Artist Wanted To Paint New Mural On Oswego Main Street

Oswego IL

23 August, 2021

5:45 PM

Description

OSWEGO, IL — A new mural is coming to downtown Oswego as part of the Cultural Arts Commission's mission to build a permanent public art collection in the village. The mural will decorate the south-facing wall at 59 Main Street, currently home to Oswego Cyclery and the Oswego Brewing Company and soon Fox Valley Winery's new tasting room, for five years before village staff reevaluates for maintenance or removal. The upcoming mural will be the second art installation in downtown Oswego commissioned by the village. It comes two years after the first manhole cover art project, called "Fox and Muskie," done by Boulder Hill resident Elisabeth Teitge in 2019. RELATED: Oswego Unveils New Manhole Cover Design A prompt for the new project can be found on its Bids and Request For Proposal page, which lists aesthetic terms the mural is strongly encouraged to evoke — inviting, organic and "old is new again" are just a few. The Commission's goals for the mural include encouraging exploration and evoking curiosity. "The Cultural Arts Commission is really seeking to establish the aesthetic for what public art looks like in downtown Oswego," Community Engagement Coordinator Jenette Sturges said in a statement. "Every community has their own distinct feel and sense of place that is demonstrated in part through its public art, and so rather than dictate a specific subject for this mural, the Commission is asking artists to propose concepts that speak to and help us establish that feeling and sense of place." The proposal also notes artists must have experience working in the medium and scale proposed as well as knowledge "to ensure adequate durability for the intended five-year life span." The Commission approved a $5,000 budget for the project, and half the amount will be paid out following a contract signing while the rest paid after the mural is complete. The artist will have access to the full cinderblock portions of the wall and won't be required to paint the whole thing, but also won't be allowed to paint windows, awnings or doors. Those interested can follow the instructions on the village's Bids and RFPs page to submit a concept by Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. (For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Oswego Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)