$10,000 Art Commission Announced in Biddeford, Maine

Thread, a downtown development company dedicated to advancing community through revitalization, is sponsoring the $10,000 commission for a mural, installation, or combination of the two. The original piece is being commissioned for an exterior wall on their historic property at 265 Main Street in downtown Biddeford. Engine, a community arts organization in Biddeford, is assisting with coordinating and jurying the entries.

Photos of the property under renovations can be seen at on Thread’s Facebook page. Proposals and conceptual sketches for the project are now being accepted and must be received no later than September 30, 2011.

The mural, installation, or combination of the two being commissioned is for the east wall of the property. The wall is approximately 16.5-feet tall by 43.5-feet wide. Both 2-D and 3-D concepts, or a combination, will be considered. Proposals that utilize a greater portion of the east wall will be considered. Please visit Engine’s web site for photographs of the wall and for further specs.
The mural or installation may be traditional or contemporary in nature—the foremost criterion for selection is artistic excellence. The winning concept will likely show an understanding of and sensitivity toward the unique spirit of the building—originally a mercantile and then a furniture store fondly remembered as the Potter’s Building—and also of Biddeford, a former textile industry mecca currently in the throes of revitalization.

Only one proposal will be selected for the commission; two additional proposals will be chosen as finalists and publicized. Proposals must include conceptual sketches that are very close to what the final piece will resemble when executed.

AWARD
The winning proposal will receive a $10,000 payment, in negotiated allotments, to execute their proposal. The winning artist must be able to either execute or oversee the execution of their proposal. The winning artist will be asked to enter into a contractual agreement with Thread that outlines the project’s scope and deadlines.

SELECTION
A jury will include representatives from Thread, Engine, Maine College of Art, and the Maine Arts Commission.

SUBMIT
Respondents must submit:
1. Narrative proposal (two-page max)
2. Conceptual sketches (PDFs)
3. Budget
4. Resumé

Materials may be submitted via email to director@feedtheengine.org or by mail to:

Engine
41 Franklin Street #1
Biddeford, ME 04005

DEADLINE:
Proposals must be received by 5PM (EST) on September 30, 2011.

ELIGIBILITY
All artists residing in Maine and 18 years of age or older are eligible.

QUESTIONS
Tammy Ackerman, Executive Director of Engine
director@feedtheengine.org or 207/229-3560

Path-ology Reception

Today was the opening reception for Path-ology at the Pine Tree Arboretum. This is the first project to be realized from the Sculpture Grant made possible from the Harry Faust Art Fund. The installation is slated to travel to Moose Point State Park in July and Lamoine State Park in August.

The side facing you as you enter is in color














The side facing you as you exit is in black and white

Despite the light rain the reception was well attended and it was nice to have the partnering people and agencies finally meet each other. Besides ourselves the president of the University of Maine at Augusta Allyson Hughes Handley attended, as did Alan Stearns from the Bureau of Parks and Lands, both of whom were critical in making the exhibit happen. Robert Rainey, the chief facilitator of the project, made sure the students who participated were recognized.

Jennifer Strode who represented the Faust Fund throughout the granting process was unable to attend. However, Stephen Oliveri from the arboretum (read their newsletter) knew Harry Faust and it was nice to hear him say he thought Harry would have greatly enjoyed the installation.

Slideshow For UMA Marketing Workshop

The slideshow used for the Web 2.0 marketing presentation being conducted by Darrell Bulmer and Kerstin Gilg on Wednesday night is available to follow along in many ways.

The full presentation is available at Zoho.com or downloadable via Box.net

Arts for Transit

It could be New Year’s Eve revelers, veins of a maple leaf, one hundred ravens on a fence or a stack of suitcases; these are all images incorporated into public art you might see while riding the subway in New York City.
Amy Hausmann, the assistant director of the MTA’s Arts for Transit Program, elaborated on these and many other works on Friday night to a good crowd at SPACE Gallery in Portland.
Hausmann’s lively talk was the inaugural event in the Maine Arts Commission’s Public Art Series that celebrates 30 years of the Percent for Art Program. Maine has been funding public art installations at most publicly-funded constructions for thirty years, a few years longer than either the MTA or the City of New York.
It was exciting to see all the possibilities that public art can offer. For more, don’t miss the next lecture, also brought to us by the Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance. Jean Shin, New York-based artist who was commissioned by the MTA for a work, Celadon Remnants, will be speaking Saturday, June 6, at 6 PM at SPACE Gallery.
And for even more, check out the rest of the series!
Photo:Cara Slifka

Governor Baldacci Hosts Reception for Congressional Arts Awardees

Students Suki Nesvig (left) of Portland’s Waynflete School and Michele Jaffarian (below) of Rangeley Lakes Regional School shared the influences that shaped their award winning pieces of artwork during a Blaine House reception held in their honor Saturday.

Among the attendees were Governor John Baldacci and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree who both spoke with equal admiration for the work of the students present at the reception. They also reminded attendees of the importance of art and creativity to Maine’s economic future. Congressman Michaud was unable to attend due to schedule conflicts, but his words, read by Rosemary Winslow, echoed those of previous speakers and highlighted the prominence that the artwork has in the nation's Capitol.



The nation’s Capitol is where the artwork of Suki and Michele is now heading. It will form part of a year-long exhibition of national winners. Both students will be flown to the nation’s capital, courtesy of the Congressional Arts Awards competition sponsors, to witness the unveiling of the show.

More images