Borough Opens $5,000 Public Art Contest
Could your design be on permanent display in Knight Park? Enter by July 30 to find out.
Cracking the top 20 in the Readers' Digest “We Hear You America” contest earned Collingswood a cool $5000 cash prize.
Now the town is ready to hand that money over to the local artist or artists who conceive of a lasting tribute to the borough and its spirit of community, to be installed in Knight Park.
The call officially went out Friday for submissions, which are due July 30.
Each entrant is allowed to submit two proposals outlining a budget, design, materials and installation. The borough will pre-select three to five finalists from among the field. A public vote (beginning August 30) will determine the winner.
“We thought the [Readers' Digest] winnings should go to something everyone can enjoy,” said Mayor Jim Maley in a statement accompanying the contest announcement. “Since they cast those votes, the public will pick the new art installation at the park.”
According to the contest rules (see above), judges are “looking for artwork that is interesting and possibly, but not necessarily, functional,” and that will serve “residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds from Collingswood, surrounding communities and beyond.”
In addition to a 24-by-36-inch sketch of their work, artists are invited to submit any background information that “will help the selection committee understand your capability with a project of this nature,” although such additional information is not a requirement for entering the contest.
Billy
10:24 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A "tribute to the borough and its spirit of community" could be summed up in 1 statue.. Michael Landon. Aside from the plaque drama, I think Collingswood should honor its native son. A) It draws tourists. (think 'Rocky statue' in Philly). B) Landon's long running series basically sums up values embraces by Collingswood residents. I'm not a Landon historian but I he left Collingswood to go on and make a great name for himself. Frankly, I'm astonished there isn't anything aside from a silly plaque in the park. ?? Hello?? My kids still watch re-runs of Little House.
Marsha Solton
5:34 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
i think we could do better than some artwork....say a dog run....Collingswood has alot of dogs and they would be so happy to have some freedom....also, the young people have no where to hang out...maybe a place for them to skateboard and congregate.$ 5,000 would go along way towards groceries at some food banks, give a few vets families some gift cards for days of pampering at a salon or get a massage......give some homeless shelters with kids some supplies or clothes......
Collingswoodnative
11:02 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
40 trees have been cut down in Knight Park this past year. The trees are dying at an alarming rate, not all due to age but rather a bacterial disease called Scorch. $500 is cost of treating one tree.
When we have no trees left in the park it will be easier for visitors to find our "art". This is money down the toilet folks.