BCAC ANNOUNCES OVER $261K FOR 2022 UNITED CULTURAL FUND (UCF) RECIPIENTS The Broome County Arts Council (BCAC) announced $261,059.00 in 2022 United Cultural Funds (UCF) to 21 local artists, arts organizations and community non-profits – a substantial increase from the number of awards granted in 2021. Applicant statistics in Broome County reflect a nationwide picture: […]
BCAC Awards Dept of Public Art a Grant Read More »
Members of the Dept. of Public Art installed a mural on the factory at 19 Avenue B in Johnson City. Master Muralist Bruce Greig created a mural in panels that gives the illusion that a dinosaur is inside the factory looking out. “It’s a playful mural that brings new life to this factory,” according to
Dinosaur Mural in Residence at Johnson City Factory Read More »
At this year’s LUMA Festival, September 7-9, 2018, local artists will have the opportunity to see their images projected on a downtown building. LUMA will project 30 images generated by artists using a template or outline of a building. “We want LUMA to be a celebration of the Arts in Binghamton and a chance to
ARTISTS!!! Be Part of LUMA Projection Festival! Read More »
The Department of Public Art (DPA) will sponsor the 5th Mural Fest at Floral Ave. Park in Johnson City on Saturday May 5th from 11am – 4 pm. The Village of Johnson City has welcomed us back to continue to improve the park. “Mural Fest offers everyone a chance to paint—murals for adults and a Box City for children,” according to Peg Johnston of DPA. Organizers also plan to give away art supplies to neighborhood children in conjunction with a grant from the Chenango Co. Arts Council and with the help of The Bridge and Family Enrichment Network.
Mural Fest 2018 participants will work on four projects—improving the inside of the bathrooms, painting the outside of a shed, a mural on panels for the Renaissance Festival at Cutler Garden, and a Dinosaur mural for a factory on Avenue B in Johnson City.
Mural Fest participants will be entertained by a full roster of live music. At 11am Diana Tejera, an Italian singer-songwriter with a gold record will perform. Local band Voodoo Highway (blues-rock and more) starts at 12:15 pm. Adam Ate The Apple playing roots, folk, and rock play at 1:30 pm. Hot Dogs & Gin featuring Eamonn Hubert, a child prodigy guitarist play classic rock at 2:45 pm.
The Dept. of Public Art has created a “Box City” of upcycled cardboard several times so that children can paint and play in them, and take them home. DPA artists will also create cardboard animals for children to paint and keep. Volunteers will prep the cardboard houses April 17th and 24th from 6-8 pm at Avenue DIY, 19 Avenue D in Johnson City.
The Dept of Public Art is a volunteer group responsible for more than 50 murals in the area. The first two Mural Fests were on the MLK Promenade where 30 artists created temporary murals for blighted buildings and then the DPA sponsored Mural Fest on the Northside at Cheri Lindsey Park. In 2017 Mural Fest moved to Floral Ave. Park in Johnson City where four permanent murals were finished.
Mural Fest has received support from Chenango Co Arts Council (DEC NYS Council on the Arts) and the Hoyt Foundation, Town of Union Community Development, Golden Paints, Belknap Lumber, Kovarik’s Hardware, Daniel’s Paints, and other sponsors. Tabling by local groups is free. For more information or to volunteer email DeptofPublicArt@gmail.com or the Dept. of Public Art Facebook Page. See attachment for a DPA Wish List.
5th Mural Fest Returns to Floral Ave. Read More »
–Johnson City, New York.
On Friday, November 3, at 1:30 PM Johnson City Mayor Greg Deemie will officially dedicate the murals at Floral Park to the children of the community by cutting a ceremonial ribbon at the park’s main entrance. Mural Fest 2017 marked the Village’s first foray into public art installations. Johnson City has been labeled the Health & Cultural iDistrict as part of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council’s regional plan. In support of this designation, the Village plans to champion public art installations throughout Johnson City. Studies have shown public art can be a high impact, low cost method to increase vitality, community cohesion and property values. Mural Fest 2017 was attended by an estimated 300 people of all ages from throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
Five permanent murals at Floral Ave. Park were created by the Dept. of Public Art (DPA), a volunteer organization that has more than 20 murals to its credit. "Johnson City is a great canvas for our public art and we look forward to more opportunities to transform the urban landscape," said Peg Johnston, one of the DPA's organizers. Lead artists on the project included Susan Champeny, resident artist from Massachusetts, Bruce Greig, master muralist from New Zealand and Binghamton, Judy Salton, member of the Cooperative Gallery, and Shawna Stevenson, graphic artist studying at Syracuse University. Over 1000 volunteer hours were donated to these murals and the Mural Fest activities October 7th.
The Dept of Public Art has received a grant from the Town of Union Community Development Block Grants funds that will be used for more murals. Additional funding was received from Broome County's Hotel/Motel Fund, The Chenango Co. Arts Council Decentralization Program a re-grant program of the NYS Council on the Arts, with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature. Additional support for Broome County was provided by the Stewart W. & Willma C. Hoyt Foundation.
