Nebraska Mural Project
In partnership with the Nebraska Arts Council, the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) announces this special Community Mural Project. The partnership is offering one community in Nebraska a unique opportunity to participate in a community-based mural project in 2013. The project will offer residents direct hands-on experience in the research, design, and execution of a major public artwork for their community. The project will be directed by Dave Loewenstein, a nationally-known mural artist based in Lawrence, Kansas. Dave has directed similar projects in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Learn more about the project at the M-AAA website and Dave Loewenstein's website.
Timeline:
Host organization application/apprentice application deadline: May 15, 2013
Site visits to finalist communities: June 2013
Mural community selected: July 1
Mural planning and execution: August-October
Mural dedication: mid-October 2013
Each mural requires approximately 2 months of work. That work time is spread over three months to build in time for weather and other unforeseen delays (approvals, wall access, etc.).
View/download the Nebraska Mural Project RFP.
In addition, M-AAA seeks a Mural Apprentice for each project. The paid apprentices will be involved from the earliest stages of the project through completion, and introduced to the various skills required to shape successful community murals. The deadline to apply for the Nebraska Apprenticeship is May 15, 2013.
View/download the Nebraska Mural Project Apprentice Application.
Project Overview
Community-based public art is a familiar and well documented field. Like community-based theater, community-based public art seeks to develop meaningful and high quality works through a collaborative process driven by local people often with the guidance and technical assistance of professional artists.
In 2010, M-AAA, in partnership with the Kansas Arts Commission and the Oklahoma Arts Council, supported the launch of the community murals with two interrelated projects, one in Newton, Kansas and the other in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. These projects provided residents direct hands-on experience in the research, design, and execution of major public artworks for their communities. In 2011, in partnership with the Missouri Arts Council, a community mural was completed in Joplin, MO. Project development began in summer 2010; however, the concept was modified to reflect the effect the tornado that ravaged the town in May 2011 has had on its community. Lead artist Dave Loewenstein launched a blog to chronicle the mural's development.
Read artist Dave Loewenstein's blog.
For each project, artists chosen to be mural assistants worked with Loewenstein from the earliest stages of the projects through to their completion, and are introduced to all of the skills used to shape successful community murals. Loewenstein of Lawrence, KS is a prize-winning muralist, writer and print maker. His community-based murals may be found in several places across the U.S. as well as in Northern Ireland.
In conjunction with the Mural Project, Amber Hansen and Nicholas Ward (mural assistants from the first project site in Tonkawa, OK) have undertaken the production of a feature length documentary emphasizing the community inclusive process used by Loewenstein. Loewenstein will also regularly post updates, photos, and video to a blog dedicated to the mural projects so that students and others can follow each mural's progress.
Masthead image: Dave Loewenstein's Arkadelphia mural project.
