Art in Bloom: Public Planter Art Exhibit

CALL-TO-ARTISTS! Design Proposals

Please be sure to scroll all the way down and read over all the information before applying as we have done our best to answer all your questions before you submit your application! This is an electronic agreement and by applying, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. 

WHAT IS THE PROJECT?

Like our previous Rainbarrel, Birdhouse, and Chair upcycled sculpture projects, the Chain of Parks Art Festival is back with an exciting new pop-up public art exhibit and competition leading up to the festival weekend! To celebrate 25 years of the Festival, we will select 25 local and regional artists to create upcycled planter sculptures, to display throughout Downtown Tallahassee from March 25 – April 25, 2025. All sculptures will be transferred to the Festival for the exhibit conclusion and silent auction in our "Chalk Art Oasis" area, benefiting LeMoyne Arts on April 26 & 27, 2025.  

Artists are welcome to submit as many design concepts as they would like, to be reviewed by the Chain of Parks Art Festival Review Committee. This application is only requesting design proposals at this time, we do not expect a completed piece at this time. 

Stay tuned! LeMoyne's Education Program will be offering some related workshops at the beginning of 2025: https://www.lemoyne.org/education.html

YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE: 

• A sketch or descriptive design proposal with supporting images. We encourage you to include supporting photo examples to help the committee understand your style and concept, i.e., images of your previous artwork, materials you plan to use, inspirational images, etc.
• Marketing info for a social media campaign and exhibit signage (brief artist statement, bio, and high-resolution headshot photo).

PAYMENT DETAILS & BENEFITS: 
1.      $100 stipend to cover material and other expenses (upon delivery of the sculpture)
2.      Extensive marketing exposure as a participating artist in the public exhibit

3.      A chance to win $100 People's Choice Award (voting takes place at the Festival) 

GOOD THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: 

• The jury is looking for whimsical, creative, thought-provoking, unique, sustainable, weather-resistant, planter sculptures with a focus on utilizing upcycled materials to help with our Greening message and efforts. 
  • While simple designs will be considered, the jury is looking for truly artisan planter creations that cannot be mistaken for a store-bought item. The "perceived value" should exceed the $100 stipend. 
• Not a sculptor? No problem! You can use an upcycled planter as your base, or, you can sculpt it completely from scratch! It's up to you. Mixed media is welcome. 
• We find our visitors like designs that celebrate our local community, focus on nature, local landmarks, colorful abstract designs, and anything that makes viewers say "That's so unique, how did they come up with that?"
• Feel free to join forces and create your masterpiece with a partner or small group! Just make sure to add all their information to the application so we can give them proper credit within our marketing efforts. 

IMPORTANT DESIGN DETAILS:

• The Plant for Your Sculpture & Sizing Considerations =
  • We are working to acquire a variety of 3-gal (9"-10" tall x 9"-10" diameter container) plant donations from our local nurseries to insert into your planter.  
  • During drop-off, you may select from the plant donations to insert into your planter (if requested in your application). Ideally, you're planter will be large enough to hide the plastic rim of the container.  
  • Alternative:
    • If you would like to use your own plant, that's fine too, please just make sure it's a low-maintenance plant so that it will thrive in your sculpture during the 30-day exhibit with minimal care outside of weekly watering. Consider transportation, soil, and drainage needs. If it doesn't look healthy by the Festival weekend, we may ask you to change it out for a fresh plant.
    • You can create a combination of various pot sizes assembled together as one solid sculpture, but you will need to supply your own plants if you go this route.  
  • Your planter can be designed to rest on one of LeMoyne's white sculpture pedestals (minimum of 10" tall), OR, it can stand on the ground between 20-40" (as long as it's lightweight enough for a volunteer to be able to lift and move the planter with ease). 
• Other Things to Keep in Mind =
  • Make sure your sculpture is functional and can get wet! Don't forget to incorporate a drainage plan.
  • Some sculptures will be inside hotel lobbies, and some will be on outdoor patios and porches (depending on their size and delicacy). 
  • Want to do a terrarium, bonsai tree, or a succulent arrangement? Go for it! Just make sure it works with the logistics mentioned above. 
  • We strongly recommend you include care instructions if you've gone with a unique plant or design. 
  • Remember, folks will be bidding on these sculptures to take home after the silent auction. These sculptures will need to be easy to transport. 

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: Sunday, Feb. 2, 11:59pm 
• Jury Result Notification: Monday, Feb. 3 (or sooner)
• Progress/Behind-the-Scenes Photos: Monday, March 3
  • This is required! This is for our marketing sneak-peak campaign and we find it helps artists avoid procrastinating panic. 
• Completed Sculpture Drop-off at LeMoyne Arts: Monday, March 24 between 11:30-5:30pm
• Downtown Sculpture Public Exhibit: March 25 - April 25
• Auction Set-Up: Friday, April 25 (in the afternoon)
• Event Dates: Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27
• Silent Auction & Award Voting at the Festival: April 26 (10am-5pm) and April 27 (10am-2pm). Awards will be announced by 3:30pm on Sunday. 

Please note: You may continue to edit your application until the deadline, just make sure you save your login information and work. Once you are ready, click “Submit”, and you will receive a confirmation email (make sure to check your junk folder for all related communication).  

If you are accepted but decide you cannot complete your sculpture, please let powell@lemoyne.org know as soon as possible so that a waitlisted artist can be invited to participate instead.  

PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES: 

•  Participants must be at least 18 years or older or be supervised by an adult guardian. Group collaborations are welcome! 
•  All work displayed MUST be original work by the artist or group collaboration and be consistent with the sketch/design plan submitted to the jury.
• The Chain of Parks Art Festival Team reserves the right to reject work that does not meet the vision & goals of this project. This is a family-friendly public art project; the subject matter should be appropriate for all ages.
• Trademarked or copyrighted images will not be accepted (i.e.; college logos, Disney characters, etc.) 
• Progress & behind-the-scenes photos are required. This is to ensure the successful execution of the concept, as well as providing content for a marketing story. Send content via Eventeny or to powell@lemoyne.org.
• All sculptures should be weather-resistant. Some of the public exhibit display spaces will be exposed to the elements and will be outside under or around a tent during the festival weekend. 
• All sculptures must be secure and portable. Please avoid designs that are too heavy, delicate, or large to be relocated by a volunteer or art patron.
• While we will do our best to handle the planter sculptures with care, LeMoyne Art Foundation and the Chain of Parks Art Festival are not responsible for potential damage that could occur during the month-long public exhibit and festival weekend. Artists will be contacted if an incident does occur to allow time for the artist to make repairs.
• By applying, all accepted applicants give permission to LeMoyne Arts to use submitted images for exhibit promotional purposes. 

IMPORTANT PAYMENT DETAILS:

• Each selected artist will get a $100 stipend to create the piece. Payment will be received in the form of a check once the sculpture is delivered to LeMoyne Arts and approved by the Festival Manager, Powell Kreis or Festival Chair, Kelly Dozier. 
• During the silent auction and exhibit, there will be a $100 prize for the “People’s Choice”, awarded to the artist of the sculpture that gets the most votes during the Festival weekend, awarded on Sunday, April 27, by 3:30pm. Payment will follow shortly after.

WHO TO CONTACT:

• For Eventeny application errors/ questions: support@eventeny.com­­ 
• For project questions: powell@lemoyne.org

We hope you will participate in this exciting public art project! 

2025 GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS & HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTLEMOYNE ART FOUNDATION, INC. does NOT provide liability insurance for the protection of persons, vendors, entertainers, merchants, organizations, spectators or others who participate in any LEMOYNE ART FOUNDATION, INC. event.
 
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