It was nearly 85 years ago when Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast declared that aliens from Mars had landed in West Windsor, NJ and caused a national stir. In order to celebrate this upcoming anniversary, West Windsor Arts, in collaboration with the Historical Society of West Windsor, is hosting a sculpture design contest!
People of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to imagine what these interstellar beings would look like as they transition to their new home in West Windsor, New Jersey. Entries are encouraged to take inspiration from the audio description given by Orson Welles, but also give an original and friendly spin to how these Martians are depicted.
Designs will be collected until September 9th, 2022 and then a public vote will be held to determine which design will be sculpted as the official mascot across town. The winning design will be used to create blank, fiberglass sculptures, which will be given to local artists to decorate as part of a separate design contest that will be released in the spring of 2023.
The winning sculpture designer will receive a cash prize of $500. Details and full parameters of the contest can be found at WestWindsorArts.org.
Save the date for the unveiling of the winning design, which will be held during a fundraiser cocktail reception on October 30, 2022 at the historic Schenck Farmstead in West Windsor. The event will also feature a talk by A. Brad Schwartz, author of “Broadcast Hysteria,” as well as farm tours, a bonfire, and food and libations.
West Windsor Arts is also looking for more community members to join the planning committee for the Martian Project. Volunteers will help in all aspects including event planning, logistics, fundraising, site selection, and more. Please contact info@westwindsorarts.org for more information.
