Summary

The City of Bend in partnership with Art in Public Places (AiPP) invites professional Artists to apply for a public art commission in connection with the construction of a new Headquarters Building on the Public Works Campus in Bend, Oregon. The Headquarters Building will be the ­gateway of the new Public Works Campus for any public visitors or other City of Bend departments coming to the campus. 

The commission is for a large-scale work of art on three prominent walls in the public lobbies and outdoor terrace of the main Headquarters Building on the Public Works Campus. The work of art should be one continuous idea that spans between the three walls. The lobby is a 2-story vaulted space and the work of art will continue up to the third-floor lobby wall and outside to a third-floor terrace. The project timeline is 2024-2025 and the project budget is $185,000.

Artists must reside in one of the following states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico or Texas. Additionally, the City of Bend is dedicated to nurturing, promoting, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage individuals from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ artists to apply. Furthermore, we value and support the participation of local artists in this initiative.

Bend, Oregon Overview

Bend, Oregon is a mountain town surrounded by public lands. Residents and visitors are drawn to Bend for its high desert climate and varied year-round recreation. Bend has grown and flourished, truly a community with diverse backgrounds and a shared love for the place and lifestyle. Bend is home to nationally recognized breweries, Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, The High Desert Museum, Central Oregon Community College and the Oregon State University-Cascades Campus. Today, Bend is the largest Oregon city east of the Cascades Mountains with a population of just over 100,000.

Site & Project Context

The new Public Works Campus for the City of Bend will be home to five public works departments:  Utilities, Transportation Mobility, Fleet Maintenance, Facilities, and Engineering, Infrastructure & Planning. The 35.5-acre site will include offices, meeting spaces, storage facilities, specialized workshop areas and the City’s water lab.

The campus design is inspired by the Central Oregon context of high desert landscape, volcanic geology, and prominent mountain peaks and will blend in with the surrounding landscape while providing efficient, healthy, and durable workspaces for the public works departments.  Each building embodies simplicity and timelessness in both form and material. Clad in weathering steel that will change to a deep rust color over time, the buildings complement the rich desert earth tones, volcanic rock outcroppings, and the Juniper-forested site. The interior spaces of the buildings utilize a natural, yet durable material palette of concrete floors, bird-safe glazing, and exposed mass timber supported by an exposed wood glulam beam and column structure.

Of the three buildings on campus, the Headquarters Building will be the ­gateway for the new Public Works Campus for receiving public visitors or other City of Bend departments arriving to campus, and it is the main intersection for cross-collaboration and interaction between the various departments working on campus. It is the first stop for all public work employees before heading out to their vehicles, warehouse facilities or job sites for the day.

The commission is for a large-scale work of art on a prominent wall moving up through the 2-story public lobby to the third-floor lobby and out, onto the third-floor exterior terrace of the main Headquarters Building on campus. The work of art should be one continuous idea or concept that spans between the floors and to the outdoor terrace. It will be visible in the lobbies, on the terrace, and through the exterior glazing at the Headquarters drop off location as people enter the site from the main entrance to campus. The work of art for the lobby and terrace is part of the architectural context of the Public Works main building and will include collaboration with key players on the architecture and design team at Hennebery Eddy Architects as well as the City of Bend project staff and coordination with the construction team.

Inspiration for the Public Lobby and Terrace

Centering equity in the creation of art, draw inspiration from the unique and enriching contributions of the Public Works departments to the City of Bend. The work of art should resonate with both those working on campus and the public visiting, embodying meaning and relevance. It has the potential to convey significance, celebrate, and tell a story about:

•The work undertaken by Public Works departments, including the tools employed and specific tasks performed.

•The natural environment, topography, climate, and distinctive features of Central Oregon.

•The Native history of the location, the specific site, and its evolution over time.

By emphasizing equity in this artistic endeavor, we aim to create a piece that reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences related to the Public Works departments and the broader community.

The work of art shall be integrated into the overall design of the Public Works campus through:

•Materials, scale, language, intentionally contrasting or complementary

The work of art can be abstract, integrative, can change, be discoverable, can teach, and can employ a variety of materials, colors and integrate lighting.  ­­

Wall Placement, Materials and Lighting

One should be able to enjoy the work of art in the Public Works Headquarters during the day or evening, both from inside the lobby and on the terrace, and get glimpses of it from the main campus drop off or even from the public street.

