Canoe Imagine Art

The Arts Alliance, in cooperation with the City of Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC), invites artists or artist teams to submit applications for temporary public art sculptures for the Canoe Imagine Art project. This public art project repurposes canoes retired by the City of Ann Arbor with the purpose of celebrating the history and attributes of the Huron River and/or the City's park system. Four artworks will be selected through a juried and public process for temporary installations in Spring 2015. Selected artists will receive a $5,000 honoraria plus up to ten recycled canoes.

Four artists or artist teams will be commissioned to create unique and elegant sculptures using recycled aluminum canoes. Artists may choose to deconstruct the canoes and add other materials. No electricity or generators will be provided for the works, so lighting and sound should not be included. Works will be installed in the City of Ann Arbor Parks along the Huron River in one of the following locations: Bandemer Park, Broadway Park, Riverside Park, Island Park, or Gallup Park. Each work will need to provide 6 feet in all directions between the edges of the work and the closest tree, building, or other structure to allow for ground maintenance.

Eligibility is open to all artists. Artists are responsible for picking up the canoes from the City of Ann Arbor and delivering the completed work to Ann Arbor, MI. The work must be appropriate for individuals of all ages, have low maintenance requirements, and be safe and stable enough for individuals to touch, interact with, and potentially climb on. The completed piece must be able to withstand long-term interaction with people, creatures, and Michigan's natural elements. Transportation costs are the artist's responsibility. Upon installation, the works become the property of the City of Ann Arbor. Entry fee is $10.00. Applicants must submit up to six high-resolution JPEG images (no smaller than 1MB and up to 5MB), a description of the work, a narrative not exceeding two pages explaining how the piece fits the theme and connects to the community, an artist/organization statement, and a resume. Application deadline is December 31, 2014.