New Hanover County’s Airlie Gardens is looking for artists, or teams of artists, to decorate, paint, and adorn one of ten oversized fiberglass squirrels for the gardens’ newest art exhibit, Squirrels!
The artist-designed, four-foot-tall fiberglass squirrels will be placed throughout the grounds for guests to enjoy as part of their garden experience, from July through October 2020.
Artists must apply and designs will be selected based on creativity, craftsmanship, use of materials, the ability to appeal to all age groups, outdoor sustainability, and durability. The Artist Application is available here (PDF), and must be returned by Thursday, February 28, 2020.
Artists will be notified March 20, 2020 if they are selected, will be able to pick up their fiberglass squirrel in April, and completed squirrels must be returned to Airlie Gardens no later than June 15, 2020. A $700 honorarium will be paid to artists, and a plaque featuring the artist will be placed at each displayed squirrel.
Said Guest Services Manager Rebecca Pearce:
“This new outdoor exhibit will give artists an opportunity to capture the whimsy of squirrels in Airlie Gardens and share their interpretation with all of our visitors. Our annual art exhibit is always an anticipated addition to the gardens and it attracts thousands of visitors each year.”
This is the eighth consecutive year that Airlie Gardens has hosted an art exhibit. Past years’ exhibits included the 2018 “Gnome Invasion” with artists decorating five-foot garden gnomes, and 2019 “HeART of the Gardens” with artist-designed hearts up to five feet tall.
Airlie Gardens is located at 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, North Carolina. For more information about Squirrels!, and to learn about sponsorship opportunities for the future exhibit, click here.
Source: New Hanover County
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