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Habitat announces ReStore Mural Contest

Area artists are encouraged to submit designs for a new mural in Alpena. When completed, this piece of public art will bring color to the front exterior of Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan’s ReStore on Chisholm Street.

It’s more than just about visual appeal, however. Habitat also asks that participating artists depict Habitat’s mission and vision in their mural design.

Artwork should reflect Habitat’s vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live or a place where people work together to build homes. Concepts also may incorporate Habitat’s focus on communities and hope, its demonstration of the love of Jesus or its support of sustainable, transformational development.

HFHNEM Executive Director Ted Fines hopes numerous artists will submit mural designs for the ReStore building that occupies 14,000 square feet of space. He said the nonprofit agency recently applied for a capital improvement grant from the Besser Foundation and is optimistic about funding.

“We now own the building 100 percent,” Fines said. “As of November 2017, we made our last payment so we went out for a grant to do capital improvements. There’s 14,000 square feet, some of it over 100 years old.”

Among the anticipated capital improvements is creating a main entrance at the front of the building with double-doors. The 14×17-foot wall space adjacent to that proposed new entrance is reserved for the mural.

“It’s been a blank space for a long time. The person who wins the mural contest will receive $100 in ReStore gift certificates and a permanent plaque with their name on it,” Fines said.

As a past member of Art in the Loft’s Board of Directors, Fines saw firsthand the process involved in creating the Loft’s outdoor maritime-themed mural and began to wonder if a mural might work for Habitat as well. He checked out other Habitat affiliates across the country to see if they had done anything similar and found one he liked in Tucson, Ariz.

Fines then brainstormed with ReStore Manager Nichole Keyes and other key personnel about the feasibility of installing a mural on the available space. Since deciding to go ahead with the contest, he’s been trying to get the word out to art teachers, schools and artists in the three-county area served by HFHNEM.

“We’re really trying to flood the market,” he said. “We want participants for this mural. This building has come a long ways, and this would only enhance it.”

Fines said the planned capital improvements to the building, including the proposed mural, will enhance many recent improvements at the ReStore.

“In the last two years, the store has changed,” he said. “We made a big big push to improve it. It’s bright. We have a new consignment store, the ReThink. We’ve partnered with Urban Lumber out of the Ann Arbor area and are selling thousands of dollars worth of wood. It’s been great.”

Fines said his agency also is considering turning the top floor of the ReStore building into apartments.

Criteria for contest submissions include:

∫ Mural must fit within a 14×17-foot wall space

∫ 3-D elements are allowed

∫ Art must depict Habitat’s mission or vision

∫ Artists must be a resident of Alpena, Alcona or Presque Isle counties

∫ Entry deadline is March 31

For those interested in participating, entry forms are available online at restore@habitatnemi.org and should be mailed, emailed or delivered by the March 31 deadline. Habitat’s mailing address is 400 W. Chisholm, Alpena.

For more information about the mural contest or Habitat, call 354-5555.

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