Call for Artists:
Design For Mural at 154 7th Street
MURAL OPPORTUNITY
•West Bay and SOMA Pilipinas are seeking artists and designers to create a 2D flatwork public art piece on the exterior wall of the West Bay - owned building on 154 7th Street. The mural will be located within the SOMA Pilipinas - Filipino Cultural Heritage District.
• This mural project will take place on the exterior wall facing 7th Street (estimated total of 500 sq ft. ) with consideration of windows.
• Two selected artists will be selected by a panel of representatives from West Bay and SOMA Pilipinas to develop one design proposal for the mentioned walls in accordance with the project’s budget.
BUDGET
• Selected artists from this Request of Qualifications will receive a $500 honorarium for submission of a proposed design in accordance with the project criteria and timeline.
• The final artist selected to collaborate with West Bay and SOMA Pilipinas to install their art will receive $12,000 which includes artist’s design fee, supplies, fabrication and mural installation.
• A separate budget will cover costs relating to scaffolding and documentation.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
SOMA Pilipinas - Filipino Cultural Heritage District
West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center is the longest running Filipino non-profit organization in Northern California; and has been serving students, families and the community since 1968; and formed through established community services agencies that have served the Pilipino community.
West Bay - Pilipino Multi Service Center
West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center is the longest running Filipino non-profit organization in Northern California; and has been serving students, families and the community since 1968; and formed through established community services agencies that have served the Pilipino community.
SITE BACKGROUND
The West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center is the oldest non profit corporation in Northern California. West Bay has been serving the community since 1968 and was formed from a consolidation of six (6) established community services agencies that have served the Pilipino community: Filipino Youth Coordinating Committee, Sandigan Newcomer Service, United Filipinos for Equal Employment, Pilipino Legal Defense and Education Fund, Services for Filipino Seniors, and the Liwanag Resources.
These agencies had a wide range of expertise in community services. The consolidation of these agencies to West Bay has greatly improved community programs and developed a more coordinated service delivery system for the community. Since its inception, West Bay has adopted the South of Market (SoMa) area as its priority neighborhood because of the significant presence of Pilipino Americans in the community and the importance of SOMA in the history of Pilipino migration in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This mural site is also located within SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District which honors and celebrates the century‐long community, culture and history of Filipinos in San Francisco. Despite waves of displacement, SOMA Pilipinas continues to be a thriving community of Filipino families, seniors, artists, activists and small businesses.
TIMELINE
(Dates Subject to Change)
June 21, 2024 Deadline for Call for Artists
June 28, 2024 Artist Notification of Selected Top 2-3 Artists
July 12, 2024 Concept Proposals Due
July 12-19, 2024 Community Feedback Sessions with West Bay and SOMA Pilipinas
July 22, 2023 Final Artist and Concept Notified; Community Feedback Shared
July 31, 2024 Revised Design #1 Due
August 7, 2024 Final Design Due
July / August 2024 Mural Logistics and Coordination
Sept 2024 Installation Complete
PROJECT CRITERIA
West Bay and SOMA Pilipinas would be interested in designs reflecting motifs and symbols inspired by the native Philippine flora, trees, and natural elements of which each West Bay room is named. See list of native plants referenced throughout building here:
Sampaguita - national flower of the Philippines representing purity, hope, and strength
Sanggumay- Tagalog term that represents the flower’s overpowering smell and carries the meaning of being overwhelmed or tired
Tayabak - flower representing hope for resilience and an everlasting legacy / relationship
Gumamela - representing femininity and love
Balayong - local name for the cherry blossom tree in the Palawan region of the Philippines, representing the duality of life and death, as well as beauty and violence
Waling-waling lives on treetops reaching for the light of the sun symbolizing resilience and perseverance
Kappa-Kappa - flower that represent dignity and grace
The exterior mural design will frame future large-scale photographs that will be installed in the windows.
Exterior wall space directly facing 7th St| Design: Estimated 500sq ft with consideration of windows
APPLICATION
For interested artists, Request for Qualifications (RFQ) applications, please submit qualifications by 5PM PST on June 21, 2024.
To apply, please submit the follow packet by email to: christine@somapilipinas.org
Packet must include:
Cover letter expressing artist interest in the project, any experience related to the Filipino community and SOMA Pilipinas, experience working with community and other stakeholders in developing and creating artwork and murals in particular, and other qualifications.
Artist Bio and Resume
Photos of previous mural designs and completed artworks.
Other samples that best represent the artist’s work.
For questions or more information, please contact christine@somapilipinas.org.
Each individual artist or individual group can only submit once. Only fully completed applications received by 5pm PST on June 21, 2024 will be accepted for review.