CALL FOR ARTISTS
Ashby Stage Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
Mural Commission
CALL DEADLINE: August 1, 2021
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and Shotgun Players invite Indigenous and POC artists based in the Bay Area with demonstrable experience in mural work and design to submit proposals for a painted outdoor mural for the Ashby Stage - Shotgun’s theater at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Ashby Avenue in Berkeley.
BACKGROUND:
Shotgun Players is a company of artists determined to create bold, relevant, affordable theatre that inspires and challenges audience and artist alike to re-examine our lives, our community, and the ever-changing world around us.
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. Through the practices of rematriation, cultural revitalization, and land restoration, Sogorea Te’ calls on native and non-native peoples to heal and transform the legacies of colonization, genocide, and patriarchy and to do the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us to do.
The Ashby Stage, located on unceded Lisjan Ohlone land in one of Berkeley's busiest intersections, has become known for its amazing murals. Our goal is to commission local, Indigenous, and POC artists to design and paint a mural that recognizes and celebrates the history and traditions of Native Culture in this community, as well as the living culture that is still present in the area today.
The original people of the land we are on are still here. Surviving three waves of genocide, displacement, and development, the Lisjan Ohlone people continue to fight for the protection of their Sacred Sites and environment.
In recognition of this history, in 2020 Shotgun reached out to Sogorea Te’ for guidance on our land acknowledgement statement. This began a new relationship, and a larger conversation about how our organizations could partner to create greater visibility and action for the local Indigenous community. Thus the concept of a mural was born, as a way to create a highly visible public and creative invitation to our local community to learn more about the Indigenous legacy of the land and how to support current local rematriation efforts. Along the way we’ve shared information and history of the Lisjan people past and present, and invite everyone to do the same.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Location:
The Ashby Stage is located across the street from Ashby BART in South Berkeley’s Lorin District, one of the most diverse, artistic and transit accessible commercial districts in the City of Berkeley and the traditional Ohlone territory of Huchiun.
This public art mural will be on the west wall of the Ashby Stage near the southwest corner of the building, and highly visible to both pedestrians and motorists. The surface is stucco and CMU cinder block. Proposed location is 16’ w x 11’ h.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS:
• Artwork must be suitable for all ages and aligned with Shotgun and Sogorea Te’s community values.
• Artwork must be durable (fade resistant paint, anti-graffiti coating required).
• Artwork must be painted directly onto the structure.
• Please be conscientious of sensitive issues and the politics of representation of Indigenous history and people
ART SELECTION PROCESS:
Sogorea Te’ and Shotgun staff members will review proposals. Selected artist(s) will be asked to sign a Public Art Agreement, including standard Liability Waiver and Release.
COMMISSION DETAILS:
Design Commission and Installation Fee: $5,000
Materials costs will be covered separately.
PROPOSAL SPECIFICATIONS:
The proposal shall be submitted electronically through a simple online form with uploaded attachments. A proposed design is not required, but your proposal must include:
1. Background/Sample of Work
• Resume AND/OR website, social media account links, or other background and experience information for lead artist working on the project.
• Portfolio samples of other projects, similar in scope. (Include artwork name, location, commissioning body, installation date, and other relevant information)
• Reference contact information (name, email, phone). References could include clients, collaborators, partnering organizations, etc.
2. Proposal Narrative
Please provide the following:
• Artist’s Statement describing inspiration, meanings, symbolism and/or historical context for the piece.
• Proposed muralist(s) or collaborator(s), including all assistants who will be painting, if known.
• Recommended installation procedure, including any special equipment required
• Recommended annual and sporadic maintenance necessary to make this mural as permanent as possible
3. Rendering / Materials Information
• Illustrations/inspiration images or texts
• Proposed color palette, style, or other design elements
• A completed proposed design is not needed for the initial call (but if you’re so inspired, you are more than welcome to submit)!
4. Timeline
Please provide a proposed timeline for the project. Desired installation is Sept/early Oct 2021.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS / DEADLINE:
Please submit your proposal electronically through this FORM. All materials must be received by August 1. Have questions or want to discuss this project further? Please reach out to:
Liz Lisle, Managing Director, Shotgun Players
510.452.7207
liz@shotgunplayers.org
Inés Ixierda, Art and Media Director, Sogorea Te’
ines@rematriatetheland.org