SHAC on TRAC: Art Competition for Utility Box Designs

Building on the success of the Painting the Town and Building Blocks utility box projects, the Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) is pleased to announce this year’s project: SHAC on TRAC. In collaboration with the Reginal Transit Authority (RTA), SHAC is sponsoring a juried art competition for the design of utility boxes located along Shaker Heights rapid tracks.

We are inviting our local artists to participate. Please download the template and application here. All designs must be submitted electronically on the template provided. Designs and applications must be submitted to SHAC via email (info@shakerartscouncil.org) no later than Friday 30 April 2021.

Eligibility: Applicants must be 21 years or older and live or work in Shaker Heights or reside in the Shaker Heights School District.

Applicants may submit more than one (1) design, but each must be submitted in a separate email. There are no entry fees. Artists will retain all copyrights to their artwork. Artists whose designs are selected will receive a $500.00 stipend after the work is installed.

All entries must be anonymous. Do not sign your submittal nor indicate your name on the submitted design document. SHAC’s jury Chair for this year’s program is André Taylor, Art Educator. Since all of the boxes have slightly different dimensions, artists whose work is selected may have to reformat their designs to fit the matched boxes.

Design Criteria:
• Black or very dark backgrounds are not permitted.
• Words are not permitted in the designs, per the City of Shaker Heights code.
• Art created in non-digital media must be digitized for submittal.
• Final designs must be submitted as camera-ready, 600 dpi files

By submitting a design proposal, all artists agree to:
• allow SHAC to use images of the designs on printed materials and websites for promotional
purposes only;
• allow SHAC to photograph the work;
• allow SHAC to submit the proposal to the city’s Shaker Heights Arts Task Force for their final
approval and to modify the design, if necessary, to meet its requirements.
Artists whose works are not selected are welcome to ask the SHAC for jury feedback.



Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) announces a Winter/Spring series of community virtual art classes and webinars. General classes for students of every age will be offered after-school and on weekends during the 2021 winter/spring sessions January 17 - March 20 and March 21– May 30.


General Session Classes

NEW Acting and Memory Technique
Program Description: This acting course will introduce basic memory techniques which support creativity, character development, and shorten memorization time. Based on modern neuroscience, Memory Acting help actors understand how the brain naturally learns and memorizes. Every actor should have basic memory techniques.
Instructor: Dr. Ellen Rooney

Appreciating Photography
Program Description: A survey of creative photography to see how different image makers have used the camera to create meaning throughout the history of the medium.
Instructor: Benjamin Hauser

NEW Art Journaling  
Program Description: Art journaling can relieve stress, clarify thinking, and increase creativity! It’s unique, personal, and very rewarding. Gather your journal and a few art supplies, and I'll show you: prompts to get you started and keep you motivated tips and techniques to spice up a journal, colorful tools to make it fun.
Instructor: Karen Koch

Class Piano
Program Description: Class Piano provides students with an exploration of the piano and beginning musical concepts such as high vs. low, piano orientation, steady beat/rhythm patterns and playing/reading music.  This exploratory course is great for students to find out if they might be interested in beginning piano lessons or for students who have already begun piano lessons.  Students will participate in a variety of games and activities in each session.
Instructor: Alex Piepenbrink

Chalk Pastel Portraits - Youth
Program Description: Chalk Pastel Portraits is a course that teaches students to use chalk pastel to render the likeness of a face. We will study the proportions from different angles of the face and techniques for blending and matching colors of skin tones and textures for hair. Students should have chalk pastels, and a recommended supply list will be provided.
Instructor: Casandra Harner

NEW Dynamic Art - Comic Art - Visual Story-telling
Program Description: Sessions for development in dynamic anatomy drawing/ illustration, story-telling thru panel visuals and cinematic placement to project best visual presentation.  The class will explore the traditional, cartoon and anime styles of comic illustrations.
Instructor: Abdul Rashhid

Eurhythmics: Music and Movement
Program Description: Eurhythmics is the study of music through movement, musical games, and kinesthetic learning. This short course will serve as an introduction to experiencing music and rhythm at its core, and practicing using your body as a tool to understand music’s most fascinating secrets.
Instructor: Graham Rosen

