Manhattan Beach, here's your chance to vote on the mural to be painted outside the Manhattan Beach Art Center.
The two proposed designs (pictured above)
are from local artists Nichole Blackburn-Manthe of Celadon Studios and
Big Sky Countries; and Josh Barnes of Studio Love and Loyalty.
The mural is this year's project from the
Leadership Manhattan Beach Class of 2022. The
goal, according to the group, is to
"develop community spirit by promoting inclusion, collaboration,
creativity, and mental well-being; while increasing visibility of the MB
Art Center."
The mural would be located at the
south-facing parking lot wall at the MB Art Center.
A local artist will create a paint-by-number style mural design. Leadership MB will then host a one-day community event in which members of
the community - preteens through adults - will assist in painting the
mural. Finally, the artist will add finishing touches.
Rita
Crabtree-Kampe, a member of the Leadership MB Class of 2022, told the
Manhattan Beach City Council last month that the wall had been previously
identified by the Cultural Arts Commission as a
good site for a mural.
The mural would be helpful in drawing attention and awareness to the Art
Center, she said.
"Even people who have lived in Manhattan Beach
for their entire lives are often surprised that we even have an arts
center," she said. "A mural would be a great landmark public piece of
artwork, and a great source of pride for the community."
Fellow class member Betsy Rubino added that Leadership MB had hoped to create a unifying
moment. "We want to create a community event that brings people
together," she said. "We’re thinking 100 people, possibly more. We would
have a community painting party, and then a ribbon cutting, honoring
those who created it and our sponsors."
Mural Timeline
The tentative schedule for the project is as follows:
Through February 14: Neighborhood canvassing; sending
postcards and a survey (to be posted online shortly) about the artwork;
February 7: Presentation to Cultural Arts Commission;
March 1: Reporting results of the survey and requesting final City Council approval;
March 15-April 15: Outreach to community participants, including preteens, teens, and adults;
April 30: Mural creation date;
May TBA: Ribbon cutting; community and sponsor recognition.
Leadership
Manhattan Beach would pay for the cost of the mural through its
fundraising. Maintenance of the mural would be assumed by the city of
Manhattan Beach through its Public Art Trust Fund.
Leadership Manhattan Beach Community Projects
Leadership
Manhattan Beach is a comprehensive 9-month
leadership program to educate and develop future community leaders. The
program, which runs from September through May of each year, culminates
in a final project to benefit the community.
Previous Leadership Manhattan Beach projects have included refurbishing the Manhattan Beach Santa Float, installing bicycle fix-it stations, and equipping Manhattan Beach Police Department vehicles and strategic
businesses throughout the community with Automated External Defibrillators.