Chinook Blast launches the Interpretive Walk Window Design Challenge with Guest Curator Mandy Stobo
The Chinook Blast Interpretive Walk will bring Calgarians the "Art of Optimism" through unique window artwork. This inspiring project will consist of artistic representations of positive ideals, dreams, realities and hopes. Art will be installed on the windows of multiple high-profile locations around Calgary's downtown core during February.
AUArts students are invited to apply for the opportunity to be involved in this event. Ten students will be chosen to add vibrancy to the downtown core in February 2022.
Overview
Chinook Blast Interpretive Walk brings Calgarians the ‘Art of Optimism’, through two-dimensional window artwork. This ‘hopeful future’ project (“I’m Optimistic, ARE YOU?!”) consists of approximately 10 student artistic representations of positive ideals, dreams, realities, and hopes, installed on the windows of multiple high profile locations around Calgary’s downtown core as part Chinook Blast during February 2022. This opportunity is exclusive to AUArts students.
Requirements:
If you are an AUArt student:
- Apply with a 3 sentence description of what you love about the present, what you hope about the future, or what you want to share in terms of excitement for where we are with our beautiful city, and up to 3 links to your work. While visual arts often spur us to explore difficult emotions, complex challenges, or, the many things that need to change in the present world and society, today we’re looking to focus on hope. We are all 22 months into something none of us wanted to lose time to. Chinook Blast is asking artists to explore how you can engage with Calgarians in a way that will make them smile, or allow them to feel okay about tomorrow, next month, next year and beyond. Your artistic concept should convey true optimism to the public through the installation.
- Chinook Blast Curator Mandy Stobo will be available to artists throughout the process.
- The installation should be in the artist's preferred style and how you convey what it is you want the public to feel—exacting, conceptual, futurism, tech, wholehearted Sunday night bad TV feels, etc.
- The installation will be temporary and applied directly to the glass of the assigned downtown location. Window locations and sizes will vary (average 8’x 8’), and organizers will work with the artist to find the ideal fit.
The artist will be responsible for development and installation. Supplies will be provided by Chinook Blast and will include tempura paint, a wide brush and a thin brush. Artists will be provided with primary colours, black and white along with some additional colours. Artists will also be provided with window cleaner to clean the window before hand and a drop cloth. If artists wish to add some height, they will be allowed to bring their own step ladder. All logistical details will be coordinated on the artist’s behalf. You create the magic, we’ll provide the space.
Qualifications:
AUArts student artists need to have the energy, availability, and capacity to move quickly. Strong organizational and communication skills are assets. Actual feelings of hopefulness are extra but also encouraged. Artists will also need to be familiar or familiarize themselves with media applications for a window installation (water based paint, vinyl/decal, etc.) and removal. They must be enrolled at AUArts.
Timeline:
- Application deadline: Jan. 25, 2022
- Artists notified by: Jan. 27, 2022
- Installation created: Jan 28–29, 2022
General Information:
Artwork will be displayed publicly in the downtown core for three weeks.
Marketing: photograph of installation, artist headshot, bio, and artist contact information included on the Chinook Blast website, and featured on Chinook Blast and partners social media.
Each artist will receive a $500 honorarium per window project.
Logistical support to coordinate installation.
Apply:
Email your application to Toyin@birdcreatives.com with subject line "I’m Optimistic ARE YOU?" by January 25th, 2022.
You must include:
- Name
- AUArts student ID # to verify you are a current student
- Artist contact information
- 3 sentence description of what you love about the present, what you hope about the future, or what you want to share in terms of excitement for where we are with our beautiful City
- Up to 3 links to your artistic work
If you have questions, you can email toyin@birdcreatives.com
Alberta University of the Arts is a sponsor of Chinook Blast 2022