Tulagi Place Mural Project - Request for Qualifications
Request for Qualification Deadline: December 15, 2023
Three Notch Theatre Mural Site
Overview
St. Mary’s County Arts Council (SMCAC), with the support of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) and the Southern Maryland Folklife Center (SMFC), and in conjunction with the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks (SMCR&P) is seeking a professional public artist to create a site-specific mural design using themes and ideas from community stakeholders.
The grant is to commemorate Tulagi Place - a historic landmark from the time Lexington Park, Maryland, was created to support the community associated with the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS Pax).
Three Notch Theatre Dimensions (southern exterior wall)
Tulagi Place was the commercial and community center of the “instant city” of Lexington Park. The purpose of the mural is to beautify the southern, exterior wall of the Three Notch Theater facing into the Lexington Manor Passive Park (LMPP) and to celebrate the community’s past, present, and future.
The Lexington Park community dates back to the 1940s when the post-Pearl Harbor military response resulted in the US rapidly building military installations. Previous to the arrival of the US Navy to the area, a small, rural and water-industry community already existed, but the instant expansion dramatically changed St. Mary’s County, catapulting it into industrial prosperity.
Tulagi Place was the town center where families shopped, dined and found postal and library services. Today, Lexington Park is one of the most diverse areas in St. Mary’s County, with residents who remember the area before NAS Pax River as well as populations who have settled since. Tulagi Place, once the center of commerce and community, has been sold to a developer and will be razed to make way for a Royal Farms service station. This mural will commemorate the history and important role that Tulagi Place played in the lives of Lexington Park residents throughout the years.
The Lexington Manor Passive Park is the cornerstone of the revitalization effort to improve the Lexington Park community. The park hosts festivals, events, a disc-golf course, walking paths featuring fitness stations and soon a community garden. The Passive Park is also a designated “Arts Park”, and this mural project will be one in a series of art installations intended to re- center the space as a community jewel and point of pride.
Eligibility
The Request for Qualifications is open to artists living within the state of Maryland.
Site Location
The location for the mural is the south-facing wall of the Three Notch Theatre.
Plywood covered window, brick exterior
Plywood needs to be replaced and or removed. Option to install a window film over the window would allow for an uninterrupted, cohesive design concept, or some other window covering which renders the interior completely opaque.
The Lexington Manor Passive Park is located on Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653, near the intersection of Great Mills Road and Route 235, just outside Gate 2 of NAS Pax. It is an 80-acre park, developed in 2021. Learn more about the park here.
Budget
Three artists selected to submit their mural designs to the Artist Selection Committee will each receive a $600 honorarium.
The artist recommended by the Artist Selection Committee to present their design to the community stakeholders and city staff will receive an extra $500 honorarium.
The artist selected shall be required to collaborate with SMCAC, SMFC, and St. Mary’s R&P representatives, as well as members of a community stakeholder group.
Total estimated budget for this project is not to exceed $37,500. This grant is made possible by MSAC and SMFC Arts Relief General Operating Support (ARGOS) funds. Additional sponsorship will be sought.
Project Timeline
Request for Qualifications deadline: December 15, 2023
Finalists notified by: January 4, 2024
Presentation of proposals to Artist Nomination Committee: February 9, 2024
Opportunities for community feedback on three proposals by: February 24, 2023
Selection of final design by Artist Nomination Committee: March 8, 2024
Presentation of final design and award for the mural project to community, stakeholders: March 15, 2023
Installation process: Summer 2024. Ribbon cutting: Summer 2024
Timing is subject to change, based on approval process.
Process
The SMCAC and SMCR&P will lead outreach to the Lexington Park community and will host public meetings to solicit styles, ideas, and themes for the project.
The LMPP steering committee will also be invited to participate.
The SMCAC, SMCR&P, SMFC, and the LMPP steering committee will bring together an Artist Selection Committee to review applicants’ portfolios and select finalists. The committee will be comprised of stakeholders who represent the community as well as Lexington Park.
Up to three finalists will be selected to develop more detailed proposals, including images and a narrative, following review of artists’ submissions and portfolios.
The SMCAC and SMFC will convene a stakeholder meeting to introduce the finalists and give the opportunity to provide additional feedback.
The Artist Nomination Committee will recommend one artist to be awarded the mural project.
The selected artist will create a brief online document/presentation to present the design chosen by the Artist Nomination Committee for the purpose of information sharing online and for public notification on social channels.
Application Procedure
All materials must be submitted online in accordance with the instructions provided below. Hand-delivered or mailed submissions won’t be accepted. Only online submissions will be considered for review.
Interested artists MUST submit the following materials to be considered:
Up to ten (10) digital images including: title, media, location, budget, and year
Bio/CV
Cover letter that includes how this project relates to your past work, your approach to this project, and ket themes and concepts driving your work. Include your experiences with community engagement as it relates to your work.
List up to three (3) recent public art commissions; include a reference/contact person, phone number, and email address for each project.
Submit evidence of workmen’s compensation and liability insurance.
ARTIST QUALIFICATION SUBMISSIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED BY 11:59 PM EST on Friday, December 15, 2023.
Questions? Contact Susie Glauner, Executive Director of the St. Mary’s County Arts Council, by email at: director@smcart.org
Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC)
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) plays an essential role ensuring every person has access to the transformative power of the arts.
MSAC’s mission is to advance the arts in our state by providing leadership that champions creative expression, diverse programming, equitable access, lifelong learning, and the arts as a celebrated contributor to the quality of life for all the people of Maryland.
Southern Maryland Folklife Center (SMFC)
The Southern Maryland Folklife Center is dedicated to supporting activities that identify, document, or resent the living cultural traditions of Maryland’s diverse communities.
Located at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the Center has offered a variety of workshops and programs that showcase traditional art forms and help to preserve the unique heritage of the Southern Maryland Region, including St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert Counties.
St. Mary’s County Arts Council (SMCAC)
The St. Mary’s County Arts Council mission is to invest in the arts and increase awareness of their value and how they can enhance the quality of our community and our individual lives. We strive to:
Provide advocacy, leadership, and financial support to arts organizations and artists.
Encourage new creative endeavors and partnerships between artists and organizations in St. Mary’s County.
Invest in the cultural treasures specific to St. Mary’s County.
St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks (SMCR&P)
St. Mary’s Recreation and Parks strives to be a leader in cultivating exceptional leisure experiences in our community.
Their programs and facilities provide an enriched quality of life for the community through the preservation of natural, cultural, and historical resources, enhancement of parks and outdoor spaces, and promotion of a variety of leisure experiences.