HISTORIC SITE AND MONUMENT COMMISSION (HSMC) Application for Historical Markers, Monuments, and Public Art MURAL APPLICATION Applicant Contact: Scott Boylston scottb@emergentstructures.com // 912.844.7659 TENTATIVE TITLE: A Vibrant Community! DESCRIPTION: The proposed mural will be adjacent to a large, community-centered greenhouse on East 34th Street in Savannah. The E.34 greenhouse was built from reclaimed materials by Emergent Structures (a 501c3 non-profit organization) to provide a work space to teach neighborhood youth the social value and the vocational skills of growing food. The greenhouse was built to support the mission of another 501c3 non-profit organization, Design for Ability. Design for Ability teaches special needs high school students vocational skills to help them enter into the workplace. Another partner at the E. 34 greenhouse is Mr. Will Mobley, a vocational education instructor at SCCPSS. The greenhouse was constructed in a food dessert on Savannah s east side, and programming for the greenhouse includes initiatives to create intergenerational learning, and provide fresh produce to elderly residents in the neighborhood. The proposed mural will be painted on the side of a low-lying cinder-block building on the same property as the E.34 greenhouse that faces the E.34 Greenhouse. The mural project is intended to create a vibrant, enriching, and safe environment in the community, where all people feel welcome. THEME: The mural will explore the themes of vibrant and diverse community interaction, intergenerational learning, the wonders of nature s abundance, and ways in which communities can nurture a shared vision for a common future. Symbols, reflecting words and imagery chosen by the young artists from the area, will be used within the mural. Focus, Faith, and keep your head up are the drivers for our inspiration and the iconography used to reflect this are guiding, power paths that illustrate the individual s journey and overlapping moments where life lines can converge and diverge. Their continuance and journey will show perseverance and determination tested by what life presents to you. SCALE AND DESIGN: The structure itself is humble, and the mural, which will cover the eastern wall from one end to the other, and from top to bottom, will be painted in colors that can be found in nature. The proportions of the wall are 9 high by 34 wide, visually the mural will consist of activating perspective lines showing human representations moving along their power paths. The lines used exemplify individuals journeys and how they interact with one another as a community. Motifs and designs chosen will reflect some of the work created by the African American muralist John T. Biggers (who was greatly influenced by artists of the Harlem Renaissance), highlighting a mix of abstract and objective elements. Durable outdoor paint will be used, and the final mural will be weatherized with a coat of UV-protected varnish.
COMPLEMENTING THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD: This east side community is surging with an energy ready for direction. Many that live in this community are Savannah locals experiencing turmoil within their living situations, homes that need to be rebuilt, and land ready to be tended. You can feel the energy surging throughout this emerging neighborhood,which is in dire need of revitalization. Cameron and Jeffrey are two young motivated members of the dream campaign who are guiding the project. They expressed their focus on God intently saying, that faith drives and inspires many individuals in the neighborhood. The creator presents to us a lush natural world that inspires countless opportunities for making healthier and more reliable living conditions. Together in the efforts of smarter ecological footsteps, E34 and the community are making great strides, however we have yet to exhaust our efforts of subduing current and imminent world climate change effects like over-farming and the use of hazardous fertilization. The mural will bring vibrancy to the wall, reflect the true spirit of the neighborhood, and hopefully attract people to the emerging community. ARTISTS SELECTION PROCESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH: A total of 5 artists were selected to create the mural. Two artists who have provided volunteer efforts for Emergent Structures on the adjacent greenhouse were selected based upon their talents and their commitment to social causes. One is a senior at SCAD, and the other is a recent graduate from SCAD. Three neighborhood artists were selected through a collaboration with a religious-based nonprofit organization (The Dream Campaign) that is already a part of the community. The Dream Campaign has worked with kids of all ages over the last few years, and they identified 2 young men and one young lady from the neighborhood who have contributed to art-related projects in the community, in the past and who have proven to be committed to the creative and physical task of designing and painting a mural. Once the mix of 5 artists (2 SCAD students and 3 neighborhood youth) finalize their design, other youth in the community will participate in the mural painting process. Outreach into the community has been ongoing for several years, where community members have been invited out to the greenhouse to discuss their desires for their neighborhood. They have had consistent input on the site development, and have expressed excitement for the mural. There will be several work days for the community to come out and help paint the mural. TIME FRAME: The team of artists are already working on the design of the wall, and this should be done soon. We aim to have several community mural painting days in September, and hope to complete the mural by the beginning of October 2016.
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS 607 E.34Th st. This is the side of the building the mural will be painted on. The mural is Intended to create a more vibrant space for this community greenhouse we built on the same property (same property owner)
SITE MAP EAST 34th Street THE PROPOSED MURAL WILL COVER THIS WALL
ARTISTIC INSPIRATION: Mid 20th Century African American muralist John T. Biggers
ARTISTIC INSPIRATION: Colors ways, patterns and concepts
EARLY SKETCHES TO FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD ARTISTS AND SCAD ARTISTS Please note these are exercises to help the team come to learn of their final vision. The two above sketches are exploring the way in which the elements will be arranged on the wall. The final design will be comprised of expressive design elements combined with representational renderings. The sketch to the right is an explorations of form and concepts.
SAMPLE ARTWORK FROM ARTISTS JUSTIN MONTAN AND LYDIA BATCHELDER. Please note that these are only to show the talent level of the artists, not the particular style that will be used on the mural.