Gresham Center for the Arts Public Art Commission

The Gresham Center for the Arts is seeking one artist or team to create multiple public artworks for a new civic plaza in Gresham, Oregon. The plaza is the first phase of a larger Center for the Arts development and will serve as Gresham's civic gathering place for community events, festivals, and celebrations.

The public art budget is $175,000 for design, fabrication, permits, and installation. Artists working in any durable sculpture media will be considered. The artworks should celebrate the arts, serve as visual landmarks for the plaza, fit within 10-foot diameter circles in the paving design, be of appropriate scale, and be durable and easily maintained while addressing ADA and safety requirements. Power, water, and drainage will be available at the art location. The selected artist/team will be required to consult with an art conservator regarding design and materials.

Up to five artists/teams will be interviewed. Semi-finalists will be selected based on quality of past work, letter of interest, and references. Following selection, the artist/team will receive a design phase contract and design fee. The final design must be approved by the Art Selection Committee. Application materials must be submitted online via CaFÉ and include a one-page statement of interest, resume(s), exactly 12 images of past work, and three professional references. There is no application fee. The plaza is scheduled to open in August 2009 with art installation to coincide with the opening. Travel expenses for interviews will be paid by the project.