Call for Artists Black Squirrels on Parade

Call for Artists
Black Squirrels on Parade
Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee announces a unique collaboration of business,
art, community, and tourism. In the summer of 2016, Black Squirrels on Parade will arrive in
Marysville, Kansas. The parade will feature five-foot-tall fiberglass sculptures of black
squirrels painted and embellished by professional and amateur artists.
Black Squirrels on Parade is open to all artists from the acclaimed to the amateur. Painters,
sculptors, multi-media artists, and other nutty, creative people are encouraged to apply.
An honorarium of $500 will be paid for each selected design. One half of the honorarium
($250) will be paid upon design acceptance for purchasing materials. The rest of the
honorarium ($250) will be paid upon completion and approval of the decorated black squirrel.
Artists are encouraged to express their creativity in decorating a black squirrel in any manner
they choose, but it must be resistant to the effects of weather, public attention, and use.
Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee will work with the manufacturer of the
fiberglass statues to weatherize each statue with a clear coating that will not harm the piece of
art; rather, protect it from the elements. (www.fiberglassanimals.com)
To make sure the essence of “Black Squirrel City” is captured, a portion of the black squirrel
should remain black. The artist may determine which portion remains black; however, please
take into consideration that the city’s mascot is a black squirrel – the impetus for this public
display of art. The materials should be durable, permanent, safe, and easily maintained. The
sculptures may be sanded, glued, wired, painted, plastered, bejeweled, decoupaged, tiled, or
otherwise adorned, as long as they are weatherproof and safe to the public.
Photographs are not allowed on a black squirrel because they do not withstand weather; the
photographs tend to fade, even with the clear coat.
Artists will be notified by May 27, 2016 if their design has been selected. Both the sponsor’s
and the selected artist’s names will appear with the black squirrel while on display. Any
submitted design may, at the discretion of Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee, be
displayed prior to final selection for public viewing.
To apply to be an artist for Black Squirrels on Parade, please complete the Design Submission
Form and please complete the four black squirrel drawings. For the drawings, please paint or
draw the proposed designs. Due to the size limitation of the paper we realize that small details
cannot be represented. The drawings should convey the overall look and feel of the design.
Submission of the design is due by 5:00 p.m. CST Friday, April 29, 2016.
Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee will facilitate the partnering of a sponsor with
an artist. In certain cases the artist may be asked to coordinate with the sponsor to create a
mutually agreeable final design. Working in conjunction with the buyer of the squirrel, artists
will create a title for their decorated black squirrel. This name will be used as the primary
identifier for the work over the course of the Parade. Clever and catchy names are welcome.
This collaboration will take place during the month of May before the statues are delivered to
artists.
A five-foot-tall fiberglass black squirrel will be provided to each selected artist as a “blank
canvas” for the execution of their approved design. Black squirrels will be ready to be
delivered May 27, 2016. Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee will transport the
black squirrel to and from the artist’s studio or workspace that is within forty-five miles of
Marysville. If an artist resides outside that area, the artist and the committee will work together
to find a way for the black squirrel to be delivered.
Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee will visit with artists periodically over the
project’s implementation period to monitor progress.
Artists are required to sign a Marysville’s Convention and Tourism Committee Copyright
Assignment. In summary, the Copyright Assignment requires that artists, whose designs are
selected, are required to transfer all of their right, title, and interest in their design to
Marysville’s Convention and Tourism Committee. Artists may continue to use images of their
design as part of their personal portfolio. Artists may not use the design for any other
commercial or non-commercial promotional purposes.
The completed black squirrel statue must be ready for pick up from the artist July 1, 2016.
The public exhibition will take place in mid- to late-July 2016.
All materials submitted as part of the registration and design process will become the property
of Marysville’s Convention and Tourism committee and will not be returned.
For more information about the Call for Artists and the submission process, please contact
Wayne Kruse by phone (785-713-2077) or by e-mail ([email protected]).
Artists under the age of 18 are welcome to submit designs; however, a parent or guardian must
consent to their participation and vouch for the minor’s skill and ability to complete the project
should their design be selected.
Artists whose designs are selected must sign an Agreement assuring that they will complete the
project as proposed, using appropriate materials and techniques, and that their black squirrel
will be completed by July 1, 2016.
Design Submission Form – Black Squirrels on Parade
Artist
Address
E-mail
Telephone
Tell us about your background, and tell us why you should be chosen as one of the artists for
Black Squirrels on Parade.
Explain your concept and design for the black squirrel!
If the artist is under the age of 18, a signature by a parent or guardian is required assuring that
the guidelines and deadlines will be followed:
Please complete the four black squirrel drawings and return them and this form to – please do not bend or fold:
Marysville Convention and Tourism
c/o Black Squirrels on Parade
P. O. Box 16, 101 North 10th Street
Marysville, KS 66508
For more information, contact Wayne Kruse by phone (785-713-2077) or
by e-mail ([email protected]).
Submission of the design is due by 5:00 p.m. CST Friday, April 29, 2016.
The fiberglass squirrel will be cast using this design that was molded in clay by a student at Marysville High School.
Slight modifications will be made to the ears and also to the front arms/paws. In order to protect it from vandalism,
the arms will not extend out as far as they do in this design. They will extend out, just closer to the body.