Project Description 

Gatton Park seeks experienced artists to paint a mural on the outer four walls of an RJ Corman vintage boxcar that is approximately 1,725 square feet and will serve as the primary outdoor structure for the park’s food and beverage services. Donated by the R.J. Corman Railroad Group and reimagined by nationally renowned design firm, NOMI, this 53x13 ft. boxcar will offer a variety of seasonal grab-and-go, quick serve hot and cold food and drink items for park visitors. More information will be shared with the qualifying finalists. There is no application fee to enter. 

Gatton Park on the Town Branch is a land-reuse project transforming an 11-acre asphalt parking lot adjacent to the Central Bank Center into a signature green space that will serve as Lexington’s version of Central Park. The park is under construction and anticipated to publicly open Fall of 2025, with a projected 1,000,000 annual visitors.

Project Budget

The project budget is $55,000 - $60,000. The budget includes the artist's fee, research, execution, insurance, taxes, site preparation, equipment rental, a final application of a UV and graffiti resistant protective coat, and all other materials required to complete the project. Finalists will be paid an additional $1,000 upon delivery of a complete site-specific proposal including composition, concept statement, and process outlining budget and timeline for completion. An additional travel stipend up to $700 will be provided to finalists who choose to conduct a site visit during the finalist design proposals.

Project Details

Gatton Park on the Town Branch is a private, nonprofit organization.

Location: Gatton Park on the Town Branch, 795 Manchester St. Lexington, KY 40508. The exact location will be behind the Gatton Park amphitheater, located in the cafe plaza.

Physical scale: To be determined by artist and should be site-specific and scaled with sensitivity to the historic landscape. All four sides of the boxcar are to be painted with the exception of a door or window. However, the front and left side of the boxcar will be the public-facing surfaces and will have the most detailed design. The back and right side of the boxcar may have minimal design while still having a cohesive color scheme and theme. 

Media: The artwork will be outdoors and should have a physical presence on the site.

Project Site

The selected site is a train boxcar that measures approximately 1,725 square feet and is situated behind the park’s amphitheater, located in the cafe plaza. Concept development will be addressed with finalists during the proposal stage. Please refer to the site map link to view the recommended location of the artwork.

Timeline

RFQ Open Applications: November 13 - January 6, 2025
Deadline for Artist Qualifications: January 6, 2025
Finalists Notified: Early February 2025
Finalists Proposals Due: April 2025
Finalist Selected and Notified: May 2025
Artwork Installation: Spring/Summer 2025
Unveiling: Fall 2025

Application Requirements

Apply online through http://www.callforentry.org

• A one-page artist statement describing public art experience and interest in the project.
• A current resume.
• Up to 6 digital images or a combination of images and video of past public artwork with description of size, media, budget, year completed, location. Please indicate which works were painted on rugged, uneven, or textured surfaces.

(Incomplete Submissions will not be accepted)

For more information, please contact Erica Cook at (859) 281-8420 or erica@gattonpark.org.   

Eligibility Criteria

Regional Definition: 

Artists who reside in states bordering Kentucky are invited to apply. West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Preference will be given to Kentucky-based artists. 

We are committed to a policy of providing opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical disability. Artist or team of artists must be able to legally work in the United States and be at least 18 years of age.

Selection Process

The submitted qualifications will be reviewed by a selection committee. The committee will identify the finalists. The selected finalists will have the opportunity to visit the site, meet with Gatton Park Staff, and learn more about the specific design requirements for the mural. Finalists will be paid $1,000 upon delivery of a complete site-specific proposal including composition, concept statement, and process outlining budget and timeline for completion. An additional travel stipend up to $700 will be provided to finalists who choose to conduct a site visit during the design phase. A review of the final design will be conducted by the selection committee. One artist or artist team will be selected to realize their proposal.

Critical Selection Factors

• Artistic distinction
• Experience creating high-quality large scale public murals
• Experience creating high-quality large scale public murals with an emphasis on painting on rugged, uneven, or textured surfaces
• Low maintenance, durability
• Contextual integration into Gatton Park

The strength of the submitted images of past artworks demonstrating the ability of the artist(s) to complete similar or related projects will be considered critical selection factors. In addition, the Committee is interested in a wide variety of creative solutions to the challenges of outdoor public artwork.

Request for Proposals: Site-specific proposals by the chosen finalists

Successful proposals will be expected to provide:

• A written document expressing the conceptual framework and artistic point of view that will guide development of the project.
• One or more drawings of the proposed work of art.
• A timeline and budget (not to exceed $60,000) for production and installation.
• A detailed list of materials and construction requirements, with attention to issues of durability, maintenance, and public safety.