Moscow advances new Water Building mural plans
Artists requested for artwork on building that was vandalized last year
The Moscow City Council gave its approval Tuesday to seek artists for a new mural on the Moscow Water Building that was the target of vandalism last year.
A previous mural painted on the west side of the building on Jackson and A streets had to be removed after it was damaged with white paint in May. The insurance paid out to the city as a result of that vandalism will cover the cost of the new mural.
Megan Cherry, Moscow Arts Department manager, said Tuesday that the artist application period for the new mural will open in February. The city hopes the new mural will be installed by the end of September.
On Tuesday, the Moscow City Council signed off on sending out a request for proposals from artists.
Prospective artists must be 18 or older from the U.S. Preference may be given to those who live in Latah, Nez Perce, Whitman and Asotin counties. Members of the Nez Perce and Coeur d’Alene tribes will also be given preference. Teams of artists may apply.
The city will hire a contractor to prep the site for the artist with a primer and anti-graffiti coating. The total budget for the project is $31,850 and that includes the artist’s expenses.
The Moscow Arts Commission decided the theme of the new mural should revolve around the words: “play, celebration and transformation.”
“They wanted the artist to really be thinking about those words as they are developing their thoughts for this mural design,” Cherry said.
Cherry said the expectation is the new mural will last 5-8 years. After that period, the Arts Commission will reevaluate the theme.
The previous mural was installed in June 2019 as part of Moscow’s conservation education program.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
