132nd Square Park Call for Art

The City of Kirkland, in collaboration with the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission and Kirkland Park Board, invites artists or artist teams to submit proposals for site-specific outdoor public art to be placed at 132nd Square Park, a 9.75 acre community park located in Kirkland, WA. The art installation may consist of one or more elements and should reflect the park's natural beauty as well as the diverse neighborhood community that uses the park. This public art is part of a 1% Capital Improvement Project to redesign and make improvements to the park, and should complement the new design and enhancements specified in the 132nd Square Park Design Documents.

The proposed art must be fabricated in permanent, outdoor media and meet or exceed standards for structural integrity and durability. It should be low maintenance, weather, vandal and graffiti resistant, meet public safety standards, and be suitable for public viewing by all ages. The art may be a mural, mosaic, or incorporated into a bench, wall, or wayfinding elements. Artists should consider characteristics appropriate for family-focused uses, integral to the park site in theme, materials and scale, and reflective of the diverse neighborhood community. Proposed sites include areas near restrooms, picnic shelters, along pathways, and near or part of the labyrinth.

Eligibility is open to all artists residing in the United States with background, experience and reputation for completing outdoor art installations of this scope. The budget is $56,000 for design, presentation to multiple boards and commissions, presentation to City Council, materials and fabrication, and installation supervision/direction. The public art will be revealed at a community event celebrating the reopening of 132nd Square Park at the completion of park improvements, estimated for Spring 2022. Submissions must include a one-page letter of interest with vision statement, 3-5 digital images of relevant current work, and three references for outdoor public art projects completed successfully. Application deadline is September 11, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.