Wicker Park and Bucktown have long been neighborhoods where artists have gravitated, taking up residence in the historic Flat Iron Arts Building or showing work in a variety of art galleries throughout the area. Soon, you'll be able to see a bit of creativity spilling out onto the streets, thanks to the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and Special Service Area Taxpayer District No. 33, which recently announced its "largest public art commission" to date.
The neighborhood chamber is offering $30,000 to $75,000 to an artist or group of artists who can erect a permanent art installation at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Wood Street. The national call for artist submissions kicked off this morning and will run through the proposal deadline on November 18. "A jury of Chicago arts professionals" will narrow the submissions down to five finalists, who will each be given $1,000 to create models of their proposals that will be displayed publicly. A public vote will determine the winner, which will be announced in March 2017.
If you're interested in submitting a proposal, you'll find full instructions on the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce website. According to a press release, "no prior experience with outdoor art installations is required" to submit a proposal, though we're sure the judges will be looking for someone who can pull off a large-scale outdoor project.
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