Call Description

Description

NatureCulture is a rotating exhibition series that invites artists to create site-responsive installations in parks across the City of Napa. Named for the term coined by Donna Haraway, these exhibitions investigate the interplay between ecology and art and promote new ways of seeing and being with both.

NatureCulture: Art in the Open is the inaugural edition and responds to the riverside ecology of the Oxbow Preserve. Installations may take the form of sculpture or what has historically been called land-art or environmental art. Artworks may be designed to change over time but should be created to exist outside for 2 years with minimal maintenance. Selected artists will receive $1000 honoraria, to be shared if applying as a group, and a production budget of $2,000 (Tier 1), $3,000 (Tier 2), or $5,000 (Tier 3). This opportunity is open to artists and artist teams living regionally in the Bay Area. 

Site Overview

Napa has a rich cultural heritage, which began with the inhabitation by Native Americans of the Patwin, Miwok, and Wappo people along the Napa River over 10,000 years ago. Mexican invasion of the area began in the 1820s and early American invasion started between 1846 to 1849. At different points in history, dominant industries were cattle ranching (1830s), gold mining (1850s), and agriculture, including prunes and wine (1880s-present). These industries flourished due to early transportation and commercial infrastructure along the Napa River and the Napa Valley railroad (1868). This infrastructure also helped to establish the City as an early convening of many cultures, notably Chinese, Mexican, German, and Italian.

Due to the abundant natural resources in Napa Valley, the Wappo inhabitation is one of the longest indigenous inhabited regions in California. It is important to acknowledge the land on which this public art will be located and the City of Napa recognizes the tribal nations who first lived in the Napa area and believes it is important to preserve their history, identity and culture as part of the Napa community. 

The City of Napa acquired 12.7 acres of land known as the Oxbow Preserve in March 2004 with assistance from Friends of the Napa River, the Trust for Public Land, grants from the Department of Water Resources Urban Streams Program and Resources Agency Proposition 40 River Parkways Program. These grants were given primarily for the restoration of existing riparian and wetland habitat.

The Oxbow Preserve was created based on the fundamental understanding of the existing physical and biological functions of the site and its relation to the Napa River. The Site Map highlights Character Zones, which reflect the existing conditions of each part of the Preserve. These character zones are described below. Artworks will be located within zones 1, 2, 3, and 5 (see site plan).

Goals

• Create exciting, appealing and harmonious public environments by integrating outdoor art into public spaces;
• Uplift new voices and perspectives on nature and climate issues through creative experiences and expressions;
• Promote public participation and interaction with artists and artwork; and
• Encourage use and appreciation of Napa’s park system

Selection Criteria and Process

• Complete application submitted prior to the application deadline;
• Interest in the project and ability to create work that is unique to the site;
• Quality of portfolio that is directly related to this public art specialization;
• Ability to attend multiple meetings during the course of the project, both in person and/or virtual;
• Proven ability to deliver the project requirements on time and budget;
• This project is to comply with the City of Napa’s goals stated in the City’s Public Art Master Plan.
• Artwork examples submitted represent the artist’s own original creative work
• Availability to participate in the design, approval, and implementation of the project as required

Artists will be asked to apply for one of three ‘Tiers’. These ‘Tiers’ are intended to encourage submissions from artists across a range of experience levels and art practices. Production budgets are intended to be used for all costs related to fabrication, transportation, installation, deinstallation and other expenses. Selected artists will additionally receive a $1,000 honorarium.

Artist submissions will be accepted online only via CaFÉ. There is no cost to sign up for CaFÉ or respond to this call. The submittals will be screened for responsiveness to the Selection Criteria, submittals that do not respond to the criteria will be eliminated from consideration. The City may require follow-up information from the artist regarding the submittal before a final selection can be made.

The Art Selection Panel, made up of professionals from fields of art, design, and sustainability will review the submissions and recommend 2-3 artists or artist teams for each ‘Tier’ to create site-specific proposals.

Selected artists must be available to collaborate with City representatives and attend multiple meetings during the course of the project, both in person and/or virtual. Commissioned teams will be required to designate a lead artist for City contracting purposes.

Artist Responsibilities

Artists will be responsible for delivering and installing the selected artwork to the site by Spring 2027 and deinstalling by Spring 2029, by appointment, to be coordinated with the City of Napa. Although the artist will be the primary installer and will direct the installation, the City of Napa will provide staff for installation assistance and equipment (if needed) in accordance with the artist’s Art Installation Plan. Artists must provide any and all hardware that is required for the installation, including bolts, brackets, hammer drills, cleaning brushes, etc. Artists will be responsible to pick up their artwork within 30 days of the exhibition’s closing date, to be coordinated with the City. Although the artist is the primary de-installer during de-installation, the City of Napa will provide staff assistance and equipment to de-install artworks if required.

Selected artists must enter into an agreement with the City of Napa. Artists are encouraged to carry insurance to cover potential damage to their artwork.  

Artworks must be structurally safe for the general public, including children. Artworks must be extremely durable in outdoor conditions and low maintenance for the period of the exhibition. Beyond regularly scheduled maintenance by the artist, the City may contact the artist to inform him or her that the artwork is in need of maintenance. In that case, the artist -- or his or her designated representative -- must tend to the artwork within two weeks of receiving notice. If the artist does not respond to the City’s request within the specified time frame, the City may take actions as appropriate and necessary to clean, repair or remove the artwork in order to prevent damage from occurring. If damage to an artwork causes a public safety concern or is a continuing attractive public nuisance that results in undue maintenance calls, the City reserves the right to remove the artwork. The artist will be notified in advance if this type of action becomes necessary.

Application Requirements

Complete submissions must include the following:

1.     Letter of Interest

A letter stating the artist’s interest in the project and how you would approach the project.

2.     Images

Artists may submit between 1- 20 images maximum. Images should accurately represent the artwork size.  Do not submit a unique proposal for this call.

3.     Image list & Description

For each artwork submitted, please provide a short description (up to 5 sentences) of the piece and any aspects of the work that may not be obvious in the images, or any other relevant information.

Artists should provide an image list including the following for each artwork:

• Title
• Date of Completion
• Medium (Please Be Specific)
• Dimensions (Height X Width X Depth)

4.     Resume

A resume outlining the applicant’s experience, qualifications and the experience of key team members (if applicable).

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be currently living or working in one of the nine Bay Area counties. They must be at least 18 years of age. Incomplete Submissions will not be considered.