Any and all Maryland artists are invited to submit work for the new Essex Gateway Sculpture, a public outdoor display featured at the entrance to the new Essex Gateway Park. This sculpture will be viewed by over 30,000 people who drive through Essex daily, and it will be the centerpiece to the new public space. The chosen work will be displayed in the four panels of the sculpture. All works submitted will be exhibited in a curated show and press event at the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River.
DESCRIPTION: The work will be four panels set as a four-sided column. The panels will consist of translucent UV resistant LEXAN and will be backlit in the evenings and at night. Applicants must keep in mind the properties of the final installation and be mindful of the light elements. The themes of the work can reflect Maryland as a whole, Maryland water life, Maryland watershed and Chesapeake Bay revival, and a focus on past and future of Essex, [attractions, industry, water culture]. For further information on Essex, please contact the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River email: essexmuseum@gmail.com or visit http://www.essexmuseum.com/ (Guided tour times may vary due to COVID-19). You also may want to visit the Essex Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.
DEADLINE: August 9th, 2021
SIZE: The final product will be 20-25’ by 5’ vertical. Each concept must be formatted to fit these dimensions once scaled.
APPLICATIONS: Mail applications to: Essex Gateway Sculpture, c/o Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, 405 Williams Court, Suite 108, Middle River, MD 21220. Though we would prefer physical copies to be sent in, we can accept digital works (info@chesapeakechamber.org). All formats will be accepted. Included in the application and sent work should be an artist bio and artist statement alongside the applicant's name and address.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Only artists native to or based in Maryland may apply; however, there are no other limiting factors, all skill levels and backgrounds are welcome. Subject matter and representation or reflection of Essex is paramount, but the five main considerations are creativity, thematic appropriateness, use of color and space, readability, and clarity of design. Selection will be performed by a juried panel sourced from across Maryland.
HONORARIUM: $1,200 will be awarded across winning selections, and all participants will be honored in a curated show installed at the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River.
Contact Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce for further information – info@chesapeakechamber.org, 443-317-8763.