Community Public Art Survey Results 

To engage the local community in this project, a community input survey was locally distributed in April 2022, revealing the following similar artwork preferences at all three underpass locations by Salinas residents: 

● Respondents favored realistic representation (42%) in the artwork, followed by abstract styles (35%) and whimsical styles (23%); 

● Respondents favored the depiction of local stories and histories (46%), followed by the natural world and the environment (22%) and diverse communities and cultures (17%); 

● Warm colors were found more appealing than cool colors, earth tones or bright colors; 

● Recurring artwork themes included positive and inspiring images of: 

o the culture, history and stories of Salinas, specifically the Alisal neighborhood, including people of color, immigrants, indigenous people and people with disabilities

 o the agricultural community of farmworkers as essential workers, their families, and farm labor rights history 

o artwork that brings people together and is not divisive.

Artwork Qualities 

● Aesthetics. Artwork must be of high aesthetic quality, including consideration of content, craftsmanship, uniqueness and relevance to the mural’s location. 

● Thematic Responsiveness. Artwork must compliment the character of the neighborhood and be responsive to the themes and styles identified in the community public art survey. Submissions of artwork that are overtly sexual, political or religious in nature will not be reviewed by the review panel. 

● Artist Experience. Artwork must be the work of artists or artist teams who can demonstrate experience with past works, especially with large-scale public art projects. 

● Durability. Artwork must be comprised of durable and safe materials that can withstand long-term exposure in an outdoor environment, be resistant to vandalism, and be mindful of maintenance requirements. Specific product types and brands, such as primer, paint, sealer or other materials placed on the underpass structure, will require approval by Caltrans prior to installation. ● Concept Quality. Artwork must exemplify artistic excellence and creativity and must be a completely original concept. 

● Technical Practicality. Artwork must be feasible to install as proposed, in consideration of site and structure characteristics, and appropriate for public viewing, use and access. 

● Caltrans Requirements. Artwork must conform to Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines, including all required copyright waivers. Refer to Exhibit D for Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines. 

General Specifications 

Proposals must also include additional compatible aesthetic elements or features to be incorporated in the exterior façade and interior vertical walls of the three underpasses. The design may not include the underpass ceiling. 

Artwork should consider the general context and translate well from various viewing angles. Artwork design must include each of the four (4) primary viewpoints (looking north and south or east and west of each site, at the outer facades, and north and south or east and west on the inside walls of the underpass). 

Artist applicants must review Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines (see Exhibit D) and ensure that their work can meet all artwork requirements. Applicants must read, acknowledge and accept the Rules and Terms to Apply when responding to this RFQ. 

Note: The terms of the contract are non-negotiable and failure to accept the terms of the contract will result in disqualification from the project at the proposal phase. Moreover: 

● Selected artist/team will be required to waive their rights of integrity to commissioned artwork as pertains to its removal or repair as set forth in the California Art Preservation Act and the Visual Artists Rights Act and as described under the Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines.

 ● All artwork materials must have a minimum lifespan of five (5) years as specified in the Public Art License Agreement, and artists or artist teams must be prepared, if selected, to provide a maintenance plan for the work as part of the final submission.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
(applicants will be asked to agree to the following) 

● Assistants. The selected artist(s) must provide a list of any assistants anticipated to be on- site during installation. List must include names and contact information. All assistants must be 21 years of age. 

● Insurance. The selected artist(s) will be required to carry insurance, including a minimum of $1,000,000 combined single incident general liability insurance, 

● $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident automobile liability, and Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability Insurance (if applicable) in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Fine Arts Insurance for the value of the artwork/art elements will also be required. The cost of required insurance may be included as part of the proposed budget. 

● Ownership of Materials. Waiver of proprietary rights for artwork. All documents, including sketches, plans, simulations, specifications, reports, and all other materials, including models, submitted as part of the proposal will become the property of the Caltrans upon submittal. 

● Selected artist(s) agrees to being photographed and/or filmed as part of the design and installation process for purposes of publicity and project documentation.

 ● Selected artist(s) will be required to waive their rights of integrity to commissioned artwork as pertains to its removal or repair as set forth in the California Art Preservation Act and the Visual Artists Rights Act and as specified in the Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines.

