Call for Artists Entrance Art Project RFP

PROJECT TITLE: Shaolin Martial Zen Mural
Deadline: August 31, 2022

PROJECT SUMMARY

Submission Deadline: August 31, 2022

Project Timeline: Start anytime, completed by October 31st, 2022

Project Location: 393 Dundas Street West, 2nd Floor

Artist(s) Fees: $2000

Artist(s) duties: Design and implement a compelling mural that embodies the Shaolin Spirit of a peacefulness, spiritual health, and physical prowess. The artist is a leader, and must be willing to work with a community of volunteers to reduce effort and costs (we have a few students with art experience willing to volunteer).

Eligibility: All artists legally able to work in Canada are eligible to apply.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Shaolin is a 1,500 year old culture based on the ideas of Chan philosophy (Zen) for mental health and martial arts for self defence and physical health.

Master Dao is a 35th generation Shaolin Warrior with a direct lineage of this Shaolin tradition. He offers Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Tai Chi, Shaolin Qigong, and Shaolin Meditation classes and workshops at the downtown Toronto location.

His team also provides free workshops to people in need, such as seniors, the poor, and the weak. It is his mission to keep the Shaolin arts and traditions alive today by modernizing its teachings and helping to motivate people to practice for health.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR is a painted mural that can showcase the essence of Shaolin Spirit through the arts of Shaolin Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Tai Chi, Shaolin Qigong, and Shaolin Meditation (and philosophy of Chan or Zen). Shaolin Spirit is the combined demonstration of Zen philosophy and martial arts for self-defence and health. May contain Chinese characters and/or English words. May also include physical elements such as facade materials or as proposed within our financial means.

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• One wall can show genderless or mixed gender monks practicing kung fu in a courtyard (adults and kids); see example of ancient Mural in the Addendum section.
• Another wall can show genderless or mixed gender monks meditating in various poses (adults and kids)
• One or both walls can show forest / trees (perhaps people practicing qigong in a small clearing)

More information about what we do can be found on the school's website at www.stqitoronto.com.

The area for the mural is in the stairwell entrance (2nd floor of 393 Dundas Street West). There are 3 wall sections (main entrance, entrance left, and entrance right). Additional pictures provided in the Addendum Section.

The current red door in the stairwell entrance has just been upgraded to resemble a martial door at Shaolin Temple. This door may not be changed in your proposal so please consider it in your design.

Main Entrance View from Stairwell (with our new sign)
Art needed on this wall, wall on left with stairs going up, and wall on right with stairs going down
Poster on wall will be removed - drywall touchups and priming is needed

ARTIST(S) ELIGIBILITY

All artists legally able to work in Canada are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to artists with an interest in Shaolin classes; a connection to the Toronto community; Indigenous, Black, Artists of Colour and/or artists that identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The top 3 proposals will be chosen by Master Dao.

The students of STQI Toronto will then vote for their favourite proposal.

The winner will be determined based on majority of votes. If the top two or more proposals are within 10% of the votes then Master Dao will make the final decision.

The winning artist will be notified of his/her selection by email and telephone.

Successful applicants should demonstrate:

• An understanding of the Shaolin culture and its arts
• A passion for helping others
• The desire to contribute to our traditional Shaolin community
• Commitment to completing withing project budget or less
• Attention to detail
• They have professional capacity to oversee the design, implementation and production of the mural

ARTIST FEES AND SELECTION PROCESS

Interested artists can send a draft design along with a biography and contact information to:

Val Burroff
Project Coordinator
val@stqitoronto.com
647-724-8004

Please include an implementation plan with estimated timeline, work effort, and supplies cost. Include any other information you feel would be important for this proposal.

We will select the top 3 designs on September 1st. The school's community will then have 2 weeks to vote for the winning design, which will be announced on September 14.

The top three artists will be compensated as follows:

The WINNING ARTIST will receive the following compensation:

• Design Fee: $200
• Mural production: $2,000
• Supplies: $750 or as proposed
• 28 Class Tokens (for Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, and Tai Chi) including a uniform set (shoes, pants, and shirt) – value of $500 which may be used by artist or given to anyone
• Social media exposure through our website and social media platforms (we will showcase the project and its progression, along with your design with your contact links)

The artists whose design is 2nd or 3rd place will receive the following compensation for applying:

• Design Fee: $100
• 14 Class Tokens (for Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, and Tai Chi) including a uniform set (shoes, pants, and shirt) – value of $350 which may be used by artist or given to anyone
• Social media exposure through our website and social media platforms (we will showcase your design with your contact links)

There is no compensation for artists that are not in the top 3.

The artist will be responsible for managing and allocating these amounts to cover: artist fees, travel expenses, and attendance to meetings. Expectations of specific deadlines and time commitments are listed in the project timeline below.

The artist will be responsible for managing the overall project. Managing the budget which includes Artist Fees, equipment rental, materials and supplies, etc.

PROJECT TIMELINE

• 2022-08-31 | Deadline: Call to Artists
• 2022-09-14 | Selected artist or artist team will be notified
• 2022-09-15 or later TBD with Artist | Mural Production
• 2022-10-31 or sooner TBD with Artist | Unveiling Celebration

ADDENDUM

Main Entrance View from Stairwell (with our old sign)
Note that the red door will be replaced with a martial red door (see below)
Poster on wall will be removed - drywall touchups and priming is needed

The left and right side of the main entrance door

Left Stairwell Wall (going up)

Right Stairwell Wall (going down)

Martial Door Sample
We will be upgrading our Front Entrance Doors to look like this

An ancient mural at Shaolin depicting Shaolin warriors practicing martial arts
Your art does not have to follow this style - provided for inspiration