From the inbox:

Public Art Chattanooga is pleased to announce a request for qualifications (RFQ) from artists or artist teams for the commission and installation of a work of public art at the Bluff View Overlook in Chattanooga, Tenn. The site is located in the heart of Chattanooga’s picturesque Bluff View Art District at an overlook that is part of an award-winning 10-mile riverwalk.

Over the last 20 years, Chattanooga has experienced a major renaissance and is now nationally recognized as one of the most progressive and livable mid-sized cities in the United States. A large part of Chattanooga’s success can be attributed to strong public and private partnerships, visionary leadership, citizen action and community involvement. The commissioned artwork should celebrate the spirit of reciprocity and capture the spirit of community, the power of perseverance, and the essence of integrity. Up to five finalists will be selected to develop concept proposals for this project. Each will be paid a $500 proposal fee. The project budget for the selected commission is $55,000. The commission is made possible by the generous support of the Lyndhurst Foundation.

Eligibility: This RFQ is open to all professional artists and artist teams over the age of 18, who currently reside in the United States.

Application Deadline: Applications must be received by (hand delivery, mail or electronically) August 1, 2011, 4:00 p.m. No exceptions. Complete details and an application can be downloaded online.

For more information, please contact Peggy Townsend, director, Public Art Chattanooga, at (423)643-6886 or publicartchattanooga1@gmail.com.

Chatty Crafty went off with bang 10 a.m. on Sunday, only to be quickly extinguished by an early morning drizzle. Undeterred, vendors persevered and stood their ground on the green at Ross’s Landing until the sun decided to come out.

As for myself, after procrastinating due to work and other diversions, I finally made my way down to the independent craft show late in the afternoon with my mom and friend, Maranda. Clustered in front of Cold Stone Creamery, the 20-plus vendors were neatly arranged in starched white tents, selling a variety of handmade thises and thats.

This ain’t your grandma’s craft fair, but it is definitely your indie-crafter’s craft fair. Soaps, paper goods, recycled clothes and jewelry have been the mainstays both this year and last, when Chatty Crafty was at Renaissance Park.

While all the vendors are super awesome for doing what they do, I’d like to highlight a few that put a little extra love in my heart.

Arts & Education Council:

How many times have you handed spare change to a total stranger? Or donated something toward a cause thousands of miles away? We never know which of our small actions make an impact. But what if one small act can change a life? What if that person goes on to change another life?

The documentary, A Small Act, reveals just how powerful a gesture of kindness and generosity can be, and that an education is perhaps the most generous gift of all.

It’s almost that time of year again. Time for Chattanooga’s first and only indie/hipster/alternative craft show, Chatty Crafty. Indie designers from over 14 states will be importing the fruits of their respective creative labors to Ross’s Landing a few weeks from now — Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, to be exact.

I recently spoke with the original chatty crafter, Lynda Buckels, one of the founders and forces behind the event.

Q: How did Chatty Crafty come into fruition, and why did you choose to come to Chattanooga?

A: I have been a vendor at DIY craft shows for many years, going as far away as St. Louis and as close to home as Atlanta. I have done many shows locally as well, but none fit the mold of the new trend of DIY indie shows. With the surge of handmade all over the country and Etsy bringing shopping handmade to our computer screens, it was time to bring the designers face to face with the Chattanooga shopper. I knew Chattanooga was ready for such a show, and we didn’t have one so, well, I created one.

A new Mark Making mural going up on the west side of JJ’s Bohemia on M.L. King Boulevard has been making waves lately, and the painting hasn’t even begun.

Mark Making recently posted a mockup of the proposed design for their first MLK mural in a series of five on Facebook, which garnered an immediate flood of feedback from the community. The proposed design uses the text, “I have a dream.” Over 20 people voiced their opinion via Facebook, from loving it, to hating it, to wanting it redesigned.

Among the mixed emotions came an animosity toward losing the old art on the wall, which was whited out in priming for the new mural. The lost art had graced the wall for more than 15 years.

“I’m sure priming the wall lit a lot of fires,” said Frances McDonald, founder of Mark Making. “But does anyone have good photography of the old art? No. does anyone know who the artist is? No. If we can find that person, he can collaborate on the new one.”

“No one ever asked if we could restore the old work,” she continued. “We are restoring the chameleon because it is popular. We are also restoring the chameleon to make our wall look good.”

It’s time once again for the Arts & Education Council’s (AEC) Back Row Film Series. In its seventh season, the series kicks off Thursday, May 19, at 6 p.m. with Pelada, a documentary that follows two former college soccer stars as they play pick-up games in unlikely places all over the world.

Pelada literally means “naked,” but in Brazil, it’s the term they use for street soccer. In this case, it refers to the stripped down version of the sport that continually gains popularity all over the world.

From prisoners in Bolivia to moonshine brewers in Kenya, from freestylers in China to women who play in hijab in Iran, Pelada is the story of the people who play, offering a window into lives all around the world.

The documentary will be shown at the US Elite Training complex at 6246 Dayton Blvd. The evening will also include a silent auction of sports equipment, services and memorabilia, a meet and greet with Chattanooga Football Club representatives, and refreshments.

The event is sponsored by US Elite Training and the Chattanooga Football Club. Tickets are $5 for all ages and include popcorn. Seating is limited and advanced purchase is strongly encouraged. Buy online at backrowfilms.com, by phone (423)267-1218, or at the door.

Main Street’s newest resident is a musician. Hailing from Egypt, this harp player just moved in at 215 E. Main St. She also happens to be 20 feet tall.

This giant woman is the creation of Chattanooga graffiti artist Seven, who has been practicing his art since 1993. His style is instantly recognizable; he has another well-known mural at the corner of McCallie and Central avenues.

“I’m just a local artist looking for outlets to display my talent and hopefully influence people’s perspectives about viewing graffiti as an art form and not just vandalism, or scribble on a wall,” he said.

Seven said he had never really heard of Main Street staple Niedlov’s Breadworks before, but fell in love with the building’s east wall when looking for spots to paint legally. “Initially I wanted to paint the other side, the side that you see coming into downtown Chattanooga,” he said.

Owner of Niedlov’s, John Sweet, suggested the opposite wall, and said he then gave Seven almost complete creative control.

The mural took the artist about two weeks to complete, working only after business hours and “a little on the weekends.”

Seven said these pieces will hopefully be popping up all over Chattanooga. He wants to expose
Chattanooga to the finer side of graffiti as an art form.

Though he passed away 10 years ago, Howard Finster’s folk art legacy lives on at Paradise Gardens in Summerville, Ga. Wander through the three acres of unique and symbolic art work — drawings, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media art fill the garden.

This weekend, May 14 and 15, hear live folk music and enjoy the Gardens for free at Finster Fest 2011. For more details, visit the official site.