ArtMatch: City of Bend, Oregon Public Art Commission

Art in Public Places, Inc. (AiPP) on behalf of the City of Bend, Oregon seeks to commission a permanent large-scale work of art for the roundabout (traffic circle) at NE 15th and Bear Creek Road in Bend, Oregon. The roundabout is located at a busy intersection in a residential neighborhood of Southeast Bend, one block from Bear Creek Elementary School. Bear Creek Road follows the path of the Emigrant Trail, the route taken by Oregon's first non-native settlers.

The roundabout, including the border curb/apron, is 85 feet in diameter with an oval installation area at the center measuring 50' x 65'. The artwork should serve as an "identifying signature" for the neighborhood and may refer to the history of the Emigrant Trail. There are no restrictions on artistic interpretation. The work must be fabricated in durable, permanent, outdoor media that is safe, easily maintained, and has proven viability in public artworks. The scale should be appropriate to the site and neighborhood.

Funding of $50,000 to $75,000 is available through ArtMatch, a matching program by Brooks Resources. This is an open competition for professional artists residing in the Northwest United States, specifically Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Northern California. Teams of artists are welcome to apply. Submit a current resume, 4 artwork images, and an optional statement of interest by January 31, 2008. The completed sculpture becomes the property of the City of Bend with shared copyright between Art in Public Places and the City of Bend. Project timeline: Notification of finalists February 22, 2008; Presentation of models/proposals May 12, 2008; Selection week of June 2, 2008; Installation Fall/Winter 2008. Questions may be directed to Marcelene Trujillo at [email protected].