Napa’s Rail Arts Districts calls for poems

Work will be transformed to mural art|

Poets from Sonoma County are invited to apply to have their work transformed into a large-scale mural format that will be painted on a building in the Rail Arts District in Napa as part of a public art project called “Passages.”

The project, sponsored by a grant from the Arts Council Napa Valley, partners the Rail Arts District (RAD) with Napa Valley Writers to develop the art installation that will feature three to five writers’ new work. A graphic designer and the authors will collaborate to transform the words into large scale visuals that will then be painted by a professional billboard painter on a more than 100-foot wall on a building located in the district.

A minimum of $500 will be paid to the chosen poets for their work.

As part of the project, three to five writers will be commissioned to write new work within the broad theme of “passages.”

When submitting qualifications and poem drafts – that can be submitted in English or Spanish -- poets are asked to keep in mind the Rail Arts District history and character, and opening and closing passages that illustrate the juxtaposition of its myriad uses over time.

The project Passages expands the type of art to the written word in what has traditionally featured visual art in the Rail Arts District, which was established in 2016. Art from Egyptian hieroglyphics to graffiti walls have been used for communication, and the district intends to connect the past with the present in an artist, meaningful way.

Poets must reside in Sonoma, Napa, Marin or Solano counties, be 18 years or older, be willing to work collaboratively from Nov. 30 to Jan. 1. Applications will be accepted now through Oct. 15.

The Rail Arts District is a nonprofit enrichment project focused on turning a two-mile linear arts district into a free contemporary art experience for everyone.

Applications and additional information about Passages are available at NapaValleyWriters.net. More information about the Rail Arts District can be found at RADNapa.org, Facebook.com/RADNapa, Instagram.com/RADNapa, and Twitter @napa_rad. Submit entries to RAD.NVW@gmail.com.

Contact Anne at anne.ernst@sonomanews.com.

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