The City of Frederick Presents

A Brush With Frederick: Painting the Spirit of Carroll Creek

A Community Art Project & Fundraiser

The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development (DED) is thrilled with the community’s response to A Brush With Frederick: Painting the Spirit of Carroll Creek. More than 6,000 square feet has been reserved by everyone from families to business to church groups and Girl Scout troops. A Brush With Frederick kicks off September 4, 2004 from 9:00am-5:00pm on Carroll Creek Park between Market Street and East Street in Downtown Frederick. Residents, businesses, community groups and anyone who holds Frederick near and dear will be given a section of the concrete to paint along Carroll Creek Park. Each is invited to paint the top on the conduit with their vision of the spirit of Frederick.

To reach our goal of painting the concrete between Market and East Street, we need YOU to sign up! Be creative – bring your business, church youth group, school art club, scouting group, family, friends and neighbors! This is a great opportunity to leave your mark on Frederick and participate in an once-in-a-lifetime community event!

Working in partnership with the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Frederick Arts Council, the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, the Frederick Festival of the Arts, the Office of Special Events and the local arts community, A Brush With Frederick is a once-in-a-life time community art project serving as a fundraiser for future public art projects along Carroll Creek Park.

“Economic Development is so excited to spearhead this event. Our mission runs deeper than job creation, and really is about quality of life. This event is a great opportunity for residents and businesses to come together and be a part of a great event here in Frederick,” says Heather Galbraith, economic development specialist with the Department of Economic Development.

This is truly an event for everyone – young and old, native or new residents, professional artist or not. Remember, there is a little artist in all of us! With more than 40,000 square feet of concrete to cover, the City is hopeful that this project could be the largest street painting event in the country! This is an incredible opportunity to leave your mark on the history of Frederick.

As a celebration of the Frederick community and of the up-and-coming progress along Carroll Creek Park, participants may paint their expression of family, friends, great Frederick memories and the future of Frederick as seen through the eyes of those who live, work and play here. This temporary painting will then be covered over in the spring of 2005 as the public improvements along the park are built, but will remain intact below the surface for discovery by future generations. Available spaces include 5’x5’, 10’x10’ or 20’x20’ squares, with suggested donations of $15, $30, and $60 respectively. All donations will go toward public art in Carroll Creek Park.

The festivities kick-off on Saturday September 4 th at 9:00am at Carroll Creek Park with a D.J. as participants descend upon Carroll Creek. Artists as well as community members will paint expressions of family, friends, community memories and the spirit of Frederick through the eyes of those who live and work here. Can’t finish your art in one day? Don’t worry, the following Saturdays in September (9/11, 9/18 & 9/25) participants will have an opportunity to complete their works of art.

Finally, October 2 nd will be a “Signature Event.” During the In The Street festival, individuals will have an opportunity to sign their name on the concrete for a suggested donation of $1. The City hopes to create a Community Signature Board, which would hold as many of the 55,000 resident’s signatures for future generations – creating a time capsule of our community below the surface of Carroll Creek Park.

Participants will be asked to provide their own paint and supplies. As a partner in this project, DURON Paint on Route 40 West (the Golden Mile) is offering discounts to all event participants who purchase supplies at the store. Details on suggested paints and supplies will be available upon event registration.

Registration is available online at www.cityoffrederick.com/brushwithfrederick or by calling 240-629-6360. Donations may be made to the City of Frederick, Maryland and are tax-deductible.