Visit www.deptofpublicart.com and the Dept of Public Art facebook page for more information.
Floral Park Public Art Dedication Read More »
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The Department of Public Art (DPA) will sponsor the 4th Mural Fest at Floral Ave. Park in Johnson City on Saturday October 7th from 11-4 pm. The Village of Johnson City has given permission to paint murals on several structures at Floral Ave. Park and there will be several activities for children and adults. "Leaving behind permanent murals is important," said Peg Johnston of DPA, "and just as important is engaging people in the process of creating art in public places.”
Live painting of murals is an important feature of Mural Fest and this year master muralist Susan Champeny will teach mural planning and painting Oct. 1st from 12-4 pm. Champeny is a professional muralist and creates murals, mosaics, and sculptures from recycled materials. She completed a 3 sided mural called “Goin’ Fishing” on Jarvis St. in Binghamton in 2015, as well as a mural on cloth at Mural Fest 2016. Susan will be painting two murals at Floral Ave. Park this year and will teach people who want to paint with her all week long (times TBA). Bruce Grieg, a New Zealand artist who lives and paints in this area, will paint one side of the handball court. He is responsible for many of the local murals including Mohammed Ali and several murals in the Water St. Parking Ramp. The other half of the handball court will be painted by Judy Salton, local artist at the Cooperative Gallery, with an abstract theme. Both designs will attract selfies with their novel perspectives. Shawna Stevenson, an illustration major at Syracuse University, has designed a Flower Mural that she is painting with the help of BOCES Students.
This year Mural Fest will offer even more community engagement with art, guided by local artists. This year DPA will sponsor a mural workshop starting Sunday Oct. 1st and continuing through Mural Fest Oct. 7th for community members. The workshop will show participants how to plan a mural, including gridding the design, prepping the space, and then painting it throughout the week and finishing 5 murals at Mural Fest. Another workshop, led by Stephen Schweitzer will teach people how to use camera phones to document community events, also starting on Oct. 1st, 12-4. Children will have an entire Box City to paint and decorate as well as cardboard animals, and mask making for small children to paint and play with. All workshops are free.
Similarly, DPA is partnering with Southern Tier Solar Works to create solar lanterns for neighbors: At Mural Fest children and adults can build their own solar lantern.
To VOLUNTEER to paint or to help with children's activities sign in here.
Mural Fest has received support from Chenango Co Arts Council (DEC NYS Council on the Arts) and the Hoyt Foundation, Broome County Tourism Grant, Town of Union Community Development, Golden Paints, PPG Paints, Daniel’s Paints, and other sponsors as well as a Go Fund Me fundraising campaign (www.gofundme.com/MuralFest2017) .
Mural Fest and Mural Workshops Read More »
Public Art Workshops Mural Fest 2017 at Floral Ave. Park JC
October 7th, 2017 11 am – 4 pm
This year Mural Fest will offer even more community engagement with art, guided by artists. The Dept of Public has permission to paint murals on several structures at Floral Ave. Park in Johnson City. This year DPA will create workshops with community members led by experienced artists to plan a mural, including choosing a theme, gridding the design, choosing colors, prepping the space, and then painting it at Mural Fest. Similarly, DPA is partnering with Southern Tier Solar Works to create solar lanterns for neighbors: the workshop would come up with designs that use upcycled materials, learn how to assemble the solar lights, and gather materials for a table at Mural Fest where people could build their own solar lantern. Another idea is to create either a Box City or cardboard animals for small children to paint and play with at the previous Mural Fest at Cheri Lindsey Park.
"Leaving behind permanent murals is important," said Peg Johnston of DPA, "and just as important is engaging people in the process of creating art in public places. We are grateful to the Village of Johnson City for the opportunity to paint several structures at Floral Ave. Park."
Interested? Stay in touch! We will be announcing workshop details throughout the summer email us at DeptofPublicArt@gmail.com to get our updates. Include your name, email, phone, and what you would be interested in.
Mural Fest 2017 at Floral Ave. Park Read More »
Photo: Outlining the Mural Design on the Pool House
The Dept. of Public Art and reBOLD Binghamton are sponsoring the third annual Mural Fest at Cheri Lindsey Park September 17th from 11 am- 4 pm and will paint three buildings and many smaller panels to be placed in the community. “MuralFest 2016 will bring local creativity to improve the Park and to bring attention to the Northside,” said Mark Bowers a spokesperson for the event. Bruce Greig, a master muralist, will also paint a mural design by Amy Panella on the rear wall of the Binghamton Plaza. Panella, an art teacher, won a design contest with her mural that shows the rooftops of local landmarks with a sky that includes hot air balloons and the word “Binghamton” that will be visible from across the river.
