project overview
GREENLAW PARK SCULPTURE | Greenlaw
Artist: TBD
Budget: $90,000 (includes three finalist honoraria of $1,000 each)
Upcoming benchmark/update: Artist Selection
Next committee meeting date: October 2024
BACKGROUND
About Greenlaw/Uptown:
Considered Memphis’s first subdivision, Greenlaw’s boundaries include Chelsea and A.W. Willis Avenues, Fourth and Seventh Street, with some extension into Second and Third Street. Containing approximately 30 blocks. The neighborhood was developed by brothers John and William Greenlaw in 1856. The area is known for its diverse residents, including a variety of income, race, and ethnicity amongst residents. Greenlaw District was added to the National Register on August 16, 1984. The Greenlaw area was a part of the Trail of Tears march, when Indigenous Americans were forcibly displaced to the western parts of the United States.
Community staples include: Roxie’s Grocery, Black Seeds, Greenlaw Community Center, Greenlaw Park, St. James AME Church, Slave Haven Museum, and the former Hurt Village housing development. Michael Oher, whose life story was shared on The Blind Side, spent most of his childhood in Greenlaw. Elvis Presley once lived in Lauderdale Courts public housing also in the neighborhood. Greenlaw is also known as Uptown Memphis.
About Black Seeds:
Black Seeds is a local food movement that has its roots in a desire to grow organic, non-toxic, nutritious foods for Memphians who have little or no access to sustainable foods. Black Seeds is an urban garden located in the heart of Uptown Memphis in the Greenlaw community. The Founders are committed to providing local communities with the opportunity to have access to fresh food that was grown within close proximity. The overall health of a neighborhood is benefited by increasing its capacity to create an environment that truly sustains its residents.
Entrance to Black Seeds Urban Farm
SCOPE OF WORK
Preferred Sculpture Location: Intersection of 4th and Greenlaw St
UAC and the City of Memphis, in partnership with Black Seeds, are seeking an artist to create a sculpture for the Greenlaw neighborhood. The preferred location for the sculpture is Greenlaw Park, at the intersection of 4th and Greenlaw St.
SCOPE OF WORK
The selection committee has expressed interest in a large-scale sculpture that:
Will include socially engaged art that involves community collaboration
Pays homage to Greenlaw neighborhood elders, community leaders, and upcoming influential youth
References important landmarks
Could include directory post marking key community staples
Honors the community organizing from Greenlaw residents and focus on sustainability, urban farming, and food justice
Highlighting what was, what is present, and what is possible the Greenlaw area
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Benji Aird- Black Seeds Board Member
Marcha Allen-Parks Division, Deputy Director
Reiley Ervin- Parks Division, Director at Greenlaw Community Center
Sarah Harris- Black Seeds Board Member
Kaila Matthews- Black Seeds Board Member
Jackie Mayo- Black Seeds Board Member
Erich Miller- City of Memphis Engineering Division (nonvoting)
Jeremy Mitchell- Black Seeds Partner; Creative; Engineer
Tanja Mitchell- Black Seeds Board Member
Trudy Morrison- Black Seeds Board Member
Bobby Rich- Black Seeds Co-Founder
Derravia Rich- Black Seeds Co-Founder
Denise Wallace- Greenlaw Resident for 37 years; Beposhed & Company- Owner
*Public Vote: Collected public votes will serve as one additional selection committee vote for the final selected artist following the submission of proposals from project finalists.