NEW The Joy of Movement: A Creative Movement Workshop
Program Description: Join Erin & Julia for a workshop that will connect you to the joy of moving! Through guided movement activities, you’ll explore moving with different qualities and body parts. Discover your personal movement style, and create your own short dance phrase. Open to all people, no dance experience necessary.
Instructor: Erin Pennebaker & Julia Dillard

National and International Dialects for the Stage
Program Description:Ever wonder how to Sound like Harry Potter or Tony Soprano?  Join Cody Swanson as he teaches you the ins and outs of dialects from all over the United States or from different parts of the world.  These dialects can be used on-stage or for film work.
Instructor: Cody Swanson

Shoes as Art
Program Description: Create a shoe that expresses who you are.  In this workshop, you will create a work of 3-dimensional work of art in the form of a shoe.  Gather materials you can collage that show your interests.  These items can be photos of friends or family, magazine images or drawings; they can include ribbon or fabric or hardware or glitter; things that you can find around your house and that work together to tell a story.  Have a pair of scissors and some newsprint or paper you can stuff in a shoe.  The only purchase you may need to make is for 2 rolls of 2” clear wrapping tape.  Finally, you will need to select your favorite shoe – which I promise will not be harmed in the making of the project!
Instructor: Sally Levine

Free Webinars

NEW The Art of Reading Book Club
Program Description: The saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words “so let’s explore that! Announcing the NEW SHAC Book Club. Come spend a cozy and casual evening discussing an eclectic mix of books with art related storylines, explore the images they showcase and the times they reflect. Pre read the book or just join for the experience of connecting with fellow art lovers. Free and open to everyone. Until we can visit art in person again, we can do this.
Instructor: Margaret Reardon. 

A+ Meditations (The A is for Aura) with Ras Chi
Program Description: This webinar will be packed with insight by certified meditation program “Ras Chi”. Something for the whole family, especially during these times. The art of meditation will be thoroughly explained by meditation coach Mr.Cofield as well as a few simple but highly beneficial techniques which help us all in life. Lets strengthen our Auras and immune system together.
Instructor: Sirwilliam Cofield

NEW Creating a Paper Collage Mandala
Program Description: The Mandala (Sanskrit for "circle")  is an ancient  art  form that is closely tied to spiritual practices.  However, it was psychologist Carl Jung who  felt that the mandala as an art  form could be useful as a therapy, and it  is, in fact, a very relaxing and therapeutic process. Torn paper collage mandalas are easy to create, require little preparation or previous art experience .
Instructor: Sharon Dundee

Introduction to Voiceover
in this  webinar, you’ll learn how to get started in voiceover. We’ll cover essential topics like creating a demo, setting up an inexpensive home recording studio, finding and submitting auditions, connecting with talent agents, negotiating rates, and marketing  your services.
Instructor: Amanda Terman

NEW Grant & Proposal Writing Fundamentals for Arts Professionals
Program Description:The process of grant and proposal writing can be simple and pragmatic. Precise language can make the difference between an award and a decline. The eCourse provides tools on how to answer frequently asked questions on
grant applications, and how to fine-tune your writing skills for winning proposals.
Instructor: Brandi Rae Hicks

NEW Making Russian Tea Biscuits at Home
Program Description: Cleveland has a long history of making and eating Russian tea biscuits, dating back to at least the 1920s.
In keeping with tradition, we will discuss a few different historic recipes and then make one of the recipes
online together.
Instructor: Sarah Bania-Dobyns & Melanie Ferstman

The Zentangle® Method: ...One Stroke at a Time® Demonstration
Program Description: The Zentangle Method is a fun way to relax and create beautiful art. Using eight steps we complete a small masterpiece called a tile, using a pencil and pen. In these sessions, tangle along with a certified teacher to learn the method. You will be amazed! Sharing your work is optional. The instructor can provide personal Zentangle kits. The price for each kit is $10, and includes all of the items needed for the class and to tangle on one's own between and after the class.
Instructor: Lee Kay

Click here for more information and to register.

Amara Romano
Administrative Assistant  Shaker Arts Council shakerartscouncil.org