The pool house at Cheri Lindsey Park will be getting a new mural designed by local artist Zach Wilson, and local artists may volunteer to help paint that large mural. Another building at the park will get new murals on three sides of the park by artists who actively use the park and have painted murals there previously.
At least 15 local artists will also paint original designs on wooden and fabric panels to be posted in the community. This is a continuation of the Blight mitigation project in which the Dept. of Public Art placed mural panels on 11 boarded up buildings. Other activities for children and adults will include upcycling projects, such as making kaleidoscopes out of cardboard containers, creating animal figures out of corrugated cardboard, a Box City, and other interactive activities. Tabling opportunities are available for artists and organizations.
Support for MuralFest and the permanent murals it will leave behind has received support from many sources: Chenango Co Arts Council – NYS Decentralization grant with support from Governor Cuomo and the NUS Legislature and the Hoyt Foundation; the Community Foundation of South Central NY; the Tourism Fund of Broome County; the Mayor’s Office, City of Binghamton; Visions Credit Union; Lowe’s and Sherwin Williams Paint; Wegman’s; Daniels Paint and other businesses. The public is being encouraged to support local artists at the event by donating to Mural Fest through the DPA via PayPal at binghamtonbridge.org. For more information or to volunteer, contact the deptofpublicart@gmail.com.
Paint at Mural Fest at Cheri Lindsey Park September 17th Read More »
The Dept. of Public Art (DPA) received more than 65 submissions to its design contest for a mural slated for the rear of the Binghamton Plaza along the Chenango River Trail, which is also the site of this year's Mural Fest 2016 at Cheri Lindsey Park. "We were very impressed with the quality of the submissions and the enthusiasm of the artists for Binghamton's future," said Mark Bowers. "The review committee found it challenging to choose 8 designs to send to the City for final approval." All submissions were anonymous to the committee. This wall is visible from across the Chenango River which makes it part of the Binghamton Gateway. The contest, which carries a $1000 prize, 75% of which was donated by the Mayor's Office, attracted some national but mostly local artists.
"We are grateful to Michael Galesi and Galesi Development, owner of the Binghamton Plaza property, for his forward thinking in allowing us to paint a mural on this building," commented Mark Bowers, one of the coordinators for Mural Fest 2016. Mr. Galesi, as well as the newly formed Public Arts Advisory Board and Mayor Rich David will have input on the final design.
Mural Fest 2016 co-sponsored by DPA and re-BOLD Binghamton is slated for September 17th, and will be held along the Chenango River Trail at Cheri Lindsey Park. The pool house at the Park will also be painted on that day. There will also be art activities for children and adults. Last year's Mural Fest created more than 30 mural panels which were subsequently placed on boarded up buildings in Binghamton, a program which continues.
Both this and last year's Mural Fest were funded in part by the Chenango Co Arts Council (NYS Decentralization grant) with help from the Hoyt Foundation, as well as by the Broome County Tourism fund and other funding sources. Additional fundraising will be needed for supplies and actual painting of the mural. View all 8 finalists on the Dept. of Public Art Facebook page. (Note all are anonymous until the judging is final
Mural Design Contest Draws 65+ Submissions Read More »
BC Arts Council announces Heart of the Arts Winners on August 10th
Every other year the Arts Council members vote on nominations for the Heart of the Arts award for extraordinary accomplishments in the previous two years. This year, Peg Johnston of the Dept of Public Art, Cooperative Gallery, and the Bridge has been nominated, as well as Emily Jablon, who has created several mosaic public art installations.
Johnston is nominated for "making blight the inspiration for art" for the original murals affixed to boarded up buildings in Binghamton, for managing the "Birthplace of Virtual Reality" murals in the Water St. Parking Ramp, and for "sparking" an arts renaissance and transforming a derelict block into "State of the Art St." And for coordinating 50 volunteers for Mural Fest 2015.
Jablon is nominated for creating the ""Confluence Arts Project" installing mosaics, and for engaging at risk and underserved populations and people with disabilities in artistic activities.
Other nominees are Susan Ashbaker Director of the Tri Cities Opera for leading the organization from financial and organizational challenges, and for introducing "opera writ large"; Harold and Toby Jean Manker, Program Directors of the Phelps Mansion Museum for chartering the Phelps as a "house museum" and initiating musical events; Alvin Williams III of Classical Pianists of the Future for "Helping young talented classical pianists follow their dreams."
Voting is open to members of the Arts Council until July 29th. Membership is $35/year.
The Broome County Arts Council will announce winners of its 2016 Heart of the Arts and Lifetime Achievement Awards during a news conference at 10am, Wednesday, August 10th at the at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel’s Sun Briar Court in downtown Binghamton
Awards will be presented Monday September 19th at the 11th Heart of the Arts Award Celebration, DoubleTree Hotel Grand Ballroom, downtown Binghamton. Tickets are $55 for general admission and $50 for arts council members. For more information
e-mail information@broomearts.org or call 607-723-4620.
Public Artists Nominated for Heart of the Arts! Read More »
