Chelsea Elizabeth River Trail Public Art Commission

The Norfolk Public Art Commission and the Elizabeth River Trail Chelsea District Planning Committee seek to commission an artist to design and create artwork for the Chelsea neighborhood along the Elizabeth River on the west side of Norfolk. Chelsea has evolved into one of the city's most up-and-coming business districts, home to a shipyard, breweries, a rum distillery, a historic theater company, locally owned restaurants, and other businesses. The Elizabeth River Trail is a 10.5-mile urban bike and pedestrian path established in 1994, running from Naval Station Norfolk through Chelsea to downtown Norfolk and toward Virginia Beach. The Chelsea portion weaves through both industrial and natural areas and is being renovated with new trees, a linear park with food-bearing plants, a managed meadow, a rain garden, and native grasses and flowers.

The committee seeks artwork that speaks to the progressive, creative vibe of Chelsea and could serve as a gateway or point of transition between the trail and the neighborhood. Kinetic or multiple artworks that create a sense of motion or direction are appropriate. The artwork should be pedestrian scale but large enough to attract attention. The committee is open to artwork along the pathways or as a signature gateway, with a large grass park on the corner of Raleigh and Claremont Avenues as an ideal location. Recycled durable materials such as recycled beer bottles, shipyard or cannery materials, or items referencing the neighborhood are preferred. Artwork must be durable, made of permanent materials, safe, and easily maintained.

The total budget for the completed, delivered, and installed artwork is $60,000, covering artist's honorarium, fabrication, materials, shipping, insurance, travel expenses, project plaque, final documentation, and incidental expenses. Up to three finalists may be selected for interviews via Skype about past work and creative process. The selected artist must hire a Virginia licensed contractor for installation, work with a locally based apprentice artist, and make an educational presentation for artists and the community. The artist must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance naming the City of Norfolk as an additional insured. A city contract will be issued with a design phase requiring review and approval by the Public Art Commission prior to fabrication. Selection will be based on artistic merit, professional artistic experience, and appropriateness of materials, style, and concepts. Submissions must include a statement of understanding, letter of interest (one page maximum), resume (two pages maximum), up to ten artwork images (plus up to two audio and two video files), and three professional references. Submission deadline is May 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST via CaFÉ website or in person at 810 Union Street, Suite 303, Norfolk, VA 23510. There is no application fee.