Main Street Medallions

All packets must be received by 4 pm, March 25, 2011.

The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, the Manayunk Special Services District (MSSD) and the Manayunk Development Corporation (MDC), are seeking an artist or artist team to develop a series of four medallions at key intersections along Main Street, Manayunk. Interested artists should review this RFQ and submit their qualifications, along with a letter of interest, by March 25.

Description of the Project / Scope of Work

Concept: The Main Street Medallions would be signature artistic elements that would serve as gateways or reference points for visitors to this arts, entertainment and retail corridor. Each medallion would be approximately 18 feet in diameter.

Sites: Mural Arts and MSSD / MDC have mapped out up to six intersections that could be considered for the medallions, with final decision to be based on closer technical inspection and artistic approach.

• Main Street and Carson Street is a western gateway and access point to visitor parking.
• Main Street and Cotton Street is an important connection between Pretzel Park, theretail corridor, the Manayunk Towpath, and the Venice Island Recreation Center.
• Main Street and Rector Street is at key inflection in the roadway.
• Main Street and Pensdale St. / Lock St. is another access point to visitor parking and the towpath trail.
• Main Street and Shurs Lane is the southern gateway into the retail heart of Manayunk and a connection to the Wissahickon Valley and Germantown.
• The last opportunity is at Main Street and Grape Street.

Community process: Mural Arts is committed to giving voice to communities through the art. We will ask the artist to develop a process for engaging the community in the development of the concept, but leave that process open to the artist. Mural Arts and MSSD / MDC can provide support in organizing community outreach.

Fabrication and installation: Each medallion would be painted directly on the street, using epoxy-acrylic paints made for this purpose. Mural Arts has investigated materials, installation processes and installation vendors, and MSSD / MDC is obtaining necessary permissions for closing the street and painting on it, so those will not be the responsibility of the artist, though materials and installation costs will come from the project budget. Mural Arts will arrange for artists to have an opportunity to test samples of the materials, and to meet with product representatives, early in the project.

Maintenance: The medallions are expected to have a lifespan of two to five years, depending on how they wear in traffic. MSSD / MDC will assume responsibility for maintaining the artwork (washing, repainting) during the lifespan of the project.

Schedule: An artist or team will be selected on the basis of qualifications and letter of interest in early April. We will have a draft contract ready at that time, and the artists or team can begin as soon as the contract is signed. Installations will be coordinated by MSSC / MDC and various city agencies, and must take into account the minimization of disruption to traffic. At least one of the installations will be on Memorial Day, May 30, in time for the TD Bank International Cycling Championship. At least one installation must be completed during the Manayunk Arts Festival (June 25, June 26). The other installations will be scheduled concurrently, or at different times, depending on further technical investigation of the project.

Budget: The budget for the project, including artist fee, materials and installation, is
$22,000.

Goals for the Project

• Create an artwork that supports MSSD / MDC’s efforts to commission artworks that raise the profile of the Manayunk shopping corridor, highlight connections between the canal, Main Street and Pretzel Park, and attract audience interest.
• Create signature images that become associated with Manayunk – a project the community can take pride in and say, “we did that!”
• Create a sense of visual connection or reference among the medallions.
• Create artworks that are fresh and new, yet fitting within the context of Manayunk’s historic architectural fabric and its predominant retail and recreational activities.
• Engage the community in the research phases of the project, and during the Manayunk Arts Festival.

Background on Manayunk

The community of Manayunk fronts the Schuylkill River and the Manayunk Canal, about seven miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia.

The Manayunk Canal was one segment of the 1820s Schuylkill Navigation, a system of canal segments that made possible the transportation of coal and goods between the coal mines of Schuylkill County and the City of Philadelphia. The Manayunk Canal is the only intact segment, complete with inlet and outlet locks.

The canal provided a good source of water power for mills, and an industrial community developed along the canal and up the adjoining hillsides. Manayunk remained an industrial center through the 20th century, with several industries still functioning today. Starting in the 1970s, new interest surfaced in Manayunk and through the 1980s, 90s and until today – the community has evolved with trendy shops and restaurants and boating and bike recreation making use of the old towpath and waterfront.

This project reflects a partnership between two entities committed to the enhancement of Manayunk. The Manayunk Special Services District is providing the funding through the Capital Projects portion of its budget, and the Manayunk Development Corporation is providing the staff to work in partnership with the Mural Arts Program.

Eligibility

This call is open to established and emerging artists, or an artist team, with priority given to artists having a strong connection to Philadelphia, especially Manayunk or East Falls.

How to Respond

Send a letter, two pages maximum, (a) explaining how you would approach this project, including how you would engage the community in the conceptualization and/or creation of the project, (b) describing relevant experience that would contribute to your success in completing this project, and (c) confirming your availability to undertake a project in this timeframe.

Send supplemental materials, as described below.

For More Information

MDC / MSSC / Mural Arts will hold two artist open houses (6-7:30 p.m., Thursday March 10; and 10-11:30 a.m., Monday March 14) to which all artists are invited to come and ask questions. The open houses will be at the MDC offices, 4312 Main Street (corner of Cotton Street). At other times, contact manayunk@muralarts.org

Application Procedure
Submit up to eight (8) digital images of your artwork on one disk.

• Collaborative teams may submit up to six (6) digital images per artist, but no more than 16 images total.
• Images must be saved as JPG files on a CD‐ROM at 72 dpi. Do not embed images into a Powerpoint presentation.
• The maximum pixel dimensions are 1000 in width and 1000 in height.
• The size of each file must not exceed 2MB.
• All images must clearly be labeled with the artist’s last name, first name and number (order to be viewed).
• Digital images must be labeled correctly. Example: smith_jane_01

Submit five (5) hard copies of the Digital Image Identification Form

• The form must correspond to the numbered images on your CD.

Submit five (5) hard copies of an Artist/Collaborative Statement of Interest

• See instructions under “How to Respond.”

Submit five (5) copies of a current Resume or Bio

• One page typed resume.
• Include three references.
• Collaborative teams may include a resume and references for each member of the team.

Staple together five (5) packets

• Image Identification Form
• Artist or Collaborative Statement
• Resume(s) and references

Place packets and CD in an envelope and deliver to:

Manayunk Roving Gallery RFQ
Mural Arts Program
1729 Mt. Vernon Street
Philadelphia PA 19130
All packets must be received by 4 pm, March 25, 2011.