Application Closed
Number of Applications Allowed: 2
Images | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 6
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 6
Eligibility: National
State: Alaska
Event Dates: 0/0/00 - 0/0/00
MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE
Request for Proposals
AWWU Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility / Ship Creek Trail
1% for Art / Public Art Program / Public Works
PO Box 196650
Anchorage, AK 99519-6650
(907) 343-6473
Project: AWWU Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility / Ship Creek Trail
Deadline for Entries: July 23, 2021 11:59 PM MST
Contact: Curator of Public Art, 1% for Art, (907) 343-6473
Amount of Commission: $80,000
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 the Ship Creek Trail as part of the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility construction in Anchorage, Alaska.
Project Information
The Ship Creek Water Treatment facility construction was completed 2020. The 1% for Art funding allocation has been directed to the designated location on the Ship Creep trail. The installation of artwork will be coordinated with the Curator of Public Art and the Department of Parks & Recreation.
Site Description
The art selection jury intends to commission one art installation totaling $80,000 to be permanently installed along the Ship Creek trail. The designated area of the trail for a public art installation is located in a light industrial area where the trail passes over both Ship Creek and the Alaska Railroad train tracks. The Ship Creek trail connects Downtown Anchorage to the Mountain View Community and contributes to one of the best urban trail systems in the United States, the 32 mile long “Moose Loop.”
A past addition to the Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility added public artwork to the facility, “Coriolis”, a suspended glass bead sculpture by Jeanne Leffingwell in 1987. The Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility has directed this public art project to the Ship Creek trail in order to better reach the public and connect the natural resource to its every day use and stewardship.
More information on the Ship Creek Water Treatment Facility can be found at the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/va2soijis7ybgds/AABYU9V1ycKMV5h9yw4d_58aa?dl=0
Location
Retaining wall (Option 1) and/or Landscaped area (Option 2): $80,000
The art selection jury has identified two locations suitable for the installation of artwork. Artwork can be proposed for either location, or a combination of both. If there is interest in submitting a proposal for both options, or a combination thereof, a separate proposal application must be submitted for each.
The jury would like to see proposals that are visible not only to trail users, but will also be visible to trains passing by on the Alaska Railroad train tracks, which are located approximately 100 feet south of the trail. A satellite map and on-trail reference images can be found at the following link:
Please see attachments for site pictures with dimensions overlaid for reference. (*Note all dimensions are approximate)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/54enlpgmaeqcdl2/AACi85h2L_FMd-naD3p9QRTQa?dl=0
Option 1: Retaining wall
The trail retaining wall, designated as Option 1, is made up of cast concrete, approximately 6’W x 5’H each. The available area for artwork on the retaining wall is approximately 171’ long and 24’ tall at the highest point. Ideal proposals for this location include murals painted directly onto the retaining wall, attached floating surfaces to support 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional artwork, or attached sculptural artwork. Proposals that incorporate detailed painted mural work should consider a floated surface. The brick retaining wall surface is a rough texture and not ideal for detailed rendering. Proposals for painted murals should incorporate an anti-graffiti, protective coating.
Option 2: Landscaping
The landscaped area, designated as Option 2, is contained within the interior boundaries of the trail fencing as it loops above before crossing both the creek and the train tracks. This vegetative buffer consists of an unmanicured landscape of native and non-native plants; trees, shrubs, and grasses. This area grades upward toward the bridge as it wraps around the retaining wall. The wrap-around trail and elevation change offers viewers the opportunity to walk around the installation site, providing a viewing angle of nearly 360 degrees as well as a shift in vantage point from eye-level to top-down with an elevation change of approximately 24 feet. There is a watershed drainage point at the base of the grade.
Artists or artist teams may apply.
Themes
The art selection jury is seeking artwork that reflects the themes of environmental stewardship, sustainability, and showing that piped, clean water impacts all people regardless of race and economic disparity; connecting the mountains from which we get pristine water to the ocean we protect. Within the context of the themes outlined, there is a preference to see artwork that acknowledges indigenous values associated with use of the land and its stewardship. The jury is interested in seeing 2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional artwork on the retaining wall structure, sculptural work in the landscaped area, or a combination of both options.
Ship Creek, emanating from snowpack melt from the Chugach Mountain Range, is one of Anchorage’s vital public water sources.
Requirements
There are no restrictions on style or the design of the artwork, but the proposal must provide assurance 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 structure. This is an earthquake area and needs to meet standards in the IBC 2009 building code 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 the artwork is $80,000. This includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalogue documentation and an identifying plaque. Any permitting, or engineer fees must be paid by artist. Any structural or engineer fees for approved structure modifications, must be paid by artist. State and municipal 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:
- Artistic Merit as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in images.
- Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style and previous experience in relation to the project goals and setting.
- 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 municipal government, design agencies, and art selection juries.
- Artists must have good communication skills and be able to work with diverse community members.
- 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 from your artist portfolio 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
John Wellborn is the Foreman at the Ship Creek Water Treatment facility and represents the user facility; Josh Satterfield is a Civil Engineer for the construction renovation at the facility; Melinda Tsu is a Project Manager representing the Municipality of Anchorage; Craig Lyon is a Transportation Planning Manager representing the Municipality of Anchorage; Donna Mears is a Civil Engineer and Northeast Anchorage Community Council representative; Maria Benner is a Business Manager and community representative; Chris Judd is an independent visual artist. Gideon Gerlt is the Curator of Public Art and Todd Carroll represents Project Management for the Anchorage Water & 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
Application Requirements
There are no restrictions on style or the design of the artwork, but the proposal must provide assurance the artwork will be durable and routine maintenance requirements must be minimal.
Eligibility Criteria
Must live in Anchorage