project overview
Alcy Ball Neighborhood Markers | Bearwater
Artist: Kiersten Williams
Budget: $45,000 (includes three finalist honoraria of $500 each)
Upcoming benchmark/update: Artist Selection
About Alcy Ball & About Alcy Ball Development Corporation::
Alcy Ball is a South Memphis neighborhood with a rich history. The Alcy Ball district extends from Elvis Presley to Airways Blvd. and houses over 4,600 residents. The Alcy Ball area is made of various historic communities such as: Nobhill, Orchid Homes, Alcy Acres, and Holiday Heights. Alcy Ball is most known for their neighborhood schools: Alcy Elementary, Norris Elementary (Norris Achievement Academy), Corry Junior High (Closed).
Since 1947, a small cinder block storefront in the heart of Alcy Ball had been a communal attraction, but when Mr. Rogers began operating a convenient store complete with cold cuts and burgers in the early 1970s, the neighborhood found a real place to fellowship. Neighborhood kids stopped by for snacks after school and folks had a convenient store steps away from their front door to frequent and support. Things changed in the early 2000s when new tenants took over the store and the collapse of “Rogers Store'' seemed to echo the demise of the neighborhood. The ABDC purchased the store directly from Mr. Rogers in 2019 and has given it back to the community as a beautifully rehabbed event facility, available exclusively to Alcy Ball residents at deeply discounted rental rates. The hall now hosts weekly Bible studies, bi-weekly Coffee & Craft events, and is open for meetings, parties, reunions, and more. Neighbors can find their place here. And together, they are making Alcy Ball what it once was and reimagining what it can be in the future.
Alcy Ball Development Corporation was established in 2014 through a partnership between Pastor Tony Wade with Divine Life Church and Second Presbyterian Church. Our mission is to connect and empower Alcy Ball residents to develop a thriving community. Our vision is for a thriving, resident led community reflecting the Kingdom of God. We seek to develop a thriving Alcy Ball neighborhood through our program model of Connect, Train, and Restore.
About UAC:
The UrbanArt Commission (UAC) works to create opportunities for artists and neighborhoods to connect and shape spaces through public art. Since 2002, UAC has managed the City of Memphis’s Percent-For-Art Program, which allocates funds annually to develop public art in connection to capital improvement projects. UAC also facilitates public art projects throughout the city working with various partners and clients to support artists and new experiences with art.
SITE SPECIFICS
UAC and The City of Memphis, in partnership with Alcy Ball Development Corporation, are seeking an artist or an artist team to create 2 neighborhood markers for Alcy Warren Park & Alcy Samuels Park with 4 street sign toppers.
Alcy Warren Park is located at 2495 Warren St. Memphis, TN 38106. This is a 13-acre park that offers outdoor recreation and nature preservation. A public space open to the general public, the park offers a playground, ball field, an outdoor basketball court, 1/2 mile paved fitness trail, and open spaces.
Alcy Samuels is located at 2019 Ball Rd Memphis, TN 38114 a 15-acre park that offers outdoor recreation and nature preservation. A public space open to the general public, the park offers a playground, ball field, 2 outdoor basketball courts, 1/2 mile paved fitness trail, benches, and picnic tables.
Sign topper locations:
Alcy Rd. & Perry Rd.
Aly Rd. & Warren Rd.
Ball Rd. & Perry Rd.
Ball Rd. & Lapaloma St.
SCOPE OF WORK
UAC and The City of Memphis, in partnership with the Alcy Ball Development Corporation, is seeking an artist to create two neighborhood markers and four street sign toppers that speak to the development corporation’s definition of connecting, training, and restoring the Alcy Ball neighborhood.
Each marker must include:
a tribute to the name of the community using the words: “Alcy Ball”
a depiction diversity by featuring residents’ faces, families and cultures
a celebration Alcy Ball’s past, present, and future
highlight the various historic communities that make up the Alcy Ball area such as: Nobhill, Orchid Homes, Alcy Acres, and Holiday Heights
feature the pillars of education for the neighborhood: Alcy Elementary, Norris Elementary, and Corry Junior High
Marker must be weatherproof, permanent, and constructed from metal.
Markers may be two- or three-dimensional, and can be sculpted or fabricated by the artist, or designed by the artist and commercially manufactured.
The commissioned artist/s will be selected based on the strength of their qualifications submitted, ability to adhere to deadlines and work within the stated budget. Applicants are expected to have or collaborate/subcontract with appropriate vendors to meet the necessary technical capabilities to design and install such projects, including providing maintenance instructions. The artist(s) will work with the UAC Program Managers to coordinate community engagement efforts. This engagement should help inform the final design. The finished project must require little to no regular maintenance. Final artwork should complement the characteristics and neighborhood identity of the site. The artist/s selected shall be expected to collaborate closely with site engineers, landscape architects, and any necessary party for the successful installation of the project, including residents. NOTE: Commissioned artists are permitted to work with outside contractors to fabricate the actual work of art.
Examples:
Street Sign Topper & Neighborhood Marker
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Seth Harkins- Alcy Ball CDC- Executive Director
Georgietta Crawford- Alcy Ball resident
Evan Walsh- Alcy Ball resident
Wendy Oliver- Alcy Ball resident
Allison Brownlee- Alcy Ball resident
Cliff Banks- Alcy Ball resident, longtime barber in community
Willie Austin “Hammer”- Alcy Ball resident
Artist Representative
Justin Gibbs - Memphis Parks representative
Erich Miller - City of Memphis Engineering (non-voting member)
About Artist:
TBD
Coming soon…
