Fire Station 32 Public Art Commission – Seattle

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Finance and Administrative Services and the Seattle Fire Department, seeks an artist to develop a permanent, site-integrated or free-standing art project for Fire Station 32 in West Seattle. This commission is part of the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy, a $197 million program approved by Seattle voters in 2003 to upgrade, renovate, or replace neighborhood fire stations and construct emergency response facilities.

Fire Station 32, located at 3715 W. Alaska St. in West Seattle Junction, currently houses an engine company, ladder unit, medic unit, and reserve medic unit. The existing 1966 station is being replaced to create adequate space for staff and modern apparatus. The new facility will serve as the lead station for Battalion VII, covering West Seattle, southwest Seattle, Harbor Island, and industrial areas along the Duwamish River. The selected artist will work with the community, firefighters, city staff, and the design team to develop artwork that addresses the work and spirit of firefighters and the unique character of the surrounding neighborhood. The artist must consider the limited ground space on the lot in their design, whether creating site-integrated or free-standing work. Preferred media include metal, glass, stone, concrete, ceramic, wood, light, surface treatment, sustainable design, and environmental design.

The selected artist will receive a $90,000 commission, inclusive of all design, fabrication, and installation costs. The artist will first receive $10,000 for design, followed by $80,000 for fabrication and installation upon design approval. Applicants must be established professional artists living in the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska) or California. No students are eligible. Artists should have experience designing, fabricating, and installing artwork in public settings, understanding architectural plans, and working collaboratively with design professionals and community members. The application deadline is 11 p.m. PST on February 22, 2013. Required materials include 16 artwork images, a letter of interest (not exceeding 2,000 characters), resume, and references. The selection process involves a panel of arts professionals, client representatives, and community members reviewing applications to select up to four finalists, followed by interviews to select one artist for the project.