By: Dale King
While the shows performed over the years on the stage of the Mizner Park Amphitheatre in Boca Raton have generally been excellent, the stage doors that close across the stage when it’s not being used are noting to rave about. Their rough and weathered surfaces sport an ancient coating of neutral paint.
Boca municipal government is about to do something about them – and today is critical to the plan that should be launched shortly and will be completed by early next year.
The City of Boca Raton is now accepting applications for a mural project on the stage doors. The deadline for submitting applications is today at 5 p.m. Area folks with a knack for skillfully applying paint and making colorful murals out of the drab doors should complete and submit the online application at https://www.myboca.us/MPAMural.
“The intention is to select an artist or artists who can create an expressive, inspiring mural on the stage doors that is reflective of downtown Boca and the spirit of the city’s art, history and culture.” As many as three artists may be chosen: one principal applicant and two alternatives.
The “canvas” area of the Mizner Park stage door is 60 feet wide by 30 feet high. The doors are divided into six 10-foot-wide panels.
Applications may be accepted from artists with mural creation experience, whether they live in Boca Raton or not. A stipend will be paid to the artist for such items as paint, supplies, site preparation, installation and clean-up.
Check the city’s website (myboca.us) for items that must be included with the application, including a resume.
On Sept. 21, the Boca City Council proposed the project as the third task to involve the Art in Public Place Places (AIPP) Advisory Board. The proposed project should promote the general view of Boca Raton and downtown Boca as a focal point for South Florida art, culture, creativity and entrepreneurial energy; encourage future public/private partnerships between local arts and culture initiatives; generate awareness of and attract support for the art, history and culture of the city and improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the amphitheater and downtown.
The schedule for the project is:
- Dec. 8, selection of finalists by City Council.
- Dec. 11, notification and processing of finalists.
- Jan. 4, 2021, commencement of mural.
- March 31, 2021, completion of mural.
The AIPP Advisory Board’s last project was the painting of the park and beach tunnels at Spanish River Park and Beach. Twenty artists applied and six were chosen.
The artists submitted their final renderings for their assigned tunnels in March 2019. The project was split into three phases: Central Tunnels, North Tunnels and South Tunnels. The murals were unveiled in April and May 2019.
The first AIPP project was the decorative painting of the Red Reef Park West Wall. The city received 47 applications. Six artists were selected and another six were designated as alternates. The public unveiling was held Oct. 20, 2018.