If you’re an artist with a vision for fire safety, the Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee is looking for you.
The committee wants someone to help design a mural for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 64. The firehouse on the west side of Miami Lakes has been approved for a mural in its lobby.
Committee chair Carlos Andres said that this has been in the works for a long time through the efforts of member Darwin Villavicencio, a captain with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
“We’ve been at this, I’m going to say, at least the last two or three years,” Villavicencio said.
The theme for the mural is public safety, but also something that pays homage to Miami Lakes.
Villavicencio thought it was a good station to receive the mural as it’s the newest station in the town.
“We pretty much have an area that’s already been designated for that,” he said.
The mural will be inside, which is where the station’s captain has the approval to do the work.
“Anything outside would be a little more cumbersome, but as far as anything inside the station per policy it’s up to the station captain,” Villavicencio said.
Villavicencio said that the station captain was really welcoming of the idea to have something inside the station.
Other stations within department have murals depicting the areas they serve; the station closest to the University of Miami, for example, has the U’s iconic orange and green motif inside.
For Miami Lakes, Andres wants to invite artists high school age and up to create an original piece of artwork that would fit on the 82-foot-wide and 93-foot-high wall.
“Essentially it is someone that is involved with the town and knows what it stands for,” Andres said.
The mural can depict the town’s famed cows and trees, but also something celebrating first responders and incorporating the station’s logo.
The artist who is chosen will have to supply their own materials. All art submitted must be the original work of the artist.
Submissions will be accepted until the end of October and can be submitted to the Public Safety Committee’s liaison Jailyn Alvaredo at alvaredj@miamilakes-fl.gov who can also answer any questions regarding the contest.