SAN FERNANDO : City Solicits Artists for Mural at Park

The city of San Fernando’s Recreation and Community Services Department is seeking ideas from artists interested in creating a mural to adorn a wall in Las Palmas Park.

The deadline for submissions is June 16.

Officials already have received 25 letters of interest and submissions from local and out-of-state artists.

People interested in participating should submit samples of art on projector slides, include a resume and a one-page letter expressing their special interest in the project. Artists may submit ideas as a group or individually, officials said.

Following the June 16 deadline, a panel of art professionals and community representatives will select five finalists for the project. Each finalist will receive a $200 stipend to further develop their ideas, said Virginia Diediker, human resources specialist.

Those selected will then be provided a list of criteria, including the artist’s plans to address historical elements, community life and the population, provide perspective of indigenous peoples, and plans to incorporate community youth in the project, Diediker said.

Beyond those requirements, the project is “pretty open-ended,” she said. “We don’t want artists to feel boxed in.”

The mural will be painted on a wall that borders the park’s baseball diamond. The mural is part of a series of improvements at the park, including a newly built concession stand, new restroom facilities and tree plantings.

The mural project should be completed by September, officials said.

For further information or to receive a prospectus, contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (818) 898-1290.