Brecksville, Ohio | August 18, 2021 — The CrossCountry Mortgage “Paint the District” mural competition is seeking new artist proposals by September 1 for the chance to compete in round two of the yearlong contest, which will award the final winner the opportunity to have their mural displayed in the new CrossCountry Mortgage headquarters in Cleveland’s Superior Arts District. In addition to the call for new artist submissions, the company has announced that public online voting is now open through September 30 to select the winning artist for the first round of competition.
One of the nation’s largest and fastest growing retail mortgage lenders, CrossCountry Mortgage announced the “Paint the District” competition in June to coincide with the beginning of construction of its 168,000-square-foot corporate campus at 2152-2160 Superior Avenue. The contest celebrates the artistic spirit of the historic district and the company’s new role as a member of the community.
“We want everyone in Greater Cleveland to see and feel the creative energy of the Superior Arts District as we prepare to move our headquarters team to this exciting neighborhood,” said Laura Soave, chief brand officer, CrossCountry Mortgage. “We’re thrilled with the response to our first round of competition and urge other artists to submit proposals for round two.”
The “Paint the District” competition accepts artist proposals on a quarterly basis. Of the submissions received for each round, CrossCountry Mortgage will select three artists who will compete to become a contestant for that quarter’s public vote. The winners from each of the four rounds will be entered in the finals where they will create a proposal for a permanent installation in the company’s new headquarters, which is expected to open in the spring of 2022.
Round One Online Voting Live Through September 30
Public voting for artists competing in round one is open now through September 30. Community members can visit PainttheDistrict.com to cast their votes for works submitted by artists Contrast High, Scott Goss or Don’t Panic!.
The submission from Contrast High, titled “This Time,” is a collage style mural with a thoughtful collision of original word art and images as a call to reflect the moment. The work is a response to the current climate with the intention to instigate a change of perspective; a call to reframe the view, embrace the present, and be optimistic of the future.
“Building Up” by Scott Goss features a seven-panel fused glass mural with abstract panels that are layered with patterns derived from architectural details of downtown Akron buildings, with an additional layer of houses. The piece represents the strong relationship between downtown Akron and its neighborhoods.
Bob Peck and Rich Cihlar, the artist duo Don’t Panic!, submitted “The Owl,” a mix of pop art and abstract graffiti. The medium used is spray paint, in different styles, which blends together to become a vibrant and high-energy piece of art.
To learn more about the mural competition, visit PainttheDistrict.com. For more information about CrossCountry Mortgage, visit www.crosscountrymortgage.com.