Call Description

A Call for Art for the Horizon Drive District, Grand Junction, Colorado 

Project Background and Intent 

The City of Grand Junction is the regional center of Western Colorado because of its location, size, and amenities. The City and County boasts a strong cultural community and rich historical heritage. Horizon Drive is the major access into Grand Junction from Interstate 70, as well as the primary transportation corridor between the Regional Airport, the University, and Downtown.   

The Horizon Drive District (HDD), a Business Improvement District, and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture, an advisory board to GJ City Council, seek to commission artwork for the roundabout being constructed at the entrance to the District, the intersection of Horizon Drive and 27 ½ (G) Road. The artwork will be sited within the center island of the roundabout, which has a diameter of approximately 70 feet.  

Project Description 

The Grand Valley is a destination that calls to outdoor adventurers. Hiking, skiing, biking, fishing, rock climbing, camping and more are part of the local lifestyle. “Outdoor recreation” has been chosen as the theme for the artwork to decorate the newest roundabout in the Horizon Drive District. In addition, the artwork should complement both I-70 Gateway installations, Wild Horses of Western Colorado, east of Horizon Drive and G Road. 

Composition 

The design of all parts of the sculpture should be very durable, require minimal maintenance, and be resistant to theft, vandalism, and weathering. They should not cause any kind of safety hazard for traffic or pedestrians. The art should adhere to the highest standards of quality, timelessness, permanence, and general appeal. 

Works in a variety of media and forms will be considered.  Examples of media include, but are not limited to metal, stone, and fiberglass. Although the HDD and GJCAC do not endorse any restrictions on any particular artistic content, the project’s Artist Selection Panel will consider that thousands of visitors and residents will see the artwork(s) on a daily basis when making decisions. 

The artwork(s) should: 

• Provide excitement and interest for visitors and residents of the community;
• Reinforce the strength and individuality of the people of this western community;
• Blend the cultural heritage of the past with a modern acumen for the future;
• Be distinctive, dynamic, unique, contemporary, and larger-than-life;
• Be creative, whimsical, and push boundaries
• Create a lasting image that ‘brands’ the Horizon Drive Corridor with the artwork

Location of Artwork 

Horizon Drive is a multi-modal transportation corridor and artwork will be viewed from vehicles, buses, bicycles, and by pedestrians. Therefore, there is a strong desire that the artwork is durable, and that it will NOT invite nor challenge pedestrians to climb on it. 

The artwork must be of appropriate materials (outdoor setting) and scale to the setting (currently estimated between 1.5X and 2X life size). 

Eligibility 

The project is open to all artists, age 21 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. Preference points may be given to local Colorado artists. 

Artists must be able to show images of original creations similar in size and theme to this project. Selection will be based on past artwork experience, style, concept, ability to comply with the timeline, and references. 

Budget 

The budget is $100,000 from the 1% for the Arts and HDD. The budget includes all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: artist’s design fee, travel, materials, fabrication costs, insurance, documentation, and transportation and installation of the work. 

Timeline 

• October 4, 2024 - Deadline for applications
• October 5-23, 2024 - Artist Selection Panel will review applications
• October 25, 2024 – Artists notified
• July 2025 - Artwork installed on Horizon Drive
• The Horizon Drive District reserves the right to change the project timeline.

Selection Process 

The selection panel will consist of representatives from the City of Grand Junction Public Works Department, the Horizon Drive District, and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture. 

The committee will review all artist submissions and make their selection from the initial submissions. 

Application Requirements

Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following:

Letter of Interest - not to exceed 1 page. A letter explaining interest in the project and including pertinent information about the artist’s/team’s approach and projects of a similar nature.  

Resume - not to exceed two pages listing professional artistic accomplishments, contact information, education or other relevant information, and current contact information for at least two references.  

Proposal - A one-page description of how you would approach this project. Include drawings, materials, dimensions, and a proposed budget.  

Images of Original Representative Work - not to exceed 10 images. All images must be .JPG or .JPEG files. Images must not be larger than 1024 x 768 pixels and no larger than 1mb. Each image file name must be formatted as follows: number corresponding to the number on the image list (e.g. 01.title.jpg or 01.title.jpeg).  

Annotated Image List – Each image must include the artist’s name and a brief description of each image stating its title, medium, size, location, and purchase price or commissioned price. 

Unless otherwise noted, all other files must be in .PDF format (e.g. name.letter.pdf, name.resume.pdf, name.proposal.pdf, name.imagelist.pdf, etc.).  

Eligibility Criteria

The project is open to all artists, age 21 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. Preference points may be given to local Colorado artists. 

Artists must be able to show images of original creations similar in size and theme to this project. Selection will be based on past artwork experience, style, concept, ability to comply with the timeline, and references.