Press Release
Volunteers Needed to Paint Mural in Vista Park
Contact: |
Bill Fortmueller |
Department: |
Parks & Community Services |
Phone: |
760.726.1340 ext. 1148 |
Release Date: |
July 26, 2010 |
The City of Vista is seeking approximately 20 to 30 volunteers from the Townsite neighborhood and the community at large to participate in an all-day mural painting event scheduled for Saturday, August 7.
The Mural-In-A-Day event, funded through the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Challenge America grant program is designed to fund projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations, those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.
The project involves an artist who creates and sketches the outline of a mural on a selected surface or building which is then painted in by volunteers. Renowned artist, Art Mortimer was selected to sketch a mural on the wall of the Sheriff’s substation in Luz Duran Park, located in the Townsite neighborhood. The mural depicts several scenes of youth sports and families enjoying the park. Volunteers do not have to have an artistic ability or painting experience.
“The Mural-In-A-Day project offers an exciting opportunity that will create a public arts project within the Townsite community,” said Bill Fortmueller, Assistant Director of Recreation and Community Services. “It will also help eliminate the graffiti that has negatively impacted this community in particular and the city in general. We hope the Townsite residents will feel a sense of pride and ownership after taking part and contributing to the beautification of the neighborhood with the mural.”
A mandatory workshop for the volunteers will be held the evening before the painting day to provide an opportunity for the participants to meet mural artist Art Mortimer and to learn about the general work scope of the project.
Artist Art Mortimer has painted almost 100 murals, including “Mural in a Day” projects in the California cities of Lompoc (2001); Banning (2004); Bishop (2005); Tehachapi (2005); Twenty-nine Palms (2007); Manteca (2007); Crescent City (2008); and in Vale, Oregon (2006).
The Mural-In-Day program is a partnership between the City’s Redevelopment Agency, who obtained the $10,000 NEA Challenge America grant and the Public Arts Commission who is overseeing the project.
Lunch, snacks and a barbeque appreciation dinner will be provided to the volunteers the day of the event. A second Mural-In-A-Day project will take place in the summer of 2011 in the historic downtown area.
Information on the event or volunteering can be found on the City’s web site at www.cityofvista.com or by calling 760.639.6151.
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