Black Elders Mobile Mural

Classified Categories: Archived

Black Elders Mobile Mural

Date of Issue: June 2, 2021
Closing Date: Extended to July 7, 2021
Closing Time: 6:00pm MT

Oki, Danit’ada, Aba Wathtech, Tawnshi. We recognize this mural takes place on land with a deeply rooted history with the Nations of Treaty 7.

As we organize this project we acknowledge the Blackfoot, Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina Nations, as well as Métis Region 3, as communities who continue to protect and take care of the land for generations to come. We hope this mural creates a space for us to remember our past, respond to our present, and look towards the future. We thank the Indigenous community for their work and knowledge.

Concept

Supported by The City of CalgaryCalgary Arts Development, artist Katie Green, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Beltline Urban Murals Project, Pink Flamingo is working to bring four Black Lives Matter-inspired murals to Calgary in the summer of 2021. The intersectional mural series will celebrate Black youth, Black elders, our urban Indigenous citizens, and queer and trans citizens who are Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (QTBIPOC).

This request for proposals is for our Black elder mobile mural. A two-paned, weatherproof work which will be exhibited outdoors and indoors throughout the city in order to reach as many citizens as possible.

The Black Lives Matter Murals Project is a response to the current and historical Black Lives Movement taking place in our city and worldwide. Under the current circumstances of our socio-political climate, it is crucial that we find the capacity to come together to meet, rebuild, and reimagine our present way of relating to one another and to our future. The collective silence and irremediable damage that has been inflicted by systemic racism has gone on for far too long. It is clear that we need to be engaging in ongoing self-reflection, continuing education, relationship building and actual impactful, transformative anti-racism practices.

Public art plays an essential role in influencing culture. It presents the capability to help us question ideologies we’ve been taught and conditioned to accept—including the ideologies that uphold racism. It is imperative that Black, Indigenous, and racialized folks not only see themselves reflected in their city, but that they see themselves organizing and leading within their city. This demonstrates the act of decentering whiteness.

At the centre of this initiative are Black-led organizations, focusing on the importance of BIPOC artists and voices. Now is the time where the stories and expressions of those who have been underrepresented in the past can be celebrated now and into the future.

We are pleased to partner with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) on this endeavour.

The CPO has provided a new commissioned work by composer Laura Hawley to be performed by its Chorus. Artists are asked to consider the music in their submission, and the ways in which street art and classical music have been kept apart by systemic racism. Email pinkflamingomurals@gmail.com to receive a confidential MP3 file containing the music. THOTNATION will take video footage at each mural site during its creation as part of this project. The intention behind this collaboration is to begin to bridge the gap between two artistic cultures that have historically been separated. By allowing the mural artists to honestly respond to CPO’s commission, we can reflect on where we are at on our journey. This collaboration shows us a genuine representation of what is possible when these two artistic practices are invited to collide.

We are interested in a mural that:

  • Represents Black elder and responds to the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • Encapsulates the concept of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
  • Encourages equity and unity .
  • Is collaborative (not mandatory).

Site Details

Location: This will be a mobile mural that moves to various sites across its lifespan—think of it as a weatherproof canvas.
Size: Two eight-foot by four-foot panels that can be arranged to either be stacked or displayed side-by-side.
Surface: Plywood/plastic, depending on artist’s preference.

Accessibility

In line with our mission to support underrepresented voices and strive for equity, we are working to support community members who are disabled, Blind, have low vision, are Deaf, hard of hearing, neurodivergent, and/or immunocompromised. To learn more about accessibility options available (including alternative ways to apply) please contact us at: pinkflamingomurals@gmail.com.

Fabrication and Installation

Once the final artist has been selected and their design has been submitted, the selected artist or artist team will enter into an artist agreement with Pink Flamingo detailing the fabrication of the mural. A mural technician is available to help assist the selected artist with the installation process, including material gathering, equipment rentals, mural design transfer, and painting. This call does not require that the selected artist have previous experience painting murals, which is why our technician will be available to help with this process. The technician’s role is to be of service to the selected artist, helping to bring their idea to fruition.

Mural Project and Artist Selection Schedule

Deadline for Submissions: Extended to Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Artists Contacted: Wednesday, July 14,  2021
Production Phase: July – August 2021
Completion: By end of August 2021
Dedication Event: September 2021 (date TBD)

Budget

The total artist budget for the mural includes all artist fees and labour, artist assistance/volunteer fees, lift certification, and artist materials. Pink Flamingo is responsible for covering equipment rentals, insurance, site permits, wall preparation, and BIPOC crew members.

Artist Budget: $12,500

Eligibility

This call is open to established and emerging artists, artist collaboratives and photographers. Candidates must be representative of the Black community. No mural painting experience is necessary to apply—we will work with artists of any experience level to achieve their design.

  • If you are an individual artist and have a group of people you would like to work with, please state this in your submission.
  • If you do not, please state this in your submission and we will help source crew members to help you complete this project.
  • If you’re an artist collaborative please submit all names of the artists involved. If you require more crew members please state this in your submission.
  • If you are open and available to work on the mural project even if your design is not selected, please state this in your submission.

Community Collaboration Opportunities

This mural can also be a collaborative project. Applications are open to individual and collaborative artists to apply. By opening the doors to collaboration, this may inspire the Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities to work on a piece together. As stated earlier, priority will be given to Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and LGBTQ2S+ artists. We want the chance for people to share space together in response to Black Lives Matter in this mural. Many times different communities have stood in solidarity with others and worked together in unity. This mural can be an opportunity to reflect that.

If you are an applicant but your application was not selected, you may have the opportunity to work on the mural as a crew member. You will also have the chance to apply for the Phase II call for artists.

Artists may be asked to participate in community events where their mural will be shown to members of the public, and to be featured in the documentary series that will follow the mural project phases. Participation is not mandatory.

Documentary Information

By agreeing to the project, the artist or group agrees to be filmed by Thot Nation on behalf of Pink Flamingo and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for a video or videos. A contract will be signed which gives permission to use any likeness and recordings to be solely used in connection to this.

How to Respond

Please submit the following elements in one PDF document by email and labeled with your name:

  • Statement of interest, one page maximum.
  • Current CV and/or bio (including age, location, connection to Black, Indigenous, or racialized community), two page maximum.
  • Five image examples of your work that give a sense of your skill and approach to this project.
  • Your design for the mural (this can be a sketch, a photograph, a digital drawing or a painting). Please reference the site details for appropriate scale and layout.
  • Indicate your proposed timeline including start and end dates within the production phase of July to September 2021.
  • Indicate if you are applying as an individual, an artist team, working with volunteers or require hired assistance.
  • Please indicate if you would like to be added to our crew member and/or volunteer list if your proposal is not selected.

Submissions and/or questions should be addressed to pinkflamingomurals@gmail.com.

About Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo is a Black-led advocacy organization that uplifts the QTBIPOC community in our city by creating events, workshops, education, and safer spaces. Pink Flamingo proudly employs BIPOC visionaries.

Pink Flamingo partnership initiatives have created a vast network of artists and organizers of diverse experience, including an ambassador program that provides access to far-reaching corners of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Pink Flamingo is also connected to VOICES, Treaty 7’s coalition of Black, Indigenous, and racialized 2SLGBTQIA+, by representation of leadership on its board. Pink Flamingo has brought events to life and built artist networks with arts groups like Femme Wave, Sled Island, Vogue YYC, Snap Canada, and Umoja Sessions.

Submissions and/or questions should be addressed to pinkflamingomurals@gmail.com.

For more information, visit pinkflamingo.ca.

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