...spread the word...
Justice Walls 2020:
$500 - $800 MiniGrants for Murals
$500 - $800 MiniGrants for Murals
Commonly Asked Questions!
How do I find a wall to paint?
Who do you know that might like a mural on their home, shed, garage, business, nonprofit, school, or fence? Also, if you see a spot where you'd like to paint a mural, bring some examples of previous art and knock on the door and ask. Post to social media that you're looking for a place to paint a mural. Brainstorm with others. There are lots of gray walls.
Who do you know that might like a mural on their home, shed, garage, business, nonprofit, school, or fence? Also, if you see a spot where you'd like to paint a mural, bring some examples of previous art and knock on the door and ask. Post to social media that you're looking for a place to paint a mural. Brainstorm with others. There are lots of gray walls.
Does inside a building count as public?
Yes. If the public will see it, we want to support it. Inside schools, community centers, or businesses, etc is great!
Yes. If the public will see it, we want to support it. Inside schools, community centers, or businesses, etc is great!
Does the project have to be in Ithaca?
The announcement says "Ithaca area." You can decide how far that stretches!
The announcement says "Ithaca area." You can decide how far that stretches!
What if I've never painted a mural before?
Painting your first mural is a wonderful thing. If it sounds easier, maybe you'd like to team up with a couple friends to collaborate on the project together. Team work makes the dream work!
Painting your first mural is a wonderful thing. If it sounds easier, maybe you'd like to team up with a couple friends to collaborate on the project together. Team work makes the dream work!
I'm a homeowner and I have a wall but no artist?
Announce it on social media. There are lots of artists out there looking for walls!
Announce it on social media. There are lots of artists out there looking for walls!
I'm a Spanish teacher. Our class has an idea, but not the skills to paint a mural?
Surely you know an artist that likes kids that would love to paint in your school with you!
Surely you know an artist that likes kids that would love to paint in your school with you!
I have a pet store and I'd like a mural to attract costomers?
If you're painting a mural of animals, that sounds great but Ithaca Murals generally doesn't fund business signs or advertising... but if your proposal is justice related, you might convince the Justice Walls jury!
If you're painting a mural of animals, that sounds great but Ithaca Murals generally doesn't fund business signs or advertising... but if your proposal is justice related, you might convince the Justice Walls jury!
What kind of paint shall I use?
Muralists often use spray paint or cans of outdoor acrylic paint. Ithaca Murals has a lending library of acrylic paint - for free or donation.
Muralists often use spray paint or cans of outdoor acrylic paint. Ithaca Murals has a lending library of acrylic paint - for free or donation.
$500 - $800 isn't enough?
Maybe you'd like to ask the owner of the wall to also contribute toward the project. When Kellie Cox wanted to paint her mural on Aurora St, she made a video and crowd-sourced money from friends and family. Maybe there is a nonprofit that would help fund your project.
Maybe you'd like to ask the owner of the wall to also contribute toward the project. When Kellie Cox wanted to paint her mural on Aurora St, she made a video and crowd-sourced money from friends and family. Maybe there is a nonprofit that would help fund your project.
Is this just open to Ithaca artists?
No. And if you are coming from out of town, we can find you(s) a place to stay!
No. And if you are coming from out of town, we can find you(s) a place to stay!
I've painted canvasses, but never a mural?
Some artists use projectors to trace their image on a wall and others draw a draw a grid on their image and transfer it mathematically onto the wall. Some artists use stencils and other have the confidence to improvise their image with paint directly on the wall. You can do it your way.
Some artists use projectors to trace their image on a wall and others draw a draw a grid on their image and transfer it mathematically onto the wall. Some artists use stencils and other have the confidence to improvise their image with paint directly on the wall. You can do it your way.
How about graffiti artists?
If your proposal is compelling to the jury, Ithaca Murals will fund it.
If your proposal is compelling to the jury, Ithaca Murals will fund it.
What about City of Ithaca (public) walls?
If you're interested in parking garages, retaining walls, electrical boxes, park bathrooms, stairwells, sidewalks, and intersections... Alex Phillips works in the Planning Department at City Hall and works with the Community Life Commission for art on City property. You can reach Alex at aphillips@cityofithaca.org and the Community Life Commission at CL@cityofithaca.org. (The Green St Garage is going to be torn down soon so that's not an option, but there are lots of walls available in the Dryden Rd garage in collegetown. There are at least two City of Ithaca electrical boxes with no art on them (corner Aurora/Hillview and Cayuga St by the Chanti). There are also electrical boxes that are weathered that could be painted by new artists.) The approval process at City Hall is complicated, but if the Justice Walls jury likes your project we can help you with that in February.
