The Village of Great Neck Plaza, in partnership with its resident committee Great Neck Plaza Public Art Advisory Group, is seeking professional qualifications from artists or design teams for the design, fabrication and installation of a painted mural to be installed on the back wall of a commercial retail building that faces the village’s outdoor municipal parking lot on Gussack Plaza. Arists who want to be considered for designing and painting this mural may submit a concept for the proposed artwork by the final deadline of 4 p.m. on Sept. 8 in Village Hall, located at 2 Gussack Place. The total project budget for the selected commission is $6,000. Up to three semifinalists may be selected by the village to make a determination of the selected site-specific design and artist/artist team.
The village has obtained permission from the property owner of the building for this artwork, which is located at 50 Middle Neck Rd., also known as Section 2, Block 301, Lot 63 on the Nassau County Land & Tax Map. The commercial building at the proposed location is occupied by Santander Bank and the soon-to-be-opened New Fu Run Restaurant, a new Chinese restaurant that has been approved by the board of trustees and is currently under construction.
The mayor and board of trustees expressed a desire to the property owner of the building to decorate the rear wall with a public art mural. Village elected officials feel that an artfully done mural at this location would enhance the municipal parking lot and would complement the two existing Public Art projects already completed by the village: the Trompe L’oeil Mural, A Handful of Keys, at the corner of Maple Drive and Middle Neck Road, and a mosaic tile piece entitled Sunset on The Sound at the Great Neck Train Station. The goal is to utilize unattractive walls and transform them into beautiful pieces of public art. It will soften the large expanse of the rear wall of this building and provide a beautiful enhancement for the village.
For artists and artist teams who are interested in entering this design competition, the proposed artwork can be submitted on either 11″ by 17″ paper or YouTube video on a flash drive. Should the artist wish to utilize a historic photograph for inspiration, check out the Village of Great Neck Plaza’s website at www.greatneckplaza.net/Photo%20Galleries/Historical%20Album/index.htm. There will be no entry fee.
After the Sept. 8 deadline, the Public Art Advisory Group and the village will notify the selection of semifinalists during the week of Sept. 26. After the artist/team is selected and completes this public art project, the village will subsidize a plaque to display the title, artist’s name and date of dedication of the mural.
Visit the village’s web site at www.greatneckplaza.net for additional information about Great Neck Plaza Public Art Program and call the mayor’s office at 516-482-4500, ext. 114, or email mayorsassistant@greatneckplaza.net about guidelines for submitting an entry.
