Native American Heritage & Water Preservation Public Art Commission

The city of Thornton, in collaboration with the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO) and Adams County, is seeking to commission original public art. This project will commission 3D, large-scale, site-specific work that will have a strong visual impact and push Thornton into a contemporary setting. The final design will include indigenous intervention into the practice of public art by honoring the location's indigenous history in addition to the current cultural contributions made by Indigenous peoples in an effort to inspire an ethos for living in harmony with nature and preserving natural resources. The site is located at Pelican Ponds Open Space, a 200-acre property with trails, walking paths, fishing, and natural play-scapes, with access to the South Platte River.

Artists are strongly encouraged to explore contemporary materials, themes, and utilize interdisciplinary practices to meet the scope of the project in addition to unique and exciting use of technology. This project encourages artists to go beyond the use of static imagery to weave a dynamic, intersectional story of Indigenous cultures and influence that may inspire the preservation of water resources. Successful artists will challenge themselves to think creatively through the use of contemporary design, materials, and technology. The project budget is $75,000, which is inclusive of artist's fee, materials, fabrication and execution of work, equipment rentals, licenses, permits, and insurance.

This is an international call open to all artists, design teams, and architectural firms age 18 and over. Work sample requirements: minimum 3 images, maximum 15 images; minimum 0 videos, maximum 5 videos; total samples minimum 3, maximum 20. The review process consists of three rounds: Portfolio Review, Semi Finalist Deliberation (up to three semifinalists may be identified and issued a modest honorarium to create a site-specific proposal), and Design Presentations via Zoom. Applicants must ensure materials are durable and require little and/or easy maintenance. Designs must be family-friendly and cannot contain business promotions, advertisements, intellectual property breaches, or depictions of illegal activities. The award winner will be required to coordinate installation activities with city of Thornton staff and provide detailed records and guidelines for future maintenance and repair.