If you're interested in parking garages, retaining walls, electrical boxes, park bathrooms, stairwells, sidewalks, and intersections... Alex Phillips works in the Planning Department at City Hall and works with the Community Life Commission for art on City property. You can reach Alex at aphillips@cityofithaca.org and the Community Life Commission at CL@cityofithaca.org. (The Green St Garage is going to be torn down soon so that's not an option, but there are lots of walls available in the Dryden Rd garage in collegetown. There are at least two City of Ithaca electrical boxes with no art on them (corner Aurora/Hillview and Cayuga St by the Chanti). There are also electrical boxes that are weathered that could be painted by new artists.) The approval process at City Hall is complicated, but if the Justice Walls jury likes your project we can help you with that in February.
I want to paint, but I still don't have a wall to paint?
Turning in an incomplete application is better than no application at all. If you have a powerful design and the jury loves it, we will help you in any way we can. Maybe we can match your proposal with a stairwell in a school that wants it. Maybe we can help match you with a home or community center.
Turning in an incomplete application is better than no application at all. If you have a powerful design and the jury loves it, we will help you in any way we can. Maybe we can match your proposal with a stairwell in a school that wants it. Maybe we can help match you with a home or community center.
I don't know if my idea fits?
We like people thinking outside the box. We are a grassroots justice passionate organization of volunteers. We are okay with breaking some rules. Maybe you've got a great justice related idea that would make a positive impact. Yes we want to help make it happen. Maybe you want to turn in a video as your application instead of marking off each of the boxes in the application checklist. Whatever you do, have fun!
We like people thinking outside the box. We are a grassroots justice passionate organization of volunteers. We are okay with breaking some rules. Maybe you've got a great justice related idea that would make a positive impact. Yes we want to help make it happen. Maybe you want to turn in a video as your application instead of marking off each of the boxes in the application checklist. Whatever you do, have fun!
Do I need permission from the City to paint on a house?
Nope. Just permission from the owner. There are city guidelines and permits for signage, but not for murals. Even on historic buildings, paint is considered temporary and doesn't need a permit.
Nope. Just permission from the owner. There are city guidelines and permits for signage, but not for murals. Even on historic buildings, paint is considered temporary and doesn't need a permit.
What shall a mural about?
Follow your own heart. Your project can look different than all the others. What visual would you like for passersby? Amelia Visnauskas designed an amazing Ithaca Murals survey a few years ago that had over 500 responses. This link is a rough list of responses related to this question.
Follow your own heart. Your project can look different than all the others. What visual would you like for passersby? Amelia Visnauskas designed an amazing Ithaca Murals survey a few years ago that had over 500 responses. This link is a rough list of responses related to this question.
Summary of the Ithaca Murals Survey 2017: Responses called for greater representation of diversity in our cityscape with more murals representing people from different backgrounds including Asian, African American, Indigenous, and Latinx cultures. Some people expressed preference for murals that beautify spaces and others asked for works with political and social messages. People also mentioned refugees, food justice, nature, racial justice, women, The Green New Deal, local history, LGBTQ couples and families, invisible and visible disabilities, patterns, hip-hop inspired graffiti, whimsical imagery, youth, waterfalls, murals done by people with jail experience, Fashion, consumerism, Breast Cancer Awareness, positive, interactive, mystical...
Click here for printable minigrant announcement poster:
Thanks to these awesome JUSTICE WALLS 2020 cosponsors:
Southside Community Center, Alternatives Federal Credit Union, Cultura Ithaca, Bramble Community Herbalism, “Black Feminist Alchemy” Class at IC, Argos Inn, Civic Ensemble, Community Arts Partnership, Youth Farm Project, Sustainable Tompkins, Bike Bar, Alliance of Families for Justice, Social Ventures, Ithaca is Foodies, Uplifted Ithaca, Shirari Industries, CU Anthropology "Global Engagements" Class, Bike Walk Tompkins, No Mas Lagrimas, Model Citizen Tattoo, Finger Lakes ReUse, Get Your Green Back Tompkins, Old Goat Gear Exchange, Sunrise Ithaca, Attuned Life Massage & Wellness, Alliance of Families for Justice, Frog's Way B&B, Visum Development & Live More Ithaca, ARQbarn (Artist Resource Quarters), Ultimate Reentry Opportunity, The Learning Web, and The Watershed!
