City of Mountain View 2023 Public Art Commission - Villa-Chiquita Park

The City of Mountain View Visual Arts Committee seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create public artwork for Villa-Chiquita Park, located at 1720 Villa Street. The park is a 0.39-acre site that includes a lawn, central plaza with specimen tree, nature-themed playground, entry plaza with raised crosswalk, picnic tables, and benches. Ten identified locations are available for art integration into the play area, standalone placement within the lawn, or incorporation into fencing and seating areas.

The project budget is $28,000 for all artwork costs including design, fabrication, transportation, loading and unloading, structural engineering design, calculations, and installation. The VAC is open to selecting multiple art installations and/or multiple artists. The Parks and Recreation Commission suggested themes including Mexican-American heritage, a star theme (referencing "Estrella" meaning star in Spanish), and integration with the park's perimeter fencing. The City intends to bid construction in Spring 2024 and complete it in Fall 2024, with artwork installation expected during the construction phase.

Eligibility is open to professional artists and artist teams over 18 years old residing in California. Applications must include a resumé, signed application checklist, five to seven images of artworks completed within the past five years demonstrating capability for durable outdoor work, and a final proposal including artwork design, location, medium type, estimated commission time, and total artwork fee. All artwork images must include annotated descriptions with title, creation date, dimensions, media type, and installation location. The jurying process begins October 16, 2023, with finalist selection by the VAC in November. Selected artists must obtain a business license and insurance as required by the City agreement. Applications are accepted online via CaFÉ only; no other submission method will be accepted.