Downtown banner contest launched
With one mural complete, the city has started a contest for a second art project in the Creative Corridor area on Main Street.
On Friday, local artist Matt McLeod took part in a ceremony along with the mayor and other downtown leaders to celebrate the completion of his mural Beneath the Surface that was painted at the corner of Sixth and Main streets. The 30-by-142-foot mural is on the side of Bennett's Military Supplies building.
Also last week, the city launched several social media sites for the Creative Corridor and began accepting submissions for a large-scale banner art competition.
Two full-color rectangular banner designs will be chosen from the submissions and installed vertically on the parking deck in the 200 block of Main Street. Each winner will receive $1,000.
The deadline to submit artwork is noon May 18. To submit a design, visit creative corridorlittlerock.wordpress.com/art-competitions.
"Designs do not have to contain words or logos. We are looking for original, large-scale art pieces," the website said.
The banners will be 12 feet by 38 feet. Artists can submit up to three designs for review. They must be in JPEG format. The city will own the legal rights to the winning designs.
The Creative Corridor can be found on Facebook at CreativeCorridorLittleRock, on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @MainStreetLR and by following the hashtag #creativecorridorLR.
Zoo begins work on Heritage Farm
The Little Rock Zoo began construction last week on its new Arkansas Heritage Farm exhibit, which will renovate the Children's Farm area of the zoo.
"This new interactive exhibit will feature farm animals such as chickens, sheep and goats that the public will be allowed to touch and feed," a news release said.
A large walk-thru barn accompanied by a smaller barn with a handwashing station will be a part of the exhibit. There will be a chicken coop with various breeds including rare heritage breeds, and interactive graphics "to educate visitors on the importance of agriculture to the state of Arkansas and to showcase Arkansas's rich agricultural history," the release said.
Zoo officials expect the exhibit to open next spring.
Development focus of May 4 meeting
City officials will host a meeting next week to seek input on what codes the city could put in place to encourage low-impact development.
The discussion will include new methods that prevent flooding and enhance air and water quality. The city wants the public's opinion on how to allow greater ease in the creation of low-impact developments, city spokesman Luis Gonzalez said.
Officials also will talk about changes to the city's stormwater and drainage manual.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on May 4.
Metro on 04/26/2015