136th Avenue Retaining Wall Murals, Portland OR

This public art opportunity seeks an artist or team to create original murals on two concrete retaining walls located on the east and west sides of SE 136th Avenue between SE Mitchell and SE Raymond in Portland's Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. The west retaining wall is 125 feet long (approximately 750 square feet) and the east retaining wall is 226 feet long (approximately 1,356 square feet), with heights varying from 3 to 10 feet. The murals will be visible to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, and designs should account for this visibility. Materials, design, and palette must withstand local weather and be amenable to ongoing maintenance.

The Selection Panel seeks an original approach that is accessible to all ages, adds energy to the area, and celebrates the neighborhood and its surrounding areas. Selected artist(s) will have the opportunity to meet with community members to gather information and insights prior to finalizing a design. There is potential to work with students from the David Douglas School District during the design and/or painting process. The community has expressed interest in the mural including pink hearts somewhere in the composition to honor the memory of a 5-year-old girl who was struck and killed on 136th Avenue.

This opportunity is open to artists and teams living in Oregon and Washington. The selected artist(s) must be able to complete the mural during Summer 2016. If a team is proposed, one artist must serve as the primary contact. Students may be part of a team led by a professional artist. The art budget is $30,000 and covers all project expenses including artist fees, materials, anti-graffiti coating, insurance, and sidewalk closure permit. The selected artist/team will be under contract with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the mural will become part of the City of Portland's public art collection. Applications must include a statement of interest (1,000 characters or less), résumé or bio, two professional references, and 6-10 images of past work with titles, years, dimensions, and descriptions. Up to one video not exceeding 3 minutes may also be included. Contact Peggy Kendellen, Public Art Manager, at 503.823.4196 or [email protected] for questions.