Local artists sought for citywide sidewalk mosaic design competition

Break out the magic markers, colored pencils or your mad Photoshop skills. In an attempt to beautify the streets of Lodi's East Side, Project Lodi Art is holding a citywide sidewalk mosaic design competition.

The 24 winning mosaic designs will be permanently installed on sidewalks corners on East Lodi Avenue near Central Avenue. Lodi Arts Commissioner J. Mark Hamilton says the purpose of the program is to empower Lodi residents and students of Lodi public and private schools to design, create and install permanent art.

However, those who have design ideas aren't expected to know how to install the art piece.

"All they need to do is have an idea in their mind," Hamilton said. "We're looking for designs."

The chosen designs will be those that celebrate Lodi's diverse cultural heritage and will then be displayed at a First Friday Art Hop at Hutchins Street Square. The first-place design will be adopted as the Project Lodi Art logo and will appear on fundraising materials.

The deadline for design submissions has been extended to Jan. 30, 2009. Entry forms are available at Hutchins Street Square, Lodi Library, city hall, parks and recreation, at the Boys and Girls Club and online at www.hutchinsstreetsquare.com.

Project coordinator for the city of Lodi Diane Amaral says many cities, including in Italy and Vancouver, have already adopted mosaics as public art. She believes the mosaic sidewalks will help make Lodi a destination.

Sidewalk mosaic medallion design competition at a glance

Mosaic content must celebrate Lodi's diverse cultural heritage.

The competition is free and open to the public.

Must be submitted by an individual or a group.

Mosaics will be created from winning designs by community volunteers and installed at 24 street corner locations through the East Lodi Sidewalk Improvement project.

Placques will be placed next to the sidewalk mosaics to represent the artist, as well as any sponsorship received from the community.

Mosaic classes will be held at Hutchins Street Square for participating artists and community voluneers of mosaic tile installation.

All designs must be original.

Designs may be any shape (medallion, square or triangle) but must fit in the 28-by-28-inch format.

Deadline is Jan. 30, 2009.

For more information, visit www.hutchinsstreetsquare.com.
Source: Project Lodi Art

"It gives people ownership of where they live. I think it's just a real win-win situation," Amaral said. "It will be a permanent piece of art work that could become your legacy."

Project Lodi Art expects to hold classes in February that will teach interested community members about the process of placing the mosaics in the sidewalks.

"We're encouraging the people who are designing to go the next step to learn to create the final product," Hamilton said.

Committing to classes or installation is not required.

While the city council did approve $5,000 to be used for logo wear if necessary, the goal of Project Lodi Arts is to be self-sufficient. Once the winning designs are selected, the program hopes to create local sponsorship opportunities for each of the mosaics.

The final mosaics will not be placed until after the rainy season, around April or May.

As part of the East Lodi Avenue Improvement Project, the program also works with the public works department, parks and recreation and the Division of Arts and Culture.

Reader Feedback

breakerb wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:31 PM:

" thats great "

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WY wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:35 PM:

" Cool "

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