The work of art will be mounted to/hung from concrete shear walls at both the first and third floor lobby spaces and from a metal stud-framed wall with a rusted metal panel finish at the terrace.  The work of art can encompass the entirety of the walls or take up a portion of the walls. The work of art could hang off the walls up to 6” or be mounted flush to the walls. The maximum weight is 15 pounds per square foot.

Main Floor Lobby: An approximately 17’x 25’ space with north and west facing windows, the work of art will be mounted to a west-facing concrete wall that spans 2-storys at approximately 30’ tall.  The wall itself is 9’ wide by 30’ tall and the work of art can encompass the entire wall or a portion of the wall.  The work of art will be viewed from the exterior drop off at the Headquarters building, in the main lobby and from the second-floor office spaces. 

Third Floor Lobby: An approximately 18’x 21’ space with west facing windows, the work of art will be mounted to a west-facing concrete wall that is approximately 14’ tall.  The wall itself is 9’ wide by 14’ tall and the work of art can encompass the entire wall or a portion of the wall. The work of art will be viewed from the exterior drop off at the Headquarters building, the third-floor lobby, and the terrace. The work of art should be a continuation of the work of art in the main floor lobby and on the terrace.

Third Floor Terrace: An approximately 17’x 29’ outdoor space that is covered, but opens to the south and to the west with views to the Three Sisters and Cascade mountains to the west, the work of art will be mounted to a west-facing exterior metal panel wall that is approximately 14’ tall.  The wall itself is 16’ wide by 14’ tall and the work of art can encompass the entire wall or a portion of the wall.  This work of art will be viewed from the exterior drop off at the Headquarters building, the third-floor lobby, the terrace and possibly from the northern entry to campus from the street.  The work of art should be a continuation of the art in the main floor lobby and the third-floor lobby.

The materials used for the terrace must be durable to weather and UV conditions in Oregon. The work of art should be one continuous idea that spans between the three walls. Therefore, the materials used for the terrace would likely be the same materials used on the two floors of the lobby. The Artist can propose a design element on the two lobby walls that doesn’t extend to the terrace while still being one fluid work of art.

Each Finalist will discuss proposed materials and protective finishes with our Conservator in advance of the Zoom meeting presenting their design renderings. Our Conservator will submit a preliminary report to the selection committee on the proposed materials. The Artist selected for the commission will work with our Conservator, the City of Bend and the architectural design team on any revisions to ensure the work of art is durable for an outdoor setting and materials selected are low maintenance.

Lighting for the work of art should be considered in the overall design proposal and will be coordinated with the architectural design team and lighting design team at Hennebery Eddy Architects. The current lighting includes wall-washing these areas to light the work of art. If the Finalist selected had a vision about how best to light the work of art the architectural design team could adjust the lighting design before installation of electrical and lighting. This would be an integrated process of working with the Finalist and the architectural and lighting design team.

Project Budgets

The maximum project budget for this commission is $185,000, including stamped engineering drawings, fabrication, subcontractors, installation, hanging hardware, delivery, insurance and travel expenses (not including initial site visit to Bend). Detailed technical specifications and renderings will be provided to all Finalists for the lobby and terrace. Only Finalists will submit an itemized budget for the proposed project.

The City of Bend dedicates one percent (1%) of the total eligible costs of certain improvement projects to the selection, fabrication, installation, ongoing maintenance, community education, and documentation of public art.

Project Timeline 

·         Call to Artists announced: January 29, 2024

·         Application Due: March 4, 2024

·         Notification of Finalists:  Late March 2024

·         Design Time and Site Visit to Bend: April- May 2024

·         Designer or Artist Presentation of Design Renderings via Zoom: Early June 2024

·         Public Input Display: Late June 2024

·         Commission Selection: Early July 2024

·         Design Team Meetings with Artist via Zoom: July-September 2024

·         Installation: Late Summer – Early Fall 2025

Selection Process

Phase 1: The Selection Committee consisting of representatives from Art in Public Places, City of Bend and local architecture and construction firms will select 2 Finalists. The stipend for travel and design time is $1,750. Finalists will use the stipend for a Site Visit to Bend early in the design phase to see the site and meet key players from the AiPP Committee and a separate meeting with City of Bend and Hennebery Eddy Architects.

