2012 Artistic Rain Barrel Program Guidelines
Artists considering participation should review the following:
To participate must be willing to donate time, creativity, a short biography and interpretation of design, paint, and the use of brushes or other application tools. In exchange, the Artistic Rain Barrel Program will provide a fully assembled and primed rain barrel, sandpaper, top coat, free publicity, a location to display your work, and an Artists Reception.
Timeline:
- February 3rd, 2012: A completed application must be submitted to the Artistic Rain Barrel Program for consideration.
- February 6th, 2012: The Lincoln Children's Zoo and City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division will choose artists based on their application form and will notify the successful artists.
- February 16th or 17th, 2012: Selected Artists must pick up their guidelines between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., fully assembled and primed rain barrel and top coat on at the City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division, 901 N. 6th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.
- March 9th, 2012: Support information is due, including title of the work, artist's bio and 75 word maximum interpretationof the piece. Email to Ellen Wright at ewright@lincoln.ne.gov or mail to Ellen Wright at City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division, 901 N. 6th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.
- March 16th, 2012: Completed barrels are due back no later than 4:30 p.m. to the City of Lincoln Watershed Management Office at 901 N. 6th Street. Please return the painted barrel in the provided bubble wrap for the barrel.
- March 19th through April 16th, 2012: Barrels displayed at libraries and local businesses. Each artist is notified of their barrel's display location. In addition, the location of each barrel will be available on the City of Lincoln's website, lincoln.ne.gov, keyword: rain barrel.
- April 22nd, 2012: The Lincoln Children's Zoo will host an Artist Reception at the Zoo. This is a chance to view all of the completed barrels and celebrate your work with friends, family, and other artists.
- April 22nd, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: The Artistic Barrels will be auctioned, with all auction proceeds for the Lincoln Children's Zoo to support summer classes, educational information for exhibits and other environmental education programs at the Zoo.
Painting and Planning Guidelines:
- To help plan your barrel, the spigot on the rain barrel will serve as the front. Usually, the back will be against a wall. The barrel must be returned to the City of Lincoln Watershed management Division with the spigot and overflow parts in place.
- Completed rain barrels must be functional and able to withstand the weather. Artists are not allowed to adhere anything (such as paper, tiles, etc.) to the barrels.
- Before applying acrylic paint, gently buff the primer paint with sandpaper to remove any gloss.
- After acrylic paint is applied, allow at least 48 hours of drying time before applying the top coat. For example, finish painting the barrel on March 1st, do not apply the top coat until March 3rd.
- Artwork does not need to have an environmental theme. Artwork may include one small logo (if desired), but theme cannot be commercial or advertisement. However, please avoid topics of a political, religious or sexual nature.
- The finished barrel must be approved by the Artistic Rain Barrel Program selection committee before it is displayed.
- Artists are limited to one barrel.
- Decorated rain barrels are displayed throughout Lincoln during March and April 2012. Barrels are displayed with interpretive signage and handouts that explain the benefits of rain barrels and the date of the auction. Each sign includes the artist's name, photograph, the artist's interpretation of their work and acknowledgement of the program sponsors.
- The City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division and the Lincoln Children's Zoo are not liable for any damage to the barrel during the display period.
- The artist relinquishes ownership of their artwork upon delivery of the finished barrel to the City for auction purposes.
For More Information
Contact: Ellen Wright at ewright@lincoln.ne.gov or (402) 441-7075
