June Artist-in-Residence & a Mural Project

June is the first month of hurricane season, but also the month to host our first performance Artist-in-Residence, Ana Mendez. Born in Miami, she is a professional dancer and danced for local choreographers as well as created work in collaboration with visual artists and musicians.  Her work has been presented by the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Ana Mendez with dancers in the Everglades

In 2008, Mendez co-founded a performance collective Psychic Youth, Inc. with artist Federico Nessi in which she began exploring ritual and ceremony in performance.  Her work has since evolved as a hybrid dance performance drawing from many rituals and traditions of Native American cultures, specifically in their use of the medicine wheel. 

Ana Mendez with dancers in Big Cypress

As a recreational hobby, Ana Mendez is a bird watcher and a frequent visitor to Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.  She is excited to explore her work further in its landscape.  She plans to present a performance at the close of her residency.

Mural Project, Gulf Coast

A unique Artist-in-Residence-in-Everglades opportunity will take place at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades National Park. We are currently accepting proposals for a mural to be painted inside an elevator shaft in the two-story visitor center.  The mural would be viewed from the elevator platform as it ascends and descends. Imagery should be inspired by the surrounding mangrove ecosystem, which is populated by fish like snook, redfish, and snapper.  Mangrove tree crabs and periwinkles crawl up the mangrove roots, and raccoons feed along the oyster beds.  In the trees and waters, wading birds such as egrets, herons, and ibis can be spotted.  Above the tree tops ospreys, vultures, and white pelicans soar over the estuary.  

The artist or team whose proposal is selected will be provided with housing or an RV pad on-site for up to one month, and the park will provide materials needed for the project. The mural can be started in October 2013.  The elevator shaft is 5.5 feet deep and 4.5 feet wide, and is 16 feet tall. The elevator shaft is not air-conditioned, but air does flow under the door way and down the shaft. Previous mural experience is preferred.

Interested artists may send the following materials on a CD to the address below by October 1.
·       A rendering of your design in JPEG format (no larger than 1500x1500 pixels)
·       Five JPEG images of previous work (no larger than 1500x1500 pixels)
·       A current resume, a 1/2 page project statement and a 1/2 page artist statement (PDF format)
·       A materials budget

For US Postal Service send to:

Andrew Webb

Looking into the elevator

Looking up the elevator shaft

P.O. Box 120

Everglades City, Fl 34114

For FedEx or UPS:

Andrew Webb

815 Oyster Bar Ln.

Everglades City, Fl 34114

For questions, contact Andrew Webb at Andrew_webb@nps.gov