project overview

ORANGE MOUND LIBRARY AND GENEALOGY CENTER | Orange Mound

Artist: Daniel Moore

Total budget:  $100,000 (includes three finalist honoraria of $1,000 each)

Upcoming benchmark/update: Start of final design/start of fabrication


BACKGROUND

About Orange Mound and the Orange Mound Library and Genealogy Center:

Orange Mound is a historical neighborhood located in the southeastern part of Memphis. Founded in 1890, Orange Mound was the first neighborhood known to be built for and by former enslaved Black Americans. The space was once a 5,000 acre plantation that E.E. Meacham gained ownership over. Meacham made an unprecedented decision to sell land to Black Americans. Orange Mound is home to the Golden Wildcats of Melrose High School, which has a rich history of academic excellence, Olympians, and numerous professional athletics. 

The Melrose Alumni Association, Incorporated supports students at Melrose High School and provides annual scholarship awards to graduating seniors.  Awards presented last year totaled $33,000. The Association also serves as a source of information for Melrose alumni, which includes a network of over 1,000 Golden Wildcats across the United States. 

The current address for Melrose High School is 2870 Deadrick Ave, Memphis, TN. However,  the historic “old” Melrose High School, located nearby at 843 Dallas St,  is being renovated and restored to include apartments for senior living, a genealogy center,  and a library which is the first of its kind for the neighborhood. 

For more information, the selection committee encourages you to visit:  

https://melrosehs.com/history-tradition/ 

https://www.memphisheritage.org/melrose-school/ 

https://www.pbs.org/video/wkno-specials-community-called-orange-mound/ 

https://moshmemphis.com/black-history-in-memphis-the-orange-mound-story/

Front Entrance of Library

SCOPE OF WORK

The selection committee has expressed interest in a large-scale sculpture that:

  • Represents the lively essence of Orange Mound

  • Celebrates the neighborhood leaders who have left their mark in Orange Mound and the Melrose community

  • Engages families

  • References the architecture of the neighborhood and/or nearby landmarks

  • Is easy to maintain 

  • Does not interfere with the pedestrian pathway

  • Includes community input and engagement throughout the design and/or fabrication stages  

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Mary Claire Borys- City of Memphis Housing and Community Development: Development Project Manager for Historic Melrose Rehabilitation

Kinah Burks- Kingdom Community Builder:  Director, Resident 

Felicia Harris- City of Memphis Housing and Community Development: Deputy Director 

Tamika Parsons- Sr. Manager for Orange Mound Library 

Jevonte Porter- Youth Villages- Assistant Director of Community Relations, Melrose Alum 

Darlene Newman- Artist

Chad Stewart- CSA Engineering

Denise Williams Greene- President of Melrose Alumni Association

About Artist-

Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore grew up in Iowa City and attended the University of Iowa. He obtained his BFA in

Graphic Design & Photography and minored in Ceramics and Metalwork/Jewelry. Upon graduation he relocated to Phoenix, AZ. and worked full time as a graphic designer for a variety of corporate entities. Inspired by the works of Ansel Adams, he pursued his love of photography by photographing

the natural world while hiking, backpacking and mountain biking throughout Arizona. At his last position, he was introduced to working with metal and welding, self-taught, Daniel expanded to 3-Dimensional pieces, starting The Oxide Studio in 2010.

Graphic representations of Arizona’s unique plant life were the inspiration for his botanical themed panels, the first pieces created at The Oxide Studio. His photographic background influenced the choice to “frame” each design within the confines of a rectangle, producing a contemporary, somewhat formal presentation that contrasts well with the colors and organic forms in its environment.

In addition to showing his work in galleries in the Phoenix Metropolitan area he has been commissioned to create many works on all scales for both residential and commercial clients. His completed projects include inspired sculptural pieces, memorable freestanding works, gateways, enclosures, furniture and more. For the past nine years he has contributed to the Public Art arena, an area he is strongly drawn to. His awards can be viewed in Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chino Valley, Mesa), Oklahoma City, OK., Augusta, GA. and The City of Henderson, NV.