Back to Top

Program Description

On behalf of the City of Lake Oswego, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego is pleased to invite artist submissions of up to three works of art per artist, or artist group. to be considered for outdoor public display in Lake Oswego’s nationally recognized, award-winning outdoor Gallery Without Walls exhibit. In its twenty-third year, this program’s mission is to integrate art into the daily lives of local residents and visitors to the community by presenting works from regional, national, and international artists that resonate with people of diverse backgrounds.

Artists can submit completed works as well as proposals for new works to be completed by installation in August of 2023. Artwork will be on display throughout the downtown business district for a two-year exhibition period starting in the summer of 2023 and ending in the summer of 2025. Submissions will be evaluated by a Selection Committee based upon the overall quality and merit of the submitted art works. Submissions from emerging, mid-career, and established artists, as well as collaborations or teams of artists are encouraged. We seek works of a variety of media including sculpture, new media, projections, and murals, and encourage proposals that engage, educate, and inspire the community. Submissions of artwork that has been created within the last three years is highly encouraged.

Up to fifteen artists, with one artwork each will be chosen by the Selection Committee to display in Lake Oswego. Selected artists will be awarded an honorarium of $1000. Selected artists are also eligible for an annual People’s Choice purchase award of up to $20,000 (with a 30% gallery fee). Selected artists are invited to attend the annual Gallery Without Walls Celebration in September. This is a community celebration premiering the new sculptures and recognizing our artists and all who support this wonderful program. Selected artists will enter into a two-year contract with the City of Lake Oswego for the exhibition loan period. During the exhibition period, works will be available for sale with a 30% gallery fee, if sold, paid to the Arts Council. Sold artworks must remain on display for the contracted exhibition period.

Program Goals

• Display quality art work suitable for public display in a downtown, outdoor setting.
• Support artists in showing their work to new audiences.
• Display art that contributes to the sense of pride in our community.
• Strengthen and sustain our nationally recognized GWW program
• Please see the 2022-2024 one-page brochure on our website and our current collection of permanent and temporary public art on the Public Art Archive.
   

Vision

Public Art in Lake Oswego fosters a sense of place for our City, it enriches our built and natural environments, encourages economic development, promotes sustainability, and provides opportunities for exploration, discovery and delight.

About the Arts Council of Lake Oswego

The Arts Council of Lake Oswego works to ensure the arts are an integral part of life in our community now and into the future. With the purpose of placement and preservation of public art in Lake Oswego, we provide access to art exhibitions for residents and visitors, and advance lifelong learning about the arts through educational programs and docent tours. On behalf of the City of Lake Oswego, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego administers the public art program. The Arts Council partners with the City and community to select, site, and maintain the nationally recognized Gallery Without Walls public art program, maintains the City’s permanent art collection of over 250 works and provides accessible arts programming for the community.

Exhibition Logistics

Artworks are generally displayed on concrete plinths of varying sizes and locations, a selection of which are weld-only pads. There are options (while limited) for earth mounting works in a park or greenspace, as well as utilizing building facades for proposed murals, projections, or similar. A limited number of plinth locations have electrical capability. Selected artists will be notified of their anchoring/display method in May. Please indicate in your application your preferred method of display, if your artwork requires electricity, or if you have an idea that is not listed. The Arts Council will work with individual artists on display solutions within our capability.

Anchoring Requirements

Anchor methods are either anchor bolts or weld only depending on the assigned site location. Our engineer typically requires 1/2" Titen HD bolts that screw through the sculpture base. Bolts are provided by the Arts Council. Baseplate holes must be drilled to 3/4" to accommodate bolts. Concrete pads range in size from 2 x 2' - 7 x 7' (4 – 49 square ft.). Weld only pads require weld-able tabs on the sculpture/sculpture base. If welding, ACLO will provide a welder and contractor on-site for installation and de-installation. The Arts Council’s provided contractor will install all works of art and artists (or an artist representative) are required to attend installation.

Upon installation and during the two-year exhibition period, the City will maintain liability insurance to cover any damages, should they occur. It is the artist’s responsibility to deliver and be present (or send a representative) for installation and de-installation of the work. Artwork cannot be shipped as there are no available vehicles, storage space, or staff for this purpose.

The Arts Council reserves the right to reject work that, upon delivery, differs from the original proposal, or does not meet standards of durability, safety and quality. Artists in the current 2022-2024 GWW exhibition are ineligible to apply (artists cannot have more than one artwork on display); we encourage you to apply next year.

Selection Criteria and Process

Submissions and proposals will be selected by committee consisting of Arts Council Board members, community members, and artists. We encourage innovative ideas and diverse use of media/materials. Criteria for jurying submissions and proposals may include, but are not limited to:

• Detail and completeness of application/proposal
• Overall aesthetic of artwork or proposed artwork
• Appropriateness for public display
  • must be of suitable scale
  • must be able to withstand the elements and normal wear and tear experienced by public art in an outdoor setting
  • be able to withstand pedestrian contact and interaction  
• Safety
• If proposal, artist demonstrates/provides evidence of ability to follow through for fabrication and meet deadlines
• Tourism and marketing potential

Timeline

The following MUST be included in your application FOR EACH PIECE to be considered:

• Concept/artist statement for proposed piece (at least 100 words)
  • What is the inspiration for the piece (s)?
• If you are submitting a proposal for a work not get completed, how will you accomplish the proposed piece?
• Photos/drawings/sketches/renderings of artwork/proposed artwork
• Artwork information for each piece:
  • Title
  • All materials/media included
  • Dimensions
  • Color
  • Weight (if sculpture, of entire sculpture)
  • Date of creation
  • Exhibition history
  • Base
    • Material
    • Length, width, height (to make sure we can fit it appropriately for display)
  • Additional features or requirements, i.e. do you need electricity (for projection, lighting, etc.), if new media or requiring electricity, include in your proposal how it is displayed
• Price
• Resume/CV (if team, one for each team member)
• Previously completed works including public art
• Artist website and/or social media

You may also submit complete applications, as a single PDF, titled [FirstName_LastName.pdf] to: kferreira@lakeoswego.city subject line “Application for GWW 2023.” DEADLINE to apply is 5pm PST December 12, 2022

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF LAKE OSWEGO STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM DIVERSITY. ACLO DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, SEX, AGE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR GENDER IDENTITY. ARTISTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Open to all public art artists.