Application Closed
Number of Applications Allowed: 2
Eligibility: National
State: Alaska
Project: Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Facility, Process Building
Deadline for Entries: January 25, 2021 11:59 PM MST
Contact: Curator of Public Art, Public Art Program, (907) 343-6473
Amount of Commission: $107,000 total; $82,000 Location 1, $25,000 location 2
Eligibility: National Call
Code
In accordance with Municipal Code 7.40, the Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualified artists to create artwork for Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility Treatment Facility in Eagle River, Alaska.
Project construction was substantially completed Feb 28, 2019.The installation of artwork will be coordinated with the Curator of Public Art and facilities.
Site Description
The art selection jury intends to commission two complementary installations totaling $107,000 to be permanently installed at two different locations near the exterior main entry to the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Facility (ERWWTF). The wastewater treatment facility is one of three throughout the Anchorage Municipality. The wastewater from this facility is returned to Eagle River, which flows from the Chugach Mountain range to Cook Inlet. The high level of treatment protects the environment and wildlife downstream of the treatment plant
Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Facility is located at 15524 Artillery Rd., Eagle River, AK 99577
There are no existing 1% for Public Art pieces at this facility.
Location 1:
Exterior Entryway Landscaping: $82,000
The jury is interested in seeing sculptural proposals for location 1 that utilize the landscaped areas near the main entry to the facility. There are five separate landscaped areas near the entry. These locations are identified as “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, and “E” on the provided location identification sheets. Proposals can utilize one, or all locations as is appropriate to the submitted concept. The jury described their interest in art for location 1 as a mini “educational art park” that can be utilized to assist in facility tours.
The facility’s main entry is composed of landscaping on the east and west sides near parking and the garage doors, and a central “island” which includes facility signage, a flagpole, and lighting. Please note that existing landscaping can be modified or replaced to accommodate proposals, with jury approval. All costs associated with landscape modification shall be the artist’s responsibility. The garage doors (Location 2), on the west side of the main entrance, fall within sightlines of entry landscaping allowing artwork from the two locations to visually engage with the viewer from multiple angles. Satellite images, site plans, and site pictures are located in the dropbox link below for reference. Please note that the site plans identify underground utility locations that will need to be considered when determining the final placement of artwork. *Note all dimensions are approximate and utility locations may vary from site plans.
Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dspwm93ava1bsxk/AACFGGn3fsNfcGaUMxDpVY4Pa?dl=0
Location 2:
Garage Doors: $25,000
The jury would like to see mural proposals for location 2 on the facility’s garage doors. There are no limitations on the type of media that can be proposed so long as the artwork does not hinder the function of the roll-up style garage doors and can be expected to last the life of the building with regular upkeep. The garage doors, to the right of the main entrance, fall within sightlines of entry landscaping (Location 1) allowing artwork from the two locations to visually engage with the viewer from multiple angles. Satellite images, site plans, and site pictures are located in the dropbox link below for reference. Please note that the site plans identify underground utility locations that will need to be considered when determining the final placement of artwork. *Note all dimensions are approximate.
Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jvheq0h5t7ksdsz/AADKuhNNcN-AVCf9RzwOt476a?dl=0
Artists or artist teams may apply for one or both locations.
Themes
The art selection committee is interested in seeing artwork that will educate and inspire the public to learn more about the process of wastewater treatment. Specific topics of interest to explore include, but are not limited to: representations of the hydrological cycle, seasonal and life cycles, and representations of microorganisms involved in the treatment process. The following is list of pertinent microorganisms: Free-swimming ciliates, Flagellates, Amoeboids, Stalked ciliates, Rotifers, Tardigrades, Nematodes, and Bacteria.
Treatment at the Highest Standards
The ERWWTF treats the wastewater from the community of Eagle River, with a collection area spanning north to Fire Lake, south to Eagle River Loop Road and east onto the hillside. AWWU's Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Facility is a modern, tertiary (three stage) treatment plants with effluent discharge into Eagle River that is near drinking water quality. Following organic and suspended material removal from the wastewater, the treated effluent is disinfected with UV radiation, inactivating pathogenic organisms that could be harmful to aquatic wildlife, before discharge into Eagle River. Extensive environmental monitoring – especially in Cook Inlet – demonstrates the success of AWWU’s operations and underscores the commitment of their professional workforce.
The Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Plant was expanded in 1991 and in 1995 received the Environmental Protection Agency's Medium Plant of the Year award for the Pacific Northwest/Alaska Region. ERWWTF facility has been accorded honors from the National Association Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for effective operations that meet or exceed the requirements of state and federal permitting.
Facility information:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zwye3qgwiq0wwo2/AWWU%20ERWWTF%20%20Background%20Information.pdf?dl=0
History of water treatment in Anchorage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGK-7yoy9gc
Requirements
There are no restrictions on style or the design of the artwork, but the proposal must provide assurance that the artwork will be durable and routine maintenance requirements must be minimal. Also, surplus materials (2%) will be required for future maintenance needs, if appropriate. The installation must be permanent and must be designed to last the life of the building. This is an earthquake area and needs to meet standards in applicable building codes as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. Sculptures taller than 6’ must be engineered and permitted through the MOA system set up for works of art.
Budget
The total budget for artwork during this renovation is $107,000 broken into two project locations: $82,000 for location 1, and $25,000 for location 2. This includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, landscaping, photographic documentation, catalog documentation and an identifying plaque. Any permitting, or engineer fees required for sculptures taller than 6’ must be paid by artist. Any structural or engineer fees for approved structure modifications, must be paid by artist. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply.
Selection Criteria:
Artists will be selected to develop proposals with the project team based on:
1. Artistic Merit as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in images.
2. Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style and previous experience in relation to the project goals and setting.
3. Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope including familiarity with the public art process, the public review approval process, and/or collaboration with high schools, and design agencies; and art selection juries.
4. Artists must have good communication skills and be able to work with diverse community members.
5. Diversity of artists and media reflects the overall program goals to strive for diversity in style, scale, media and artists in new and traditional art forms. Artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered. Artists with strong bodies of work, with little public art background are encouraged to apply and will be given equal consideration.
Artists are required to submit the following items:
1. Six digital images of past work should be loaded into CaFE (callforentry.org) following the guidelines on that site.
2. Each image should be identified with title, materials, dimensions, and value.
3. Current 1-2 page resume, including 3 professional references.
4. Your artist statement should include a description of why you are interested or particularly qualified for this project. It should also address any experience or work sample deficiencies in relation to your chosen medium.
5. A brief conceptual proposal which identifies location, medium, and thematic relevance.
ART SELECTION JURY
The Eagle River Wastewater Treatment Facility is represented by Superintendent Clifford Fletcher. Project Engineer Aimee Rathbun represents the design seat. Senior Planner, Collin Hodges and Land Management Officer, Shelley Rowton represent the Municipality of Anchorage. Real Estate Agent Kelly Willet represents the Eagle River community and Tom Turner and Matthew Michaelis sit as artist and community representatives for this art selection jury. Gideon Gerlt is the Curator of Public Art and Todd Carroll represents Project Management for the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility.
Additional Information
Requests for additional information may be directed to the Curator of Public Art, at Municipality of Anchorage at the Department of Public Works. The telephone number is (907) 343-6473; the FAX number is (907) 249-7567. The 1% for Art program for the Municipality of Anchorage has a web at:
https://www.muni.org/Departments/Public_Works_Administration/PublicArt/Pages/default.aspx