Artists sought for collaborative mural work at Kahului parks

Through a new partnership between the Hawaii Medical Service Association and the National Fitness Campaign, whose mission is to build healthy communities, two outdoor Fitness Court installations are coming to Maui County.

SMALL TOWN * BIG ART has released a request-for-proposals for collaborative mural designs at new Fitness Courts in Kahului, including Keopuolani Regional Park and Kahului Community Center Park.

Each of the Fitness Court rear walls measure 32-feet in length and 7-feet in height, offering a large artistic focal piece at each site, the news release said.

The initiative pairs professional artists with community consultants to co-create visual, performance and experiential art installations that align with ‘olelo from Mary Kawena Pukui’s ‘Olelo Noëeau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings.

The selected artists will be commissioned to develop an innovative design that engages a diverse public audience and celebrates the siteís history, culture and sense of place.

“As we gear up to celebrate our five year anniversary for the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative, it is abundantly clear that this community is craving active participation in the public artwork process,” said Kelly McHugh-White, manager of the collaborative program and founder of Maui Public Art Corps. “Through hands-on project development activities, community consultations, and direct partnership with the Maui Historical Society, our artists become vessels for place-based stories representative of a collective vision.”

Each Fitness Court presents an opportunity for an artist or artists to create a statement piece that enhances and enriches the site, as well as addresses the public input received in a recent Maui County Public Art Community Survey to produce art that preserves local stories, environment and history, the news release said.

“Public art helps us to preserve our communityís identity, deep history and cultural heritage,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said. “It can serve as a reminder of our past, allowing future generations to connect with and appreciate the stories and values we treasure. By showcasing public art, we reinforce and celebrate whatís important to our community and take pride in our sense of place.”

All professional artists and arts groups are welcome to apply via Call For Entry and Application Management for the Arts, which is the industry standard call for entries submission and online jurying solution by and for artists specifically for the public art field.

To date, 58 public artwork installations have been led by 70 professional artists in Wailuku, Kahului, Kaho‘olawe and Lanai City through this effort.

Details regarding the program’s process, application criteria, budget and more are available at smalltown big.org/nfc. Applications close at 7:59 p.m. HST on July 31.