New mosaic in Oak Creek will be made entirely of residents' artwork

2022-03-12 02:59:33 By : Mr. Yifa Zheng

The city of Oak Creek has an art assignment for its residents.

The Art OC Community Canvases project started March 1 for artists of all ages.

“We want you to create a work of art inspired by something you love about Oak Creek, either from the past, in the present, or what you envision for the future,” the city’s web page for the initiative said.

Leslie Flynn, communications coordinator for Oak Creek, said the city is still pretty young but it's time to “develop a unique sense of art and culture."

Participants can create an original piece of art in any medium on a 10-inch by 10-inch canvas or piece of mat board provided by the city. The artwork will be combined as a community mosaic exhibited inside the multipurpose room of the Oak Creek Civic Center. The size of the mosaic will, in part, be determined on how many residents submit artwork.

“We hope that everyone who requests supplies will create something and return it to us,” Flynn said. “The bigger, the better.”

If there are more pieces than can fit comfortably “we may find places throughout the city to host a section of the mosaic,” Flynn said.

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While the mosaic will be made up of multiple submissions, the artwork will also be judged individually on originality, creativity, quality and relevance to the topic. The first place artist will receive $200 and the second-place winner will get $100. The winners may also have their art on a signal box, bus shelter or other public places in the city.

All other entries will be put in a random drawing for ten $20 gift cards.

”For the program to be successful, we need the involvement of our residents at every step of the way,” Flynn said. “We hope that the Community Canvases program will get people thinking about art in the community, and help us to understand what they love about Oak Creek at the same time.”

Artists can pick up supplies from city hall or the Oak Creek Library service desk — the same place completed projects will be returned by 4 p.m. May 31. Artists 13 years old or older will be given a kit including canvas, acrylic paint, two paint brushes and a paint mixing guide. Participants 12 years old or younger will get one mat board. When submitting completed artwork an entry form must be filled out including parent/guardian approval, if applicable, according to the city website.

Residents can submit one entry per person. All art must be original with no tracing, trademarked/copyrighted characters or slogans. The provided canvas or mat boards will be exhibited squarely and not as a diamond, 3D art is allowed as long as it does not extend beyond the edges, and artists should not put their name on the front but they write it can on the back.

Terms of submitting artwork include giving the city of Oak Creek permanent ownership of the work and therefore permission to show it, with the artist’s name on it, on city media such as the website, social media, in print, and other places. Oak Creek can also reproduce the art for exhibitions, promotions and digital displays.

Oak Creek can reject artwork that is deemed inappropriate including but not limited to profanity and political statements. The city will not allow outside commercial use without the artist's permission.

The project is part of Oak Creek's strategic action plan. City Administrator Andrew Vickers pulled together a group of staff to discuss starting a public art initiative to “improve pedestrian corridors with public art and sculpture,” according to the project plan. Flynn said the group looked at how other cities handle public art and put out a questionnaire to residents at the end of last year tied to the concept of a collaborative art project.

There are no plans to repeat the project, but Flynn said if it’s well-received the city would consider doing it, or another similar program, again.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.