Artist Submissions
"I did not expect the painting of the mural to be as easy or as much fun as it was. And to top it off, to get so much wonderful feedback from the community while I was doing it! 'So nice to have this color on such a gray day...' those kinds of things."
Cheryl Waale
Muralist, An Edmonds Kind of Eve (2010)
The Edmonds Mural Society is currently sending out its
Call for Artist Submissions for the 2012 Mural Season! In addition, here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions...
Choosing the Season's Theme...
The mission of the Edmonds Mural Society is to celebrate the beauty, history and people of Edmonds by raising murals throughout the city. Each season's topic, then, rotates among those three goals through the years: history in 2010, beauty in 2011, people in 2012, history in 2013, and so on. Then, working within that topic, the Members of the Mural Society vote on the theme of the season. 2010's (history) theme was A Moment In Time. 2011's (beauty) theme was Hidden Treasures. 2012's (people) theme is An Edmonds Kind of Day.
Choosing the Five Murals...
The Board of the Edmonds Mural Society follow a three step selection process beginning December 15th and culminating with the final five selected by May 15th. Steps along the way for the artists being considered include submitting a sketched out concept, then a detailed, color maquette (ie small-scale representation), then a larger painting of the mural itself. Here is the
Mural Selection Process (laid out in one page).
Why the Mural Society Stopped Doing Wall-wrapped Murals...
In its infancy, the Edmonds Mural Society chose to raise its first mural using a 3M product called "Wall-wrap." Digitalized versions of the mural are transferred onto large vinyl sheets that may be melted onto the wall. This method helped the Mural Society raise its first mural quickly and easily.
As the Mural Society grew in experience, however, it realized that the 3M product comes with significant trade-offs: chiefly, the expense ensures that a wall-wrapped mural remain small (likely no larger than 9' x 16'); moreover, wall-wrapped murals must be replaced every eighth year, due to fading.
Indeed, when the Board added all the numbers up, it realized that the Mural Society can paint five murals of three times the size and three times the durability for each wall-wrapped mural.
About Those Historical Murals...
By chance, the first two murals raised in 2010 were historical in theme. (The artists were the two most accomplished muralists selected that year and the Board, wanting to learn from their experience, scheduled them early in the summer.) However, as a result, a number of artists in the community drew the conclusion that all murals raised by the Mural Society will be - in some way or another - historical.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, the other three murals raised that summer - one, a contemporary work; the other two, abstract works - had no historical content of any kind.
The Board chooses murals based on their coherence in design and relevance to the season's theme. The Board cannot imagine any restrictions in terms of artistic content, nor uses any in the selection process. Put another way: we quite simply don't want to tie any artist's brush down.
How Copyrights Are Handled...
Briefly stated, the muralist retains the copyright to the mural and the Mural Society pays a one time royalty to the muralist for painting the mural. The royalty amount is determined each year by the Board (it was $500 in 2010, $800 in 2011 and will be $800 in 2012). Please note that that royalty does not include the cost of materials. The Mural Society provides the paint and any equipment needed to the muralist to complete the mural.
Here is the complete Licensing Agreement that is signed between the muralist and the Edmonds Mural Society. As you might imagine, it is exhaustive. That way everyone may put concerns aside and focus on the joy of raising a mural.
"It was a such an honor to be the first muralist selected by the Edmonds Mural Society. It gratifies me more than I can say..."
Pat Brier
Muralist, A Day In Edmonds (2009) and An Evening In Edmonds (2010)
Questions? Contact our Municipal Liaison, Jeff Stilwell!