Art in Public Places, Bend OR: Mt Washington and Simpson Roundabout

Art in Public Places seeks to commission a permanent large-scale work of art for the roundabout at Mt. Washington Drive & Simpson in Bend, Oregon. This is an open competition for professional artists residing in the Northwest United States, specifically Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, and Northern California. Teams of artists are welcome to apply, with one application per artist or team.

The roundabout will be located at the intersection of Mt. Washington Drive & Simpson, a busy street accessing residential neighborhoods near the Broken Top neighborhood entrance. The site is close to an elementary and middle school, The Bulletin newspaper offices, and Century Drive (the road to Mt. Bachelor). Mt. Washington Drive is part of the race course for various bike races and runs in Bend. The roundabout center island is 68 feet across, with relatively open placement options for the sculpture while avoiding one underground utility line and traffic sight lines. Landscaping will be added at the end, and the winning artist will have input on plant material placement.

The work of art must be fabricated in durable, permanent, outdoor media that is safe, easily maintained, and has proven viability in public artworks. The committee will evaluate submissions based on artistic merit, artist's past experience, and ability to work in large scale. Given the varied nature of artwork in other Bend roundabouts, there are no restrictions on artistic interpretation. Funds available for the commission shall not exceed $100,000, made available through a matching program funded by Brooks Resources and the Bend Foundation. The completed and installed sculpture becomes the property of the City of Bend. The artist retains copyright and grants Art in Public Places and the City of Bend a license to display the work and create and distribute reproductions for archival or promotional purposes.

Submit electronically by midnight Mountain Time on Thursday, June 21: a current resume with artwork statements and brief exhibition records, 4 artwork images (noting medium, dimensions, location, and price), and a statement of interest expressing initial ideas for the roundabout work. Notification of finalists: Late June 2012. Presentation of models/proposals by finalists: Mid-Late August 2012. Selection: September 2012. Installation: Spring-Summer 2013. Questions may be directed to Marcelene Trujillo at [email protected].