Oregon Zoo Central Plaza / Polar Passage Public Art Commission

On behalf of the Oregon Zoo and Metro Regional Government in Portland, Oregon, the Regional Arts & Culture Council invites professional artists and teams to submit qualifications for a percent-for-art commission for the Central Plaza / Polar Passage at the Oregon Zoo. The selected artist will work with the design team of CLR Design, Place Studio, and the Oregon Zoo to identify appropriate exterior sites and applications for public art and to design, fabricate, and install artwork. The design phase is underway with construction scheduled to begin at the end of 2017 and be completed in fall 2018.

The Oregon Zoo is a Polar Bears International Arctic Ambassador Center dedicated to educating the public about polar bears and climate change. The new habitat will develop the story of polar bears in their native habitats and changes resulting from melting arctic ice. Three key messages are: providing exceptional welfare and activity through care, research and adventure education; letting bears be bears by providing habitat variability; and educating visitors about environmental change impacts on animal habitats. The Central Plaza will feature three polar bear habitats, a maternity den/yard, and visitor amenities including seasonal gift carts, seating, shade, wayfinding and interpretive signage. The total project site is approximately 1.9 acres.

Public artwork should creatively build on the project's core themes focusing on climate change, conservation, arctic culture, and the polar bear. The artwork should enhance the site and visitor experience, inspire curiosity about art and nature, consider sustainability and conservation, increase awareness of the zoo as a community asset, encourage dialogue and engagement, and be appropriate to site in terms of scale and materials. Applicants must have successfully completed at least two major site-specific commissions informed by dialogue with a commissioning body. The selected artist will receive a $200,000 commission, inclusive of all fees, design, insurance, engineering, fabrication, delivery, permitting, installation, travel, and site work. The contract is divided into proposal development and design ($20,000) and fabrication/installation ($180,000). Travel expenses for the initial site visit and interview will be covered. The selection panel will score applications based on: artistic merit of submitted past work (40%), statement of interest and description of how past work addressed project needs (30%), demonstrated ability to work at appropriate scale and materials (20%), and demonstrated ability to collaborate as part of a design team (10%). Up to four finalists will be invited for interviews. Applications must be submitted through CaFÉ by 11:59 PM MDT, Monday, August 8, 2016.