Centro’s Art Everywhere Project and Hemisfair announce an exciting opportunity for artists to submit their qualifications for a new mural at Hemisfair. The new mural will be located on a ground-level site near the Magik Theatre and Yanaguana Garden.
Centro’s Art Everywhere Project and the Hemisfair team seek a ‘Trompe l’œil-style’ mural design that pays homage to HemisFair ‘68. Trompe l’œil is an artistic term for the highly realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface. The goal of this mural is to make viewers feel like they are stepping back through time to the vibrant atmosphere of HemisFair ‘68, experiencing the sights and scenes as if they were truly there. The district has become a bustling location for the city of San Antonio, but during HemisFair ’68, six million people from all over the world visited the location. San Antonians who visited during that time have many memories of the fair and aspirations for this mural, including a celebration of those experiences.
Ideally, the mural will serve as a nostalgic glimpse into this beloved location that put
San Antonio on the map. It will offer a way to connect people with memories of HemisFair ‘68 along with today’s Hemisfair and its potential to inspire and delight locals and visitors.
The new Hemisfair mural will be vibrant and colorful, capturing the site’s rich history while ensuring it is free of any offensive imagery or commercial brand references. This painted mural should cover the entire wall space, which will consist of two walls: 41’ and 28’ in length, and an average of 13’ tall.
Eligibility:
This opportunity is open to all professional artists aged 18 and up residing in Bexar County, regardless of residence, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. No prior mural or public art experience is necessary. The selected artist will be asked to register in the City of San Antonio’s Artist Registry.
Submission Requirements:
Artists must provide a brief biography, including artistic journey, education, any relevant experiences, and a one-page resume. Additionally, artists should include a brief statement describing their artistic style, background, and interest in this project. The portfolio should consist of one to three images of previous work that best represent their styles and abilities, with brief descriptions of each piece. Artists are allowed to apply in teams, splitting the allotted number of work examples between team members.
Selection Process:
A panel of community members and stakeholders will review eligible applications and select three finalists based on merit and experience. These finalists will submit a proposal including a basic design rendering, project narrative, an installation plan, and three references to substantiate prior work. A single winning entry will be selected, and the artist(s) will have the opportunity to develop and install their proposed artwork. The selected artist(s) will be responsible for installation by October 31, 2024. The winning artist(s) and their works will be celebrated in traditional and social media when the winning works are announced and when they debut.
Qualifications submitted will be judged on the following criteria:
- The artist is a San Antonio-area resident.
- The artist has past work examples that are conceptually compelling and aesthetically excellent. The mural should be in color, create community excitement, and deliver inspiration through personal stories about, or in connection to, HemisFair ’68.
How to Apply:
Artists may submit up to three artworks from their portfolio (JPG or PDF) along with an artist bio (PDF), including their name and current contact information. A brief artist statement about one’s vision or work is optional.
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: 6:00 pm on August 7, 2024
- Artist Selection Notification: August 26, 2024
- Discussion regarding concept and execution plan: August 30
- Installation Deadline: October 31, 2024, weather and other conditions permitting.
We are thrilled to invite artists from across Bexar County to participate in this unique mural project, which promises to bring a vibrant touch of history and artistic excellence to our community. This is an extraordinary opportunity for artists to showcase their talent and contribute to a lasting legacy that celebrates the spirit of HemisFair ’68. We look forward to receiving your creative proposals and working together to make this vision a reality. For more information and to submit your application, please visit the anyartist.org submission website. Let’s transform our community together!