Call Description

The Hobe Sound Public Library, located within the Hobe Sound Community Redevelopment Area, has recently been renovated through the generosity of a local donor. To celebrate these enhancements, the library seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create a vibrant mural that highlights the joy of reading and the library's unique natural surroundings.

The mural should illustrate Florida's scrub environment, incorporating native plants such as Sand Pine, Oaks, Saw Palmetto, and Rosemary, as well as local wildlife including gopher tortoises, snakes, lizards, and various birds. Additional scrub inhabitants like black bears, white-tailed deer, skunks, bobcats, and squirrels may also be included.

Design concepts include:

• Interactive Scene: Children reading on a bench, tree stump, or the ground, surrounded by curious animals such as a gopher tortoise emerging from its burrow.
• Library Adventure: A little free library situated by a nature trail with animals engaging with books—tortoises carrying books on their backs, birds transporting books, and bears with backpacks filled with book titles.

The mural should cover at least 900 to 1,000 square feet of area, using colors that reflect the natural beauty of the plants and animals—greens, browns, blues, and reds—with additional accents of yellow, white, purple, and pink for butterflies and wildflowers. Please avoid the use of invasive species or an excessive focus on any single type of animal. The objective is to create a mural that captures the essence of Florida's scrub ecosystem while revealing new details with each viewing.

In conjunction with the mural, the library has purchased two artistic book shaped benches to be placed in the vicinity, offering an enhanced experience for library visitors, and further complementing the mural’s theme.

COMMUNITY OVERVIEW:

Hobe Sound, located in southeastern Martin County, is a charming community known for its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, rich history, and status as one of the county's most environmentally sensitive areas. This coastal gem offers a blend of natural beauty and small-town warmth, making it an idyllic place to live, work, and visit. Hobe Sound boasts an array of outdoor activities, from hiking in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, to enjoying the serene waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Its vibrant local arts scene, unique shops, and inviting eateries add to the community's allure.

Historically, Hobe Sound's roots trace back to the indigenous Jove (Hoe-Bay) Indians, and it was named after this native tribe. The town flourished during the early 20th century with the development of the Hobe Sound Railway and the Jupiter Island Club, attracting notable visitors and residents. Today, Hobe Sound embraces its rich past while looking to the future, with ongoing efforts to preserve its natural habitats and promote sustainable growth. The community's dedication to maintaining its unique character and environmental treasures ensures that Hobe Sound remains a special place for future generations.

Martin County is celebrated for its natural beauty, from its coastline where sea turtles’ nest to its wild and scenic rivers filled with tropical flora and fauna. Preservation and appreciation of this natural splendor are important to residents and visitors alike. The county seat is Stuart, and the population is approximately 162,000.

ABOUT MARTIN COUNTY ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM:

Launched in 1997, Art in Public Places, a Martin County Board of County Commissioners program, serves the community by acquiring works of art sponsored by the County to promote the spiritual, intellectual, and aesthetic enrichment of Martin County through public art. For additional information, please see Chapter 13, General Ordinances, Martin County Code, Art in Public Places, Ordinance No. 1103.

RELATED DEPARTMENT:

Founded in 1957, the Martin County Library System includes six library locations, an online library, and outreach services to childcare centers and local organizations. The Library engages residents in-person, online, by phone, and through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. As of 2024, the Library operates with a budget of approximately $4.9 million and employs 52 full-time equivalent staff members. Over 59% of residents hold Library cards, and around 13,000 people visit its six locations each week. The Library Foundation and Friends members support the Library with their time, voices, and generous financial contributions. Volunteers donate over 18,000 hours annually, assisting with tasks such as shelving books and running bookstores. The Library actively seeks partnerships with individuals and organizations across Martin County, including the Children’s Services Council, United Way, Martin County School District, colleges, and museums. These partnerships often bring experts to share their knowledge and skills through Library classes and workshops.

ANTICIPATED ART PROJECT SCHEDULE:

• Call Opens: October 1, 2025
• Call Closes: November 14, 2025
• PAAC Artwork Selection: November 24, 2025
• BOCC Artwork Approval: December 2, 2025
• Target Completion Date: January 30, 2026

ART PROJECT BUDGET:

The project budget is not to exceed $10,000 (ten thousand dollars). This artwork budget will reflect all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to such items as: design and site plan, production, transport, materials, installation, site preparation, travel expenses, and required insurance.

ARTIST SERVICES:

• Detailed design proposal including renderings of the proposed design.
• Detailed budget breakdown outlining all anticipated costs associated with the proposed artwork, including but not limited to materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, artist fees, required insurance, etc..
• Coordination with the Public Art Advisory Committee and County staff.
• Installation.
• Photographic documentation.
• Maintenance plan.

Application Requirements

Artists who wish to be considered for this project must submit the materials described below. Incomplete or illegible submissions will not be considered.

The following documents are REQUIRED:

• Statement of interest of no more than one (1) page that should address the artist or artist team’s interest in developing a public art proposal for this specific commission and provide context to the conceptual and aesthetic approach, highlighting prior artworks, projects, or commissions of a similar scale.
• A current professional resume of no more than two (2) pages for each submitting artist emphasizing public art experience and public commissions (if any).
• A minimum of one (1) and maximum of three (3) renderings of the proposed designs in full color as they will appear in the final product. The images shall be in JPG, PNG, 300dpi, 5MB max. Image files must be properly labeled each with artist’s last name and a number (1-3) assigned per image list. (e.g.: smith_1.jpg, smith_2.jpg).
• A detailed budget breakdown outlining all anticipated costs associated with the proposed artwork, including but not limited to materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, artist fees, required insurance, etc.
• Disclosure statement regarding any professional or personal relationship with any Martin County official, employee, or Public Art Advisory Committee member.

Eligibility Criteria

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY:

The project is open to all professional artists in the region as defined in the Art in Public Places Ordinance No. 1103, Chapter 13, General Ordinances, Martin County Code. Experience implementing their ideas and work in the public realm and with public agencies is a plus. The Martin County Art in Public Places program encourages artists from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The Public Art Advisory Committee shall consider the following criteria:

• The appropriateness of the work to the site, permanence of the work relative to environmental conditions, maintenance requirements and costs, and the enduring nature of the artistic statement.
• The sensitivity of the work to the aesthetic and cultural traditions and the history of Martin County, Florida and to the surrounding neighborhood's character.
• The artist's statement and resume, technical competency, similarity to existing works of art and the following basics: form, texture, color, clarity, line and medium.
• History of the artists’ public art experience, public commissions especially projects of a similar scale.