 City of Seattle – West Seattle and Maple Leaf Reservoir Art Projects BACK TO PARTICIPATING CALLS CONTACT EVENT |
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REQUIREMENTS: Images: 16 INTRODUCTION The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), seeks two artists for public art projects – one for Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and one for West Seattle Reservoir at Westcrest Park. Two artists will be selected from the same pool of applicants and each will be assigned to one of the two parks projects. SCOPE OF WORK The artist selected for each project will work closely with the park design team and develop an artist-designed environment or installation for either the Maple Leaf or West Seattle park. The artist will create an engaging area that is integrated into the park design and enhances the experience of using the park. Projects that frame an experience, promote discovery and/or define a space or activity within the park are desired. The artist for each project will consider the character of the surrounding neighborhood and respond to the park’s specific design and patterns of use. The presence and history of water at the sites may also inform the artwork design. The city is committed to excellence in environmental stewardship and in sustainable building practices. Artists whose work addresses issues of sustainability and “green” design are encouraged to apply. Both Maple Leaf and West Seattle reservoir parks are directly adjacent to other parks. The artworks commissioned for these projects must be located within the perimeter of the newly developed section of the parks. Due to security issues and unique physical conditions around the covered reservoirs, the artists will need to coordinate closely with Parks and SPU staff during design and installation of the artworks to ensure the artworks meet site requirements. Two artists will be selected from the same pool of applicants and each will be assigned to one of the two parks projects. Artists submitting applications cannot select one of the parks for which to apply. The general scope of work for both projects is the same, but the two reservoir park projects are in different neighborhoods and will have different park designers. The artists will work with Parks, SPU, and design consultants under the supervision of the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. The timeline for artwork development will follow the design and construction schedule of the park projects. BACKGROUND Parks and Green Spaces Levy The development of the Maple Leaf and West Seattle reservoir parks is funded through the Parks and Green Spaces Levy. The Parks and Green Spaces Levy is a six-year levy approved by Seattle voters in November 2008. The Levy provides $146 million for the land acquisition, community-initiated parks projects, and projects to create new parks and improve existing ones. Parks development projects include improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, forest and stream restoration, community gardens and renovated playgrounds throughout Seattle. The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy follows the successful Pro Parks Levy, which funded park expansion and improvement from 2001 to 2008. The highly successful Pro Parks Levy provided a $198 million investment in parks throughout Seattle. The levy played an integral role in creating and sustaining successful, vibrant and engaging places for the citizens of Seattle. Recognizing the need to continue investment in green spaces as Seattle grows in both population and density, the Seattle City Council convened the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Citizens’ Advisory Committee in the spring of 2008 to recommend a fiscally sound and diverse list of projects to present to the public. Dedicated community organizations and individuals mounted a grass roots effort to pass the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy by an impressive 59-percent vote on November 7, 2008. More information about the Parks and Green Spaces Levy can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/parks/levy/default.htm. Reservoir Covering Program SPU is replacing its open reservoirs with underground structures to improve the quality and security of Seattle’s water supply and provide 76 acres of new open space. SPU and Parks are working together to develop the new, open spaces into innovative parks. Since 1995, the city has finished underground replacement work on four reservoirs. The two remaining reservoirs, Maple Leaf and West Seattle, are currently being covered. For more information about the SPU’s reservoir program, download the Reservoir Covering Program Fact Sheet (pdf). After SPU’s work is completed, Parks will construct new parks at the reservoirs to include a variety of park features and recreational uses. The reservoir lids will be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding parks. At both locations, at least half of the park acreage will be located on top of the reservoir lid. The areas adjacent to and directly over the covered reservoirs have special design constraints related to load limits and the shallow depth of soil over the lid. For example, no structures or trees are allowed on or within 50 feet of the lid to protect the lid and the city’s water system. The lid will be covered with two feet of layered rock and soil, with the top 12 inches consisting of top soil. West Seattle Reservoir Park Development Project The West Seattle Reservoir Park project will develop an overall site plan and implement improvements to transform the 20 acres of open space on the reservoir lid into a new neighborhood park and gathering space for southwest Seattle. The West Seattle Reservoir Park project is located at 9000 8th Avenue SW. The new park will include environmentally sustainable design, green infrastructure, use of native plants, smooth flowing transitional areas, and superior concrete finish work that can hold up to potential skateboarders. Public involvement is an integral element of park development and park design and features will respond to input from the local community. Existing parks in the area include Westcrest Park and the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Westcrest Park is an 80-acre park that lies immediately adjacent to the new reservoir park and was improved as part of the Pro Parks Levy. West Seattle Reservoir Park Schedule Schematic Design – February 2010 to September 2010 Design Development – September 2010 to January 2011 Construction – March 2011 to May 2012 For more information about the West Seattle Reservoir Park project, visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/west_seattle_reservoir/. Maple Leaf Reservoir Park Development Project The vision for the Maple Leaf Reservoir Park project is to create an innovative park addition, adjacent to Maple Leaf Playground, that can accommodate a variety of park features and recreational uses, while seamlessly integrating the reservoir lid with the surrounding park. The reservoir area is approximately 16 acres. Maple Leaf Reservoir is located at 1020 NE 82nd St. The Maple Leaf Reservoir project provides for new park development on the reservoir lid. The project includes the development of an overall site plan for the new park space and the existing Maple Leaf Playground and implementation of the plan. Maple Leaf Reservoir Park Schedule Schematic Design – January to August 2010 Design Development – September 2010 to June 2011 Construction – Spring 2012 to Spring 2013 For more information about the Maple Leaf Reservoir Park project, visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/maple_leaf_reservoir/. ELIGIBILITY This call is open to professional artists residing in the United States. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs encourages diversity in its collection. Artists whose work is well-represented in the city’s collection are eligible to apply, but the artist selection panel will consider artistic diversity as one factor in the selection process. Students are not eligible to apply. BUDGET This call is for two $150,000 art projects. The total project budget for each project is $150,000, all-inclusive of travel expenses, taxes and other project costs. Each artist will receive $22,000 during the design phase and $128,000 for fabrication and installation of the artwork. APPLICATION DEADLINE 11 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010 (Pacific Standard Time) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Applications must include:
SELECTION CRITERIA The artist will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
SELECTION PROCESS The selection will take place in two parts. During the first round of the selection process, a panel of arts professionals, client representatives and community members will review the applicants’ images, qualifications and other materials. The panelists will identify up to four finalists to interview at a second panel meeting two to three weeks later. The panel will select two artists to be awarded the commissions. The selection panel will assign each artist to a park project. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision by e-mail in late-April 2010. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs reserves the right not to select any of the applicants. WE’RE HERE TO HELP Please contact Patricia Hopper or Jason Huff, public art project managers. Patricia Hopper, patricia.hopper@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7311 Jason Huff, jason.huff@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7278 For assistance with the CaFE online application process, contact CaFE tech support at (888) 562-7232 or cafe@westaf.org, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. |