Phase 2: Each of the 2 Finalists will present their design renderings to the Selection Committee via a 20- minute Zoom meeting. The overall proposal will include design renderings and a 3–4-minute PowerPoint or video presentation. Finalists will submit their design renderings in advance of the meeting. The Selection Committee will make their decision based on eligibility and the criteria described below. The Selection Committee may require additional drawings or information for their review including the conservation assessment. The design rendering will go on view in Bend for community public input and be reviewed during the final selection process.

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

Research indicates members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and apply only if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about public art and sharing your unique artistic vision, even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

•Six (6) digital images of completed past works of art or public art. Work examples must be from the last 12 years showcasing sculptures, murals, and installations. Artists are encouraged to include images of large-scale works of art in a lobby or terrace setting that they have fabricated for other projects. 

Two Page Upload Document (Letter of Interest and Image Identification with professional references)

1.  A statement that indicates your interest in the project and how you would approach the commission and a brief description of your artistic practice or graphic design background and the relationship of this opportunity with your past work over the last 15 years. Include contact information at the top of the page. (As a PDF file named with “last name. first name.pdf” (serra.richard.pdf)

2.  On the second page include detailed image information on the six (6) images uploaded on CAFE. For each image, include:

Title/Project Name, Medium, Dimensions.

Year completed, Budget/Design Fee.

Commissioning body/Client, Contact information and the Location (city/state).

Each image must have complete information as noted above. The commissioning body and contact information on the images will be reviewed as your professional references.

Artist Submission Requirements

AiPP and the City of Bend reserve the right to accept or reject any submittals and to alter or extend the selection process as needed. The two-page upload is a key document in the application process and must include a one-page letter of interest with the second page for the image identification with contact reference information. This format must be followed and titled as noted or your application will be incomplete. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Finalists Selected Based on the Following:

• Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style or experience in relation to the project setting.

• Artistic Merit as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in images.

• Two-Page Document Upload (Letter of Interest and Image Identification)

Our selection criteria will require the artists to demonstrate experience with public art/commercial projects, designing for materials suitable for public settings, site-specific design, and collaborating with other designers, artists, architects, engineers, fabricators and City government administrative staff.

Commission Award Based on the Following:

·         Consideration of public input

·         Design relevance

·         Interview

·         Skillset to coordinate for this type and scale of project

The selection committee will evaluate all submissions based on artistic excellence, innovation, interactivity, originality, and the overall design proposed to enliven this public space. The potential to create an impactful design for the public lobbies and terrace will score highly on our evaluation criteria. 

Award of Contract

Only the Artist that receives the Commission (if out-of-state and/or using a business name) will need to secure a Registered Agent (an official address in Oregon) and then register with the State of Oregon as a domestic or foreign entity (anyone outside Oregon) and provide a certificate of good standing from the State that you reside in. Oregon Artists must be registered in this state. This is standard practice for public entities and will be a necessary step and expense as we finalize the Commission Contract. The Finalists must also submit proof of $2 million in general liability insurance and other insurances as outlined in the contract.

Questions

Questions about the project may be directed to Marcelene Trujillo, AiPP Project Coordinator via email at artinpublicplacesbend@gmail.com. Assistance in using the CaFE system is available via email at helpcafe@westaf.org or by calling 303-629-1166.

Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities

To obtain this information in an alternate format such as Braille, large print, electronic formats, etc., please get in touch with City of Bend: Andres Portela at aportela@bendoregon.gov  or Cassandra Kehoe at ckehoe@bendoregon.gov [541-693-2141] . Relay Users Dial 7-1-1.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

Artists must reside in one of the following states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico or Texas.

Additionally, The City of Bend and AIPP are dedicated to nurturing, promoting, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage individuals from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ artists to apply. Furthermore, we value and support the participation of local artists in this initiative.