Call for Montgomery County Artists & Creatives!

Wheaton Arts Parade 2020
The COVID-19 health crisis prevents WAP from holding the 4th annual arts parade and festival. But WAP will still bring art to the streets of Wheaton. WAP will create a “parade” TO art installed at various locations around Wheaton and the public will walk around the A&E District to see it. There will be a printed and web-based program with a map of the locations and information about each piece of art and the artist who made it. In addition, the WAP Yarn Bomb will decorate lampposts along the route with colorful designs crocheted by residents and local artists. WAP hopes that this will allow Wheaton to continue to “parade” the triangle, the area formed by the intersection of Georgia Avenue, Veirs Mill Rd., and University Boulevard, even more so because the artwork for WAP2020 will be created ON triangles.

WAP plans to install 39 panels of artwork by local artists and students. 30 triangular panels with 4 ft. edges and 9 triangles with 8 ft. edges will be assembled into 13 large tetrahedrons and installed around the Wheaton Urban District, from the Westfield Wheaton Mall to the new town plaza to the Library and Recreation Center.

The tetrahedron is a four-sided pyramid of equilateral triangles
and was featured on last year’s poster.

The tetrahedrons will be constructed of half-inch plywood
faces on three sides that will be attached to a base made
of two by fours and weighted and cabled to a stationary
object like a lamppost, sign or parking meter to prevent it from
being removed. The plywood faces will be primed with white
acrylic paint. The precise location for each tetrahedron will be
determined in consultation with the Wheaton Urban District.
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Call to Artists
Montgomery County, Maryland artists and residents are invited to submit their proposals to paint or sculpt one of the 13 “Wheaton Triangles” (tetrahedrons.) Residents do not have to be a professional artist to apply. The artwork must be made of waterproof material and able to withstand the elements. WAP is especially interested in receiving proposals from the area’s Spanish-speaking, Asian, Native American, and African-American communities.

Budget and Commission
Artists selected to create one of the “Wheaton Triangles” will receive up to $100 for supplies and a $300 commission for the tetrahedrons with 4 ft edges and up to $200 for supplies and a $600 commission for one of the three larger tetrahedrons with 8 ft edges.

Deadlines and Project Timetable
July 27 – deadline for artists‘ proposals
July 31 – announce winning proposals
August 1 – deliver tetrahedrons to artists
August 1-September 11 – artists create
September 12-16 – collect tetrahedrons from artists
September 17-19 – install tetrahedrons
September 20 – ceremonial walk to each installation and VIP remarks at plaza

Application Process
Applicants should submit a simple proposal that describes the artwork they will create including a color sketch and the kind of materials they plan to use. All artwork must be original and not subject to any copyright. Artists may reproduce images of their existing work or create a new piece. A rough estimate of the supplies needed and their approximate cost is required. Applicants are encouraged to use the web-based application form but entrees also will be accepted by email to info@wheatonartsparade.org.

Selection Criteria
The three selection criteria are creativity, site appropriateness, and durability. While artistic quality is very important, designs will be reviewed for durability, safety and appropriateness to the site. Artwork must be structurally sound and able to withstand an outdoor environment in a largely unsupervised area that is not protected from weather or curious viewers. Applicants should specify whether they prefer to create a 4 ft or 8 ft tetrahedron and the selection panel will determine which designs will be used on the larger tetrahedrons.

Selection Panel
The selection panel will consist of 3 past or present artists from the WAP Gallery, the WAP Executive Director, and a representative from the Wheaton Urban District. Panelists and panelists’ family members may not apply.

Exhibition and Ownership
The exhibition will commence on September 20, 2020. The artwork will be on display for two weeks in downtown Wheaton before being exhibited at the Westfield Wheaton Mall. The commissioned artwork becomes the property of WAP and will be available for purchase. Proceeds from any sales will be shared equally between the artist and WAP. Any income that WAP may realize from the sale of tetrahedron artwork will be used to cover the costs of its annual parade and festival. Unsold artwork will be exhibited or stored until WAP2021.

Waiver and Insurance
Participants must sign a waiver releasing WAP and its sponsors from any liability for injury or property damage while they are making their artwork. The artwork itself will not be insured for loss or damage.
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Inquiries
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Dan Thompson by email at danthompson@wheatonartsparade.org.