The Contemporary Dayton announces an RFQ for a Proposed Mural at Sunrise MetroPark

DAYTON (March 22, 2022) – The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) announces a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists, artist teams, designers, or architects who live within a 50-mile radius of Dayton to design an outdoor mural for the Centennial Overlook at Sunrise MetroPark. The proposed mural location is comprised of a two-sided curved staircase from the landing at Centennial Overlook down to the Great Miami River. The mural is part of a larger project at Sunrise MetroPark to draw people down to the river and will feature the poem by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, On the River (abbreviated):

“The sun is low
The waters flow
My boat is dancing to and fro
The paddles splash,
The wavelets dash,
We see the summer lightning flash
Where neither bird
Nor beast has stirred,
he spotted bullfrog’s croak is heard”

The RFQ is the first of a three-phased process concluding with the installation of a single public art project with a budget of $12,000 for design, materials, and production. The project selection committee will choose up to three finalists that will receive a $750 stipend for their proposal.

The deadline to submit an RFQ is Monday, April 11, 2022, and should be submitted to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at The Co by emailing [email protected]. For more details, please visit codayton.org/events/call-for-entry.

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ABOUT SUNRISE METROPARK

This small urban park is situated on a high bank above The Great Miami River. Its walkways are filled with stunning views of the city and skyline that change with the light of day. Prairie plantings and wildflowers draw in wildlife from the adjacent river habitat and make the park a serene spot for relaxing. Catch a glimpse of the large and graceful blue herons that frequent the area. Watch the Wolf Creek spill into the Great Miami up close from the paved river walkway at the foot of the stairs. An ambitious plan for Sunrise MetroPark has been proposed as part of the Dayton Riverfront Plan. Centennial Park is the first phase of that plan.

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ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY DAYTON

Mission: To provide art for the community and a community for artists.

Overview: The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) is the region’s contemporary art center. Established in 1991 as Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC), a 501c3, The Co produces and presents original exhibitions and programs, art events, community partnerships, and artist opportunities. Exhibitions and education programs feature artists living and working today, both nationally and in Ohio, with an emphasis on those whose work focuses on issues of social justice. In addition to its three galleries—open to all and always free—its retail store, the CoSHOP, provides income for Ohio artists and extends The Co’s accessibility to art, from visitor engagement to educational outreach through store products, programs, and experiences.

The Co is proud to support the creation of connections among the arts, community building, civic engagement, community planning, and use of public space, and makes an annual economic impact of 3.4 million to the region. Recently raising 1 million during the Pandemic to expand and move into its new home in downtown’s historic Dayton Arcade, The Co is led by Executive Director Eva Buttacavoli, a 30-year art museum administrator, curator, and educator, whose previous roles were at The Contemporary Austin, TX and The Perez Art Museum Miami, FL; and Curator Michael Goodson, who previously served as Curator at the Wexner Center for the Arts, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art and Design, OH; and as Director at James Cohan Gallery, NY.

The Contemporary Dayton receives operating support from Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District, Ohio Arts Council, the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation, and Members.