Initiative for Public Art - Reston: Call for Artists - Dogwood Pool

Reston Association is undertaking major renovations at Dogwood Pool, located at 2460 Green Range Road, Reston, VA, and has selected the facility for a public art project. The renovations include upgrades to the bath house facility, a new pool basin and decking, pool-side improvements, a new tot-lot, a picnic pavilion, and an interactive water feature accessible to both pool users and non-pool users year-round.

Reston Association seeks an artist to design and commission an interactive water feature for the pool. The water feature will be installed in a 33-foot diameter area between two semi-circular walls (each 18" H, 18" W, approximately 24' L). The feature should be a vertical element measuring between 4' and 8' in height, constructed from high-quality, durable materials that require little or no maintenance and can withstand the elements, sun exposure, wind, and attempted vandalism. Technical specifications include a 1" water line, maximum 15 gallons per minute, with timing mechanism and activator provided by Reston Association. The artwork should celebrate creativity and playfulness, be safe for public interaction especially with children, have connection to the site's function and architectural elements, and be viewable from all angles.

This competition is open to established professional artists living in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. The selected artist will receive a commission of $25,000, inclusive of all expenses for design, labor, materials, fabrication, installation, permits, taxes, insurance, and delivery. The artist must provide detailed maintenance instructions and work cooperatively with Reston Association, its Design Review Board, IPAR, and community members. Applicants should have specific skills designing, fabricating, and installing public artwork, experience with water features, and experience working within public processes. Applications must include 6 images (2 views each of 3 works), a one-page resume, and an artist's statement (no more than 3000 characters). Selection criteria include artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style, aesthetic quality, sensitivity to community, responsiveness to functionality, feasibility, compatibility with the site, adherence to dimension requirements, ability to complete within timeline, technical proficiency, material durability, vandalism resistance, and maintenance requirements.