 ● All artwork materials must have a minimum lifespan of five (5) years, and artists or artist teams must be prepared, if selected, to provide a maintenance plan for the work as part of the final submission.

Review and Selection Criteria 

● Artistic Merit. The aesthetic quality of the artist’s past work, including content, craftsmanship, uniqueness and relevance to its environment. 

● Experience. The degree to which the artist’s past work relates to the goals and parameters of the Washington Street Underpass Public Art Project. 

● Ability. The artist’s demonstrated ability to translate art concepts into durable and safe materials that can withstand long-term exposure in an outdoor environment. 

● Project Sustainability. Evidence that artist’s existing public artworks have maintained an appropriate level of quality and integrity over time. 

● Teamwork. Artist’s demonstrated ability to work successfully as a member of a project design team and ability to work within public review processes.

 ● Concept Quality. Artistic excellence, creativity and originality of the proposal concept. 

● Compliance with Goals. The artist's response to the stated goals of the project, including the physical, geographical, and ecological relationship of the artwork/installation to the site. 

● Technical Practicality. The technical feasibility of the proposed artwork/installation, including minimum maintenance requirements, resistance to vandalism and appropriateness for public use and access. 

● Budget (Completeness, not Lowest Bid). An evaluation of the proposed budget, including: 1) its feasibility for the nature and scope of the project, and 2) an analysis of whether the artist has done appropriate research and obtained viable cost estimates from subcontractors and suppliers. 

 ● References. Professional references that positively attest to the artist’s ability to undertake public art projects of this size and scope. 

Review panel will consist of at least 7 members. Up to 3 finalists per underpass location will be selected for virtual interviews to be scheduled between July 18th and July 22nd and will be provided a $1000 stipend to prepare for interviews. The final selected artist will be notified by July 25th. 

Timeline

June 20, 2022 - RFQ submissions due (Extended deadline)
June 21-27, 2022 -  Formal review by public art selection committee
June 29, 2022 -  Finalists notified to submit proposals
July 13, 2022 -  Deadline for proposals
July 18-22, 2022 -  Interviews with finalists
July 25, 2022 - Selected artist notified
July 25-29, 2022 -  Selected artist to review/sign contract with Caltrans
Aug - Nov 2022* - Artist to develop final design in collaboration with Caltrans
Nov 2022 - Construction begins; Artist invoices begin to be submitted
Nov - Dec 2022 - Coordination with Construction Contractor
Jan - June 2023 - Artwork installation (exact dates of installation will be determined after project construction work is awarded and are subject to change within this time period)
June 2023 -  Community Celebrations

*FINAL DESIGN 
(Selected artist will be asked to create the following between 
Aug - Nov. 2022) 

● Visual proposal including: 
o Detailed, well-rendered, color concepts - hand drawn or computer- generated simulation - of the proposed mural, appropriately labeled and corresponding to each primary structure location shown on Exhibits A-C. 
o Detailed, well-rendered, color concept - hand drawn or computer- generated simulation - of the artistic elements proposed for the slope paving areas, appropriately labeled with placement shown to scale for the slope paving areas shown on  Exhibits A-C.

 ● Narrative proposal including: 
o Proposed artwork title 
o Brief description of concept and inspirations for the artwork 
o Color palette 
o Materials description and product cut sheets o List of tools and equipment to be used (including storage if required) 
o Maintenance plan

 ● Proposed project budget including separate line items for: 
o Artist(s) Design Fees including concept refinement and construction coordination 
o Materials and Tools 
o Equipment Rentals (if any) 
o Site Preparation and Installation 
o Site Clean-up 
o Travel (if any) 
o Insurance 

● Proposed project Schedule including separate line items for: 
o Design Coordination and Finalizing Artwork 
o Installation schedule – hours per day, number of days, interim days (if any for drying time or other similar breaks in on-site installation time). Final day of work must be before June 20, 2023.

Contact 
Please direct questions about the project to karyn@arts4mc.org or 831-622-9060 x102 

Direct all questions related to use of the online call for artist site to the site operator. Please also consult the CaFÉ Help for Artists page if you have questions regarding use of the website. This resource has a link to contact the operator.

Extended Submission Deadline: 

Wednesday, June 20, 2022 10:59pm PST