The seventh round of Brooksville Main Street’s Mobile Mural Program promises to transform the streets of downtown Brooksville into a dreamscape. ‘Dreamscapes’ is an installment of original art set to play a major role in Brooksville Main Street’s Multicultural Festival, taking place on October 7, 2023. And from now through July 31, the Dreamscapes Call to Artists encourages creatives to show us their idea of a dreamland.
“Artists are asked to paint their interpretation of a dreamscape, whether this be a picture of their idea of utopia or a wild scene from their imagination. Share with us your visions of nature, humanity, reality, fantasy, and creativity,” read the Dreamscapes Call to Artists. “Share your landscape of the mind! Paint us your dreamscape and give us a look into your imagination.”
Artists will be paid $12 per square foot ($420 – $900) for murals sized 5’ x 15’, 6’ x 10’, and 5’ x7.’ Sketches are recommended but not required. Artists are required to use professional-grade outdoor acrylic paint. Artists will set up a table or tent at a Murals in the Park event for a meet and greet, where they may live paint or demo at their space. Artists also may sell artwork during this event and display promotional materials at no cost. The call to artists closes at 5 pm on July 31st.
Jessica Knutila, Mobile Mural Coordinator for Brooksville Main Street, stated that this particular mural theme is a dream of a concept. “I’m so glad that the design committee came up with the Dreamscapes theme because it can be open to so many interpretations. Artists can be literal and create picturesque landscapes or maybe have a more abstract concept in mind,” she said. “Two questions that may be helpful in conceptualizing your design – Where do you go in your dreams? Do you visit familiar places from your memories or do you travel to unknown lands?”
Knutila also encourages artists of all backgrounds and cultural identities to share the dreams of their people.
“The Dreamscapes murals will be unveiled at the Multicultural Parade in October,” she said, “so maybe artists can even find a creative way to work their cultural identity into their submission.” And in addition to the mobile murals featured in this round of this popular community art project, one lucky artist will be selected to make a permanent contribution to the Brooksville landscape. “Don’t forget that one muralist will be selected to create a permanent mural in Downtown Brooksville instead of a mobile mural!” said Knutila.
Knutila reveals that the Mobile Mural project has succeeded, with Brooksville Main Street working with 71 artists to create 106 mobile murals and paying $45,515 to artists since the Mobile Mural Program’s inception in 2020.
Natalie Kahler, executive director of Brooksville Main Street, also sees the Dreamscape concept as being wide open to artistic interpretation. “I’m so glad that our design committee, and particularly Allisa Babor, came up with the Dreamscapes concept,” she said. “We’ve already been getting a great variety of submissions. And we’re not expecting a single look from the murals. People dream differently, and we want to know their dreams, their wishes and hopes.”
And in a way, Kahler emphasizes, Dreamscape artists will be feeding the dreams of hopeful creatives who submit their own designs for future Mobile Mural Call to Artists. “We’ll be auctioning off the mobile murals,” she said. “And all proceeds will go to pay artists for future rounds of murals.”
Barry Meindl, Brooksville Main Street graphic designer, feels that Dreamscapes will create a stirring creative challenge for participating artists. “I’m so excited for Brooksville Main Street’s Mobile Mural program to once again bring spectacular artwork to downtown!” he said. “The Dreamscapes theme is going to be a fun one, giving artists a virtually blank slate to let their creativity run wild. Can’t wait to see how they interpret the theme and take the artwork to yet another level this time around!”
Allisa Babor, Brooksville Main Street design committee member and chairperson of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council, feels that Dreamscapes will empower artists to realize their own dreams on canvas. “We invite artists to journey into their imaginations and boldly capture their unique perspectives of the world, the dream realm, and beyond,” she said. “Through this call, we celebrate the beauty of diverse visions, granting artists the freedom to bring their visions to life.”
Furthermore, the Call to Artists flier for Dreamscapes features the work of a popular artist who, among many other honors, recently scored an Award of Merit at the Hernando County Fine Arts Council Art in the Park competition. Justin Alsedek of Gypsea Arts’ “Dorito Springs” forms the dreamy backdrop for this eye-catching flier. “It is 100% a dreamy, subconscious, magical, surreal landscape that perfectly illustrates the theme,” said Alsedek. “If I had time to make another one for this call, I would love it. Right up my alley!”
The schedule for the Dreamscapes Mobile Murals project is as follows:
Monday, July 31 – Deadline to apply at 5 PM
Friday, August 4 – Artists notified
Week of August 7 – Artists pick up tarps
Week of September 29 – Artists drop off tarps
October 7 – Murals in the Park Event Day
Check out and apply for the Dreamscapes Call to Artists at www.welovebvl.org/mm-call-to-artists
