Apply to design a piano for Playin’ Around South Orange

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Performing Arts Center is accepting applications for the 2016 Playin’ Around South Orange public art project.

SOPAC, in cooperation with other community partners, is seeking local artists/teams to paint pianos for a public art project. The artists will be required to paint the piano in/around SOPAC or an alternate, suitable location. If the artist would like to paint in their studio, they will be required to independently arrange for the pickup and delivery of the piano. The intent of this project is to create a downtown arts installation that highlights both the visual and the performing arts. The artists/teams are asked to submit pictures of their work or provide a website where their work can be viewed. If interested, the artist can submit a preliminary visual concept for the work to be painted on the functioning piano using the form at the end of this proposal. The Selection Committee will choose multiple artists for this project.

The committee is seeking artists who can create an exciting visual image to inspire the community, and provide diverse styles and themes. Designs that include logos, copyrighted or trademarked images, advertisements, or political, commercial, religious, or sexual symbols, themes or messages will not be accepted. Designs should be appropriate for a diverse, broad-based audience of all ages.

The pianos need to remain functional as musical instruments and will be a variety of sizes. The pianos and painted images will become the property of the South Orange Performing Arts Center. In the event that the piano becomes permanently damaged by weather or other circumstance, it will be removed from the project. Surviving pianos will be auctioned to benefit educational programming at SOPAC.

The team is looking for images to be painted on working pianos. The surface treatment must allow the piano to be tuned and played. The artist will need to prime the surface before painting and seal the design using an all-weather sealant.

The project is open to all artists or design teams within the area, age 18 or older. Five artists/teams will be selected via jury panel. SOPAC will provide a total honorarium in the amount of $200 per artist/team.

Application materials to be submitted include: a one-page letter of intent describing your design concept and source of inspiration, and what interests you about the Playin’ Around South Orange program; multiple images of artist’s/team’s previous body of work and/or a website location to view same; and — as an optional component — one full color concept image drawn, painted or printed on the form at the end of this proposal request. Artists/teams can submit only one concept.

Proposals are due Friday, July 22, before 6 p.m. Proposal selection will takes place Friday, July 29. All piano artwork must be completed and installed by the week of Aug. 22. Applications should be sent to pianoproject@sopacnow.org. For more information, visit www.SOPACnow.org/community/sopianos/ or contact Linda Beard at 973-382-1035 or LindaB@sopacnow.org.

  SOPAC, South Orange Recreation