Mural for the Abilene Zoo

ABOUT US

The Abilene Zoo was built in 1966 by a group of passionate individuals who had the vision to turn an open field of land into a zoo that West Texas would be proud to claim as its own. Today, the zoo is visited by over 275,000 people annually, with 134,000 being tourists. The zoo is a field trip destination for 129 school districts from 51 Texas counties, inspiring thousands of children to care about the environment and wildlife. The zoo provides an animal-oriented educational and recreational resource for the citizens of Abilene and the surrounding communities. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1985, our Zoo is committed to the highest standards in animal care, welfare, conservation, and wildlife education. Our zoo participates in over 60 critical species survival plans, with zoos from across the country working to save endangered species from extinction.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Abilene Zoological Society is offering a unique opportunity for local artists to transform the façade of Abilene Zoo’s front entry atrium into an inspiring, welcoming, and educational space for visitors. This highly visible installation will spark curiosity in visitors, create an engaging and appealing front entry atrium and enhance the region’s most popular tourist destination. Not only will this project provide incredible exposure for Abilene’s talented local artists, it will reach a diverse audience who may not seek out traditional art installations.

The front entry atrium includes two walls that each have unique features like doorways, drinking fountains, air vents, etc. Each artist may select one wall and create a work that takes into account the unique features of each wall. Each submission must feature at least one Texas ecoregion and include three to five animals that live in the selected ecoregion. Two works of art will be selected (one for each wall), digitized and printed on vinyl to install on the corresponding wall. Each installation will be in place for a minimum of two years.

Additionally each selected work may be recreated on the medium of each artist’s choosing (postcard, canvas bag, print, etc.) and sold in the Abilene Zoo’s gift shop for the duration of the installation.

Each artist who submits a completed and approved work will have the opportunity to showcase the original submitted work at The Center for Contemporary Arts in June 2023.

All artistic styles are welcome.

ELIGIBILITY

Local artists or artist‐led teams are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in or in the vicinity of Abilene. Artists must be willing to meet all obligations; and adhere to a timeline.

THE VISION + WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Seeking emerging and established artists to showcase the talent that exists in the region.
Two artists, and the selected artwork, will be selected for the installation.
Artwork must support the Abilene Zoo’s mission to be “a place of learning and adventure, where families make memories, share the joy of discovery and become inspired to preserve wildlife.”
Create a highly visible public work of art that marks the Abilene Zoo as a destination and explores one of Texas’ ecoregion and showcases three to five animals that live in the selected ecoregion in the work.
Demonstrate an appreciation for wildlife and their natural environments.
Artwork should include visual references to the Zoo and animal species.
Artwork should appeal to a mass audience.
Artwork should spark a visitor’s imagination and engage schoolchildren with wildlife and conservation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Texas is home to a vast number of ecoregions and these regions reflect the major biomes found around the world. Choose one of two ecoregions listed below and include three to five animals that call that ecoregion home:

Gulf Prairies (Gulf Coast) and Marshes
Rolling Plains (Panhandle Plains)

SITE PREPARATION AND RENDERING

A digital rendering of each wall is available at THIS LINK.
Abilene Zoo will be responsible for digitizing, printing, installing, and maintaining the work in the front entry atrium.
Abilene Zoo will have submitted and chosen artwork photographed, enlarged, and adhered to the designated wall area in the front entry atrium by a local printing company to be selected by the Abilene Zoo.
Artwork will be printed and adhered to the front entry wall via vinyl while taking into account the space – factoring in doorways, drinking fountains, air conditioning vents, etc.
Abilene Zoo will display the art for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years at the discretion of the Abilene Zoological Society Board.
With the location of the front atrium and its amenities, most families and almost all schoolchildren visit this very functional space to use the facilities, eat a snack or rest in the shade.

Download Wall Templates

VII. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All application requirements must be submitted on or before the application deadline.
Acceptable submissions include 2-dimensional paintings in all media and digital and film photography
Paintings may be no smaller than 18×24. Photographs must be a minimum of 300 dpi, full scale, high resolution (RAW files preferred.)
Horizontal submissions are preferred.
Artist submissions can be sent via email to Abilene.zoo@abilenetx.gov or delivered in person during normal operating hours of the Abilene Zoo located at 2070 Zoo Ln. Abilene, Texas 79602 in the Admin Building.
All interested parties are encouraged to view the front entry atrium at their leisure.
All completed and approved submissions will be able to showcase their original submitted work at The Center for Contemporary Arts located at 220 Cypress St., Abilene, Texas 79601 in June 2023.
Artists should provide any other information relevant to the ensured success of their project.

VIII. ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS

Artists can submit no more than three pieces of original artworks in relation to this project.
Artworks are subject to selection and a maximum of 1 artwork could be selected from an artist.
Artworks that, in reasonable view of the organization, include pornography, violence, and/or racial and religious hatred, inappropriate and/or offensive content, are not admissible and will not be considered.
Acceptable submissions include 2-dimensional paintings in all media and digital and film photography
Paintings may be no smaller than 18×24. Photographs must be a minimum of 300 dpi, full scale, high resolution (RAW files preferred.)
Horizontal submissions are preferred.
Artists must own the copyright of the materials they submit.
All styles are accepted and welcomed.
Artists will need to submit their full name, city of residence, phone number, email, website (if available) and biography.
Artist submissions can be sent via email to Abilene.zoo@abilenetx.gov or delivered in person during normal operating hours of the Abilene Zoo located at 2070 Zoo Ln. Abilene, Texas 79602 in the Admin Building.

PROJECT TIMELINE | PROCESS

Call Out to Artists: August 2022

Submission deadline: 5 p.m. on March 24, 2023

Panel review: Week of April 24, 2023

Artist notified: Week May 1st, 2023

Artwork photographed: May, 2023

Installation Date: Week of June 5, 2023

Unveiling Date: Sunday, June 11, 2023

AWARDS

The artist of each selected work will receive a check of $500.00 at the time artwork is photographed.
There will be two artists selected with one piece of selected artwork from each artist.
Opportunity to sell more modest variants of chosen artwork inside the Abilene Zoo Gift Shop throughout the 2-5 years their work is installed in the front entry atrium. Each artist will have the option to provide prints, canvas bags, postcards and other items to sell in the Abilene Zoo Giftshop. The Abilene Zoo will retain 10% of gross sales. The remainder of sales will be sent via check to each artist monthly.