Highway 25 Sculpture Project

The San Benito County Arts Council, together with Caltrans and the City of Hollister, is seeking artists and/or artist teams to create and install a site-specific outdoor sculpture at the corner of Santa Ana Road and Highway 25 in Hollister. This Clean California Beautification Project is located along Highway 25 near the east entrance to Pinnacles National Park. The sculptural piece will be installed at the start of the Highway 25 corridor between Santa Ana and Sunnyslope Road and shall include aesthetic elements that reflect and enhance community identity while integrating with the overall goal to beautify the route and encourage pedestrian and bicycle usage.

Community input surveys revealed preferences for realistic representation (62%), followed by whimsical (24%) and abstract (14%) styles. Preferred themes include local histories and assets such as Pinnacles National Park, local wineries, and agriculture (63%); the natural world and environment (42%); and diverse communities and cultures (37%). Preferred materials include tile mosaic (61%), stone or concrete (53%), and metal (40%). Artwork must fit within a volume of 14' long x 8' wide x 10' high, be at least 5' clear of the sound wall and edge of sidewalks, and meet seismic loads and building codes. Materials must have a minimum lifespan of five years and be resistant to vandalism. Submissions of artwork that are overtly sexual, political, or religious in nature will not be reviewed.

The total project budget is $130,000, which includes all design, materials, fabrication, delivery, installation, assistants, insurance, Caltrans coordination, and travel. Applicants must submit 5-10 images of past work. Up to 3 finalists will be selected for virtual interviews scheduled between June 1-10 and will receive a $500 stipend to prepare. The selected artist will be notified by June 15, 2022. All artwork must conform to Caltrans Transportation Art Guidelines, and selected artists must waive their rights of integrity to commissioned artwork as pertains to its removal or repair as set forth in the California Art Preservation Act and the Visual Artists Rights Act.