For the third year, the virtual polling booth at Neighborland will be open for the public to choose their five favorite artists to win a place in the 3rd annual Muni Art contest, a collaboration between San Francisco Beautiful and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). The public will have until Monday, August 28th at 6pm to decide what artists they want to appear on Muni buses.
“Muni Art breaks down all barriers and provides art to all people in every neighborhood,” said San Francisco Beautiful’s executive director, Darcy Brown. “This is one of few contests in the country that truly is public art because the people decide the art they want to see on the buses that they ride.”
“We’re pleased to partner with SF Beautiful to bring Muni Art to the public for a third year,” said SFMTA director of transportation, Ed Reiskin. “It’s a win-win to be able to bring art and poetry to the public using Muni buses as a moving canvas.”
Only Bay Area artists were eligible to submit applications for the Muni Art contest and this year over 40 local artists vied for the five finalist slots available. Selected by a committee representing local galleries, artists and arts institutions, these 10 finalists now advance to a public vote. San Francisco Beautiful is proud to announce the Muni Art 2018 Finalists:
Cha Diaz (San Mateo County)
David Carroll (San Francisco County)
Donavon Brutus (San Francisco County)
Janet Rumsey (San Francisco County)
Lam Giang (Alameda County)
Mara Hernandez (Alameda County)
Matthew O'Brien (San Francisco County)
Meli Burgueno (San Francisco County)
Randi Pace (San Francisco County)
Tsungwei Moo (San Francisco County)
The five artists with the most votes will each have their art displayed on 10 Muni buses this fall alongside five pre-selected poems from local, Bay Area poets. The new element of poetry is a contribution from Poetry in Motion, a division of the Poetry Society of America that places poetry on public transit systems across the country. In addition to having their art displayed on buses, the artist who receives the most votes will be awarded $2,000 and each of the remaining four will be awarded $1,250.
The Muni Art Project, created by San Francisco Beautiful and The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, is now in its third year, and made possible by the generous support of members of San Francisco Beautiful and sponsors like AT&T and the Union Square BID. There are still sponsorships available.
For more details on the artists or on becoming a sponsor of the Muni Art Project, please visit www.sfbeautiful.org/muniart.