Austin Parks Seek Artist To Paint Mural For Barton Springs Bridge

Austin TX

08 April, 2021

3:30 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Parks Foundation is seeking an artist to design a site-specific outdoor mural underneath the Barton Springs Road Bridge for its Zilker Park Train project. The organization released its request for proposal on Wednesday and is accepting artist submissions through April 23, the agency said. The organization is working with the City of Austin's Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) for this project. Artists interested in assisting the project must be able to brand the space, introduce color, serve as a backdrop for photos, and provide visual interest. The piece must be durable and suitable for the outdoors with the ability to withstand interaction with the public. The mural site is set on the west side of the river and the piece will run underneath the bridge, approximately 52 feet and between 8-10 feet high, officials said. Once an artist and design is selected internally by the foundation, the organization will work with the city's art in public places program on the final selection and have the project and art approved. The foundation said the tunnel under the Barton Springs Road Bridge will be receiving an update along with the track, depot, and other features in order to revitalize the Zilker Train, which is anticipated to reopen in fall 2021 on it's 60 anniversary celebration. "With so much excitement around the opening of the new Zilker Park train, our goal in this restoration process is to evoke the spirit of Austin—past and present," Austin Parks Foundation Chief Mission Officer Ladye Anne Wofford said. "When it comes to our parks, Austin Parks Foundation is always looking for opportunities to work with community partners. What better way to do so than by having a local artist design one of the main focal points of the new route that families will pass under day after day?" For the full request for proposal and guidelines to submit, please visit austinparks.org/zilker-train.