The Project
Hunter’s Point South Park lies in the vicinity of Center Boulevard, 50th Avenue, Second Street, and the East River in Western Long Island City. Administered by NYC Parks, the public space includes a central green, the NYC Ferry’s LIC Landing station, playgrounds, fitness equipment, a dog run, a bikeway, a promenade, picnic terraces, basketball courts, a 30-foot-tall cantilevered platform for viewing the Midtown Manhattan Skyline and East River, and the approximately one square acre for the Ottomanelli by the Water, restaurant which includes a Pavilion Area, Garden Area, and a 4,000 square foot special event area.
Ottomanelli by the Water is the lead sponsor of the Hunter’s Point South Park Mural Project. The owner, Frank Ottomanelli, is endeavoring to create a long, three-foot-high, public art piece consisting of a contiguous series of paintings or other visual images. In this RFP, it will be called “the Installation.”
The Installation will be on exhibit for as long as possible. Currently, it has no end date.
Project Intent
This is the third open call for proposals for the community mural at Ottomanelli’s By The Water. Frank Ottomanelli has already installed five sections, and now he’s looking for more art as he builds a roughly 11,000-square-foot, three-foot-high panorama that’ll wrap around his concession’s outside dining area in Hunter’s Point Park South.
“The goal is to erect a large, beautiful, and diverse mural created by local individuals and groups that promotes the wonderful things about Queens,” stated the Maspeth native, who also owns F. Ottomanelli’s Burgers & Belgian Fries in Woodside. “A secondary goal relates to the mural becoming a tourism destination whose image is shared on many visitors’ social media channels.”
It’s the very definition of “Instagrammable,” he argues, as the Midtown Manhattan skyline and East River are on one side with the burgeoning Long Island City skyline and park amenities on the other. Plus, an NYC Ferry landing is nearby.
The Installation’s theme is “community unity.” It seeks to highlight the creative talent in Queens, promote the borough’s diversity, and create a tourist attraction.
Aided by the nearby residential and commercial boom, Hunter’s Point South Park is a very popular destination for runners, yoga enthusiasts, sightseers, sun-bathers, dog-walkers, children at play, and tourists from all over the world. Thus, now is the ideal moment to erect a beautiful mural near the restaurant.
The Award
Each selected artist will receive a $500 stipend, plus a complete reimbursement for all materials (ie. exterior paint, brushes, and MDO board) used in this project. Plus,each artist and their mural section will be featured in a press release, opening event, social media, Ottomanelli's website, It’s in Queens social media.
The Site
Ottomanelli by the Water’s grounds feature an 11,000-square-foot garden area. The Installation will snake around both sides of the garden area and be visible from all four sides. It has no specified length as that depends on submissions.
Eligibility
Residents of Long Island City and artists based in the community get first consideration. After this group, all greater Queens residents and those who work in the borough are eligible. People who don’t live or work in Queens will NOT be considered.
How to Apply
Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit, via this form, the following:
- A written description of the proposed artwork, including title, medium, dimensions (height x width x depth). Please note that the Installation will NOT exceed two and a half feet in height and eight feet in length (2.5' high x 8' long)
- If proposing existing work, please provide photographs or slides of it and include reference to human scale.
- If proposing new work, please provide working drawings or a photograph of maquette to scale.
- Artist’s statement and resume. Include the name, address and phone number of the contact person.
- Up to 10 images of the artist’s previous work. They must be clearly labeled with the name of the artist, title of the work, media, and dimensions.
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
Additional Information
Selected artists will receive a Contract for the Commission with the legal responsibilities related to the project. Those not chosen for the this round of murals will be considered for future rounds.
Artists will be encouraged to paint the mural boards on site outside the restaurant area. Murals will be painted with exterior Benjamin Moore paint.
Criteria for Selection
Frank Ottomanelli will convene an ad hoc committee to evaluate each application. Members will look for quality, attention to the theme, appropriateness, and cohesiveness with the other works.
For more information, contact Frank Ottomanelli at frank@ottomanelli.com.