MLK Jr. Drive I-285 Gateway Sculpture

The City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Renew Atlanta invites Metro Atlanta artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a site-specific sculpture to act as a gateway to MLK Jr. Drive at I-285. The sculpture should stand at least 30 feet tall and be installed in the triangular landscaped area on the south-east side of MLK between I-285 and the north exit ramp. The site-specific work should reflect the area's culture of international significance, as this community was home to intellectual leaders of human rights including W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. The sculpture foundation, design, engineering, and construction costs must be integrated into the artist's budget.

Eligibility is limited to professional sculptors from the Metro Atlanta area (Cherokee, Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Rockdale, Henry, Clayton, Fayette, Douglas, and Cobb counties) with portfolios demonstrating monumental scale, contemporary public art sculptures. The total project budget is $250,000 with payment in three draws: $83,000, $83,000, and $84,000. If selected to submit a proposal, artists will receive $1,250 and one month to develop it.

Required application materials include a one-page statement of interest (12-point font) addressing conceptual approach, aspects of the area of interest, and community engagement ideas; samples of previous work in similar scale submitted as jpg attachments with title, location, date, budget, timeline, and concept; and a résumé (maximum 2 pages per person) with three professional references. Selection criteria include artist merit and technical expertise, demonstrated successful approach to architectural and public art projects of similar scope, ability to execute the project in a culturally rich and complex area, and expressed interest in the opportunity. Proposals must be received electronically no later than 11:59 PM EST on January 1, 2019. Contact Briana X. Camelo at [email protected] with questions.