Providing grants, programs, and services to the artists and audiences of Tompkins County for 30 years

Margalo Guo - An Inspiring Career Opportunity

The Community Arts Partnership is thrilled to support artists like Margalo Guo through our Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS). The SOS grant exists to give artists the chance to advance their careers and participate in opportunities and events they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. It is through grants like this that CAP is able to keep Ithaca’s vibrant art scene alive.
 
Margalo is a 20-year-old muralist and oil painter based out of Ithaca and State College, PA. She has done several oil paintings and murals in both cities, earning herself an impressive and stunning portfolio. 
 
She applied for the SOS grant to fund an opportunity to paint a mural in Miami at the A-Wall mural event that occurs during Art Basel. Art Basel is an initiative that focuses on connecting collectors, galleries, and artists, drives forward the careers of artists and supports the arts. A-Wall itself is a non-profit focused on creating opportunities for artistic expression and inspiration for youth in communities by bringing life and art to public places like schools. The project focuses on connecting artists with walls, and any artist can apply through the yearly call for artists.
 
Margalo was invited to this event by the executive director of A-Wall and leapt at the chance to not only practice her art outside her normal stomping grounds, but also the to take the chance to connect and network with other muralists.
 
"This experience was incredible. It was also the most inspiring experience of my career so far because of the other muralists I met. I had no idea people could be so successful doing murals, and I even met some of my muralist idols. I am still in awe, and got a lot of advice from them as well. I am so thankful for the SOS grant allowing me to do this!"

This was Margalo's first big city mural. She was given a large wall, no restrictions, and was told to paint whatever she wished. She chose to paint a beautiful Eastern style dragon spiraling around itself. The dragon was painted to look as if it had clockwork automaton. The mural itself gives a feeling of both steampunk and fantasy, with the two different genres merging to create the fierce but gorgeous dragon. The subdued browns, reds, and greens of the dragon pop against the bright yellow backdrop, making the piece feel quite colorful and bright despite the darker overall tone of the pallet.
 
If you'd like to see Margalo’s vibrant murals and her gorgeous oil paintings, visit her website at https://margaloguo.com/
 
(Written by CAP IC Intern, Peter McNerney)