10/13/2024
HOMESTEAD SIGN 2.0 - In April 2021, 26 of us socially distanced, built, painted and installed the welcome to HOMESTEAD sign at the corner of Janes Street and Montford as a celebration during lock down. We thought it might last 3 weeks before a grumble could cause its removal. I completely self-funded construction of the project, and the artists all donated their time and materials.
Much of the now 3-year-old 2021 artwork is fading or peeling, and the panels are in need of repair. We surveyed our local neighborhood to see if we should replace the existing HOMESTEAD sign. And the community has said a resounding YES. 79% of respondents said we should we build another welcome to HOMESTEAD sign 2.0 with volunteer artists; 5.7% said No (most No votes, stated they like the one that we have; and 14.6% said they don't care).
We ran a go-fund-me and raised enough funds to cover construction of a new HOMESTEAD sign, and to pay the artist $50 each to cover the cost of their materials.
This project is about love, spring, Homestead Valley, inclusivity and celebration.
If you are interested in participating in decorating one of the 20” square panels behind a letter, please see rules and how to submit below. We have a group of artists to review submissions. All submissions will be reviewed for content, level of experience and age group. We want professionals, novices, kids, and crafters. We really want this to be a community project, include your kids, family, friends, do it as a group.
This is supposed to be fun. If you are stressed by just reading this, chill. No pressure no problem.
DATES:
November 30, 2024 - Submissions due
December 7, 2024 – Artists Notified
January 5, 2025 – Artist picks up panel
February 8, 2025 – Artist delivery panels
February 22, 2025 - Installation
COLOR:
The back and all sides of the sign forms are black, your artwork will be on the front face only. Your artwork can be 3-D, But no deeper than 1 inch. You can paint a color and then adhere objects if wanted, or just paint.
All colors encouraged.
The HOMESTEAD letters will be Silver (like the fork) and floating on spacers over the artwork 1.75”
GUIDELINES:
This is a temporary installation, Installation on or about February 22, 2025 and no artwork will be returned to you. It could be removed by government agencies with little or no notice, it’s all good.
We may use the artwork to make t-shirt, cups, hats. Never for profit, always for non-profits.
All art is temporary.
This project is about love, spring, Homestead Valley, inclusivity and celebration. Please no political statements (even if we need it and I agree with the sentiment), this project will be controversial enough.
No ceramics (too much weight).
Nothing that will add too much weight or fall off in a wind storm and break a car windshield.
No suggestive or pornographic images.
Make all art water proof, if you use adhesive, use a silicon based adhesive so it has cured /dried before February 15, 2025. NO ELMERS OR HOT GLUE
Try not to paint the sides, but if you do, we will touch up with black upon return.
If you do 3-dimensional attachments, nothing over 1 inch in depth, or heavy.
Letters will float about 1.75 inches off face of art work with some kind of spacer.
Make your art waterproof, wind proof, stupid person proof.
You won’t know what letter you get, so let go of that, “Oh no - they covered the best piece of my art with a T”.
We will give some thought to installation order based on color and artwork.
Plywood will be 3/8 inch thick
When I attach the letter, it will attach in from the back, and may have to scrape away bits of your artwork.
RESPONSE / SUBMISSIONS:
Send your description of what you want to do, images, links. To: [email protected]
Tell me of your level of experience, and age.
We may get zero responses, or too many. We want to review all responses before handing out any assignments.
Its not personal if we don’t include your idea.
If you MUST have a specific letter for your artwork to work, it’s OK to request. But no guarantees.
HAVE FUN
Someone on the team asked if I am seeking any more donations to cover cost, no I am not seeking funding.
People in our community are going to love and hate this, but either way they are gonna notice this little celebratory pop-up art installation. Join us. But be OK when someone says, I liked the old one better. Go out and make something. Be brave enough to suck at something.
