City of Livermore: Utility Box Mural Project

This Call for Artists is open to all adult and student practicing artists, as well as Art Teachers interested in mentoring a group of students. All entries must be original designs suitable for viewing by all ages.

The City's Utility Boxes are typically 4 feet, 7 inches tall; 3 feet, 2½ inches wide; and 2 feet, 2 inches deep. Currently grey, the boxes will require sanding, priming, painting with acrylics, and finishing with anti-graffiti clear coat. Artists are encouraged to choose boxes located on major thoroughfares: Stanley Boulevard between Isabel Avenue and Holmes Street, or North Livermore Avenue between 580 and Railroad Avenue. Art Teachers and students are also encouraged to select boxes near their school. Artists may not choose utility boxes painted in previous years.

The proposed artwork must be acrylic paint covering all four sides and the top of the box. The art should enliven the area, transform the street, and reflect the neighborhood where the box is located. Bold colors and designs are encouraged for visibility from a distance. Projects showcasing the City's cultural diversity, historic heritage, or key activities in the area receive additional consideration. The art cannot restrict vents or airflow, and City maintenance crews must have full access to box components. Artists are responsible for all prep and painting work and must apply an anti-graffiti clear coat upon completion. Installation must occur between July 1 and October 7, 2013, and artists may enlist assistants or be mentored by art teachers. The artwork becomes the property of the City of Livermore.

Applications must include: a completed online application; a concept drawing showing the side and top of the utility box design (hand-drawn or computer-generated using the provided template); up to 5 ranked location choices; a statement of interest (maximum 2,000 characters) describing interest in the project and experience with public art; a resume (maximum four pages) including exhibition history and past projects, or for students, a letter of recommendation from an art teacher; and 3 examples of previous work with brief descriptions. All visuals must be JPG format, minimum 1920 pixels on the longest side, at 72 ppi/dpi resolution.

Selected artists will receive a $125 stipend upon beginning work and an additional $125 after City Staff and Arts Commission review of the completed project. The City will provide basic art supplies. Selected artists and assistants must attend a mandatory meeting on June 13, 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Livermore City Council Chambers (3575 Pacific Avenue) to receive contracts and liability releases. Artists under 18 must have a parent or guardian attend and sign all liability releases.