Perhaps you’ve noticed it: The large overhead rectangular slab of white concrete in the 500 block of South Gay Street, framed by red brick. And maybe you’ve thought to yourself: That space resembles a canvas awaiting an artist’s inspiration.

That’s exactly the opportunity seen by the City of Knoxville’s Public Arts Committee – the panel that’s adding public art throughout the downtown area.

The committee is inviting artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a permanent work of art for the 12-foot-10-inch by 7-foor-3-inch white space  – either a mural or a waterproof piece to be affixed to the wall on the east side of Gay Street, near the intersection with Union Avenue, just north of Nama restaurant. The space is above the opening to the elevated walkway to the State Street Garage.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. 

The selected artist will receive up to $10,000 to complete and install the work. The winning design will be selected on Feb. 7, 2017, and the installation is scheduled for spring 2017.

The Public Arts Committee has two other projects currently in the works: A fresh look for the drab gray stairs south of Cumberland Avenue, at 11th Street near World’s Fair Park, and a sculpture to be installed in front of the State Street Garage. Those two art projects are commissioned for a combined $75,000.

“Identifying the spaces for public art and then asking the artists for their ideas is a wonderful approach – we anticipate getting a wide range of visually stimulating concepts,” said Liza Zenni, staff liaison for the Public Arts Committee. “It’ll be very exciting to have three new pieces of public art in place in time for next year’s spring festivals.”

For more information, please contact Zenni at 865-523-7543 or at [email protected].