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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCall for Artist _hydrants application Introduction Request for Qualifications Renton Downtown Public Art Opportunity The South Renton Neighborhood Association*, in collaboration with the Renton Municipal Arts Commission, is seeking artists to participate in an exciting new public art campaign. Interested artists will be permitted to “adopt” fire hydrants within the South Renton neighborhood and create artistic designs for them. The goal of this program is to embrace the artistic talents of local individuals while displaying creative artwork throughout the community. There is no specific theme for this program, though artists are encouraged to incorporate the character and history of the surrounding environment and neighborhood into their artwork. The program is free and open to the public. Applications will be reviewed as they are received until designs have been selected for all available hydrants. Selected artists will receive $400 per hydrants to cover the cost of materials, supplies and design fees. Applicants are welcome to submit more than one hydrant design for consideration. Application Process • The opportunity is open to all artists, with preference given to local Renton artists. • Artists are requested to submit a concept design of a hydrant and examples from their portfolio. • Please fill out the application/design proposal on the following page. • Submit the required forms to the City of Renton at arts@rentonwa.gov. • The selected artists will be notified by a member of the project team on a rolling basis. What is prohibited on the hydrants? • Inappropriate words, advertisements, political messages, etc. • Glued or attached objects. • Camouflage or designs that significantly reduce hydrant visibility. • Please avoid using dark colors or a lot of white as they reduce hydrant visibility. Project Timeline The project team will review applications and selections as applicants are received. Inquiries All inquiries and submissions related to this request are to be directed to: Renton Municipal Arts Commission 1055 S Grady Way, 6th Floor, Renton WA 98057 Telephone: (425) 430-7271 Email: arts@rentonwa.gov *The South Renton Connection Neighborhood Association is committed to the establishment of public art designed to acknowledge and celebrate the unique cultural and historical contributions that the South Renton Community has made and will continue to make to Renton. From early origins of Renton, the South Renton Community has been intricately related to downtown Renton. It is our hope that this project will continue this longstanding relationship by helping to contribute to the revitalization of our downtown. Hydrants are a unique medium for art; they are highly visible to people driving by in cars as well as people walking past them on the sidewalk. They have a unique three dimensional shape that is visible from all sides. They can support art that is bold and visible from a distance or art that is detailed and encourages up close interaction with its viewer. We challenge artists to create fun, colorful, unique, quality pieces of hydrant art that engage viewers from every angle. We strongly encourage art that celebrates Renton’s people, natural beauty, culture, history, contributions and folklore. Hydrants pose many challenges to artists. They have rough, irregular surfaces with raised lettering, and they come in a variety of shapes with different sized front caps that must be taken into consideration when creating three-dimensional designs. To see examples of the different hydrant styles in our community and how artists have incorporated the variety of shapes into their art, view the Hydrants of South Renton website. South Renton Connection has decided to continue its Hydrant Art Project and moving forward will be highly selective, looking for artists that will meet the minimum quality expectations for this paid public art opportunity. Expectations and Tips for Hydrant Art 1. Invest in high quality, outdoor acrylic paint that will withstand the elements over time. 2. Invest in several sizes of brushes and plan for extra time that will enable you to paint crisp, clean lines over a bumpy, irregular surface. 3. Ensure a smooth and even base coat that covers the surface without streaking. This will require multiple coats of paint. Keep in mind that if you are mixing spray paints it may make touchup work difficult. 4. Please be mindful of paint run lines and drips. A razor blade can easily remove mistakes so you can repaint. 5. Hydrants are visible from all sides and the design should draw the viewer in from every angle with images or patterns on both the front and back of the hydrant. 6. Any writing included in the design should be clear and legible. Paint pens are a great option to get the words onto the ‘canvas’ and the lines can be cleaned up with a fine brush if needed. 7. Your finished hydrant needs to be sealed with a protective coating. We recommend exterior grade Rust-Oleum Crystal Clear Enamel. Title of your artwork (optional) Application/Design Proposal Name Phone E-mail Mailing address Please describe your artistic abilities and experiences (and include sample of your portfolio) Applicants must submit this page via mail or in-person to the address below or email a scanned copy in color to arts@rentonwa.gov: Renton Municipal Arts Commission 1055 S Grady Way, 6th Fl Renton, WA 98057