Media
ABOUT THE ORANGE SHOW CENTER FOR VISIONARY ART
Now in its 34th year, The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Houston, TX with a mission to preserve, promote and document visionary art environments, provide opportunities for the expression of personal artistic vision and create a community where that expression is valued. The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art owns and operates The Orange Show, The Beer Can House, and Smither Park; produces The Houston Art Car Parade – the world’s oldest and largest event of its kind; and provides art education to schools through the Orange Show Art Bus program. Funding is provided in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, The Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment, The Cullen Foundation, Wortham Foundation, Silver Eagle Distributors, United Airlines, and private contributions, in-kind support, and volunteer assistance. For more information visit www.orangeshow.org.