We Won A Billboard Contest!
Billboard Address: 2105 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32805
As artists, many of us dream of one day seeing our work displayed on a grand scale for the world to see. Little did we know that our passion for murals would lead us to participate in a billboard contest that would impact our lives. This is the story of how we won a billboard contest.
Discovering the Billboard Contest:
It all began when we stumbled upon an email from @melio, promoting a billboard contest. The contest was seeking local businesses and organizations to submit to win a billboard displayed in the heart of their city! We were excited to submit, when we realized that this could be a beautiful opportunity to reach our community in a greater way. We had zero expectations… because what are the odds of winning a contest? Or Sweepstakes? 1 in a million? Maybe not that high… But still, we took a chance!
The Announcement
It was the week of hurricane Ian that hit Florida in September 2022… we got an email from Melio saying, “congrats you were selected as a winner for our billboard contest!” We were one of three Florida-based organizations/small businesses to win a billboard. There were winners selected in miami, tampa, and (we) were chosen to represent Orlando! We were SO shocked.
Meeting The Melio Team
We got a chance to virtually meet the Melio team on zoom! They wanted to know more about our collective and projects here in Orlando. Immediately they understood our mission and were so eager to support us. Melio scheduled a crew of photographers and videographers from Los Angelos and New York to fly down and interview us.
Interview Day
It was November 2022. We’ll never forget that week, because it was the day after yet-another hurricane that hit our area Hurricane Nicole (The blessings of living in the sunshine state!) Despite the weather, our crew made it happen! The hurricane passed over hours before and it felt like the calm after the storm. The incredible team hired by Melio (Three Strikes Productions) interviewed us, made us feel very comfortable. They did an incredible job beautifully highlighting our journey as artists and public art curators.
See full MELIO interview here: https://youtu.be/8PvAMRVlPVU
interview session with Melio x Three Strikes Nov 2022
The Blueprint & Design
After the interviews, the team at melio were so gracious enough to allow us to design blueprints on how we’d like our billboard to look. Our good friend and collaborator Gina Tyquiengco volunteered to help create a few blueprints to share with melio’s design studio. We came up with “a community mural without walls” a phrase that we really felt encompassed what our murals have become. During the pandemic, our mural project at the park was an open, free, accessible way for the community to experience art and culture in our area. It just felt right.
The melio team included one mural photo from each mural project “Mural of Zora” (by German Lemus, RISE: Mural Project) and “Transformation of Hair” mural (by JJ The Artist, Parramore Mural Project). The final design came out beautifully!
The Impact and Beyond:
On May 1st 2023, we received the good news that our billboard was up all month long. Winning the billboard contest opened doors we never thought possible. During this process, we felt a renewed sense of hope, that this work truly matters to our community. The team at Melio was so gracious to allow us to select the placement of our billboard. Naturally, we wanted to be closer to the neighborhoods we serve, places like eatonville, parramore, west orlando. Neighborhoods where many of us come from. Those little details, truly mattered to us.
Conclusion:
The journey of winning a billboard contest has been nothing short of a whirlwind adventure. Through dedication, creativity, and the blessing of supportive people, we have been able to turn our passions into a tangible masterpiece that we can share with our communities. These experiences only reaffirmed the power of art to inspire, connect, and transform communities through this medium of art. We as, ART OF COLLAB, are eternally grateful for the opportunity to share my our stories through our mural project and we look forward to the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
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