The Friends of the Walpole Public Library announced that local artists have additional time to propose their creations for an outdoor installation this summer. The deadline for submission has been extended to April 14 in order to allow more participation.
“Art in the Park” is a new and ambitious cultural event for Walpole and the surrounding area.
The Friends have formed a partnership with Francis William Bird Park and the Walpole Council on Aging to produce a summer exhibit of outdoor art in Bird Park and in the library’s garden. The theme is “READ all about it!”, which is the conceptual link with the library: Each work of art must refer to a certain book or book character or setting, of the artist’s choosing. Some of the books already inspiring submissions include:
“To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” by Eleanor Coerr, “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” by Howard Pyle, “Watership Down” by Richard Adams, “The Frog Prince” by The Brothers Grimm, “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll, and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll.
Those books are still as eligible as any for the inspiration of other artists who would like to participate, but additional books will be especially welcome.
There will be up to twenty art installations in Bird Park and up to five in the library’s garden. The artwork will be chosen in a competition, and five cash prizes will be awarded – one to the work judged the best in each of five categories.
The Friends and their partners are urging artists to get proposals in for consideration by the extended deadline of April 14. Successful entries will be announced the week of April 16, then artists will have six weeks to construct their works and begin installing them during the May/June cusp week. June 9 (rain date June 10) will mark the official public opening of the exhibit with a celebration at Bird Park. The works will be on display from June 9 through August 11, during all hours that the venues are normally open to the public.
Local professional or emerging artists who are interested in creating book-themed site-specific 3D works, still or interactive, are encouraged to apply without delay. Artists of all ages are eligible – in fact, the Council on Aging seeks to facilitate intergenerational collaborations in creating the artworks.
Artists can get more details about the project and the application process at The Friends Room in the Walpole Public Library, the Bird Park Office, or the Senior Center; online at www.walpolelibraryfriends.org, or by emailing to ArtinthePark@WalpoleLibraryFriends.org
