BoyntonArts, the City of Boynton Beach Public Art Program, seeks artists to apply to exhibit their outdoor artwork for the 7th Biennial Kinetic in Boynton Beach, Florida.  The exhibition provides the opportunity to present, sell and share explorations in kinetic art over a two-day weekend February 1-2, 2025.

The Biennial seeks works of visual, conceptual, participatory or experiential art where real motion, the illusion of motion or the feeling of motion are an essential attribute of the aesthetic content of the artwork. Artworks are for sale if requested by the artist.  The dialogue among attending artists and designers and with the public has proven to be valuable to many.  

NOTE:  Artists may apply for multiple opportunities including indoor and/or outdoor exhibitions or installations, video presentation and community engagement.  

Kinetic Art

The Kinetic Biennial maintains a very broad perspective on kinetic art, or rather kinetic energy in the art.  Real motion, the illusion of motion, and the feeling of motion must be an essential attribute of the aesthetic content of the artwork. 

The Kinetic Biennial, 2025

The 7th Kinetic Biennial is a free art exhibit and symposium of artists, designers and performers to engage the Boynton community and all of south Florida visitors in contemporary kinetic art.  The 7th Biennial demonstrates the interconnectedness of art and technology, and leverages human fascination with movement.

During the first weekend in February, outdoor kinetic artworks and turbines will be installed for an 18-month display in downtown Boynton Beach.  The February 1st opening weekend will include indoor art exhibitions, artist and designer talks, student displays, turbine demonstrations, light projections and choregraphed motion performances with community volunteers.   Live music, food trucks, artist booths and other activities will add the festive atmosphere. 

This exciting event is centrally located within the 1.5 million residents of Palm Beach County, BoyntonArts anticipates a larger weekend audience compared to the 6,000 at the 2023 Kinetic event.

See the appendix at the end for more information.

Outdoor Exhibition

The outdoor exhibition is held on the 6-acre municipal campus and ¼ mile Avenue of the Arts.  The campus includes City Hall, the City Library, Arts and Cultural Center, Schoolhouse Children’s Museum, permanent kinetic sculptures, playground areas, huge banyan and kapok trees with an amphitheater.  Eight (8) ground level and raised concrete bases have been constructed to provide support for temporary sculptures on the campus. Other landscaped areas, plaza and sidewalk locations can be made available.  Another 5 sculpture bases with 36 light poles with banners are ready on the Avenue of the Arts.    

A walking map brochure listing all artists with websites and images of artworks will be printed and provided to all visitors and available online. A GPS based app will assist visitors to learn additional detail about the artists and artworks.   

Primary publicity occurs through the Boynton Beach marketing office press contacts and a comprehensive social media campaign.  We recommend that all artists have a website and a Facebook / Instagram handle. 

Artwork is insured by the City of Boynton Beach for artist’s sale price or cost of restoration of the artwork for damage or theft while in the Boynton Beach facilities. Environmental damage from salt air, rain or wind is not insured.   

Selection Process

Via coordination by Craig Clark, Director of Recreation & Cultural Services, a selection panel will select the artists and artworks.  The artists will be presented to the Boynton Beach Art Advisory Committee for approval. 

Shipping

Artists will be reimbursed up to $1,000 for shipping costs after all receipts and mileage reports are provided.

All recreated work is dependent on the budget and cost of artwork materials. Once the Biennial is over each artist has 3 options for their work:

1.   Work can be donated to the City of Boynton Beach

2.   Work can be held for no longer than six (6) months for pick up

3.   Work can be destroyed at the written request of the artist

Artwork Sales

A major goal of the Kinetic Biennial is to support artists in the creation and distribution of their art around the world. To this end, the Kinetic Biennial can help facilitate the sale of artwork (with no guarantee of purchase) if the artist chooses to do so. A 10% fee is charged which covers the cost of processing checks and credit cards.

Schedule

Artist Applications Due                    September 15, 2024

Invitations Announced                            Oct 1, 2024

Artwork due in Boynton Beach  January 20-26, 2025

Kinetic Biennial Weekend           February 1& 2, 2025

Outdoor Art Removal                         August 1, 2026

On-Site

In general, BoyntonArts prefers that the artists attend the exhibition and participate in the dialogue; however, this is not mandatory.

Copyright

The artist grants the City rights to reproduce the images or recordings of the artworks or presentations for non-commercial and publicity purposes including posting on City websites and social media. 

Summary of Plan for Kinetic Biennial

1. Every two years, produce the Kinetic Biennial that discovers and presents the new directions in kinetic art during a festival weekend in downtown Boynton Beach.

2. Remain an international resource of the continuing legacy of 20th century kinetic sculpture powered by the wind, motors, gravity or humans, op art, abstract animation, or other artworks with the reality or illusion of motion.

3. Engage the Boynton adult and student community in interconnectedness of art and technology through kinetic art, industrial design and science.  

4. Expand the amount of permanent outdoor kinetic art as a unique, year-round arts attraction in Boynton Beach for the cultural tourist and regional art enthusiast.

5. Build additional cash and in-kind funding sources from local, national and international institutions, foundations, corporations, governments and individual donors. 

History of Kinetic Biennial

Kinetic Biennials held in 2013, 15, 17, 19, 21and 23

Between 2013 – 19, the event was known as the “International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium” and organized in conjunction with the Kinetic Art Organization (KAO)

Attendance

Note: 10,000 people counted entered the indoor exhibit in 2021 and 2023.

Application Requirements

1.   Submit a PDF of Cover Letter with brief artist statement, artist contact information, artist website and one social media address

2.   Submit a PDF of Resume

3.   Submit up to 5 artworks that the artist has available for loan

Optional:  Links to 3 Videos of 3 artworks

Eligibility Criteria

• Experienced professional artist/designer at least 18 years old.
• Comfortable signing the Boynton Beach outdoor loan agreement.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Members, immediate family members and business partners of the members of the Art Advisory Board.
• Members of any City of Boynton Beach advisory board or City Commission.
• Employees of the City of Boynton Beach.

Extra Consideration

• Artists with life experiences with the diverse ethnic and cultural communities of Florida including but not limited to African Americans, Caribbean Americans and Hispanic Americans.