Municipality of Anchorage: Anchorage Senior Center Public Art Commission

The Municipality of Anchorage is inviting qualified artists to create public artwork proposals for the Anchorage Senior Center's newly renovated facility, located at 1300 East 19th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The Art Selection Jury intends to commission one work of art totaling $16,000 to be permanently installed at the facility.

Two location options are available for proposal development. Location 1 is situated near the exterior of the entry portico on the front lawn, a quiet landscaped area with bench seating. The jury is interested in sculptural forms that respond to the specified themes. Location 2 is centrally located on the facility's front lawn with visibility from roadway traffic and neighborhood residents. Artists are encouraged to propose concepts that activate the space and may suggest placement within the lawn area. Suggested areas of investigation include two-dimensional vertical panels, abstract sculptural forms, architectural pavilion forms, and light-based or light-responsive work. Artists may submit proposals for more than one location, with each location proposal submitted separately.

The overarching themes focus on gardening and finding beauty in nature. Successful proposals will be thoughtful and whimsical, providing enjoyment to residents, visitors, and the surrounding community. Works that reference, represent, or depict flora and fauna and incorporate an appreciation for the outdoors are encouraged. The garden themes are inspired by Master Gardener Bonnie Tisler, who passed away on February 8, 2022, and oversaw the design and transformation of the Senior Center's gardens.

Artwork must be durable with minimal routine maintenance requirements and designed to last the life of the facility. This is an earthquake area and artwork must meet standards in the IBC 2018 building code as amended by the Municipality of Anchorage. All commissioned artwork is subject to municipal permitting requirements. The budget of $16,000 covers all costs associated with commissioning, including design, fabrication, travel and accommodations, transportation, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. Any permitting, engineer fees, or structural modification fees must be paid by the artist. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply.

Eligibility is open to national applicants. Artists must submit six digital images from their portfolio, a current 1-2 page resume with three professional references, an artist statement describing their interest in and qualifications for the project, and a brief conceptual proposal identifying location, medium, and thematic relevance. Contact: Curator of Public Art, Public Art Program, (907) 343-6473.