Public Art: Community Pool Mural

The Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO), in collaboration with the city of Thornton, is seeking to commission large-scale, original public art to be installed at the Thornton Community Pool located at 2141 E. 95th Avenue, 80229. The project will produce public art work that speaks to the location, has a positive visual impact and welcomes visitors to the facility. The final work should push Thornton into a contemporary setting and help it become a destination-city engaged in important conversations on art and culture.

This is an opportunity to create large-scale public art work that will create a positive impact on all who work at and visit this city facility. Artists are not limited to the "paint on the wall" approach and may choose to explore other materials that fulfill the scope of this project. Successful proposals will demonstrate a unique and creative design, cohesive designs that apply to designated areas, dynamic use of color and composition, interdisciplinary practice with emphasis on creative and innovative materials and technology, experience in large-scale fabrication and installation, holistic approach to place-making, strong understanding of contemporary art and its positive effect on public space and community identity, and understanding of the specialized needs and materials for durable outdoor public art work.

The call is open to all artists, design teams, architectural firms, etc., age 18 and over, regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. Preference will be given to those with a proven history of fabrication and installation of large-scale public art work. City of Thornton employees are not eligible. The project budget is $31,000, which is inclusive of artist design fees and costs associated with materials, fabrication, transportation, shipping, installation, insurance, etc. The Community Pool has several vertical walls available; the awarded applicant does not need to utilize all walls and can select which spaces will work best with the final design. Any prepping and priming will need to be done by the award winner and paid for out of the project budget.

The artwork will be outside and exposed to the elements and must be able to withstand constantly changing weather conditions of Colorado, including wide fluctuation in temperature and intense direct sunlight. Materials used must be durable and require little and/or easy maintenance. Design should be pleasing and add beauty to the community, cannot contain business promotions or advertisements, cannot include any breach of intellectual property, brands, trademarks, or depictions of illegal activities, and must be family-friendly. The project winner will need to schedule installation around operational hours as no special closures will be scheduled for the installation of the art. The Community Pool summer season is June 1 – August 11, with hours Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m.

Submission materials must include 3 – 10 images of completed large-scale work with location and date of completion, a written statement or video detailing creative process and philosophy, resume/CV with 2 – 3 professional references, and optional estimated budget outline and rough sketches or concept ideas. The review process may be split into three rounds: Round 1 (Portfolio Review) where the Review Panel will identify up to three finalists; Round 2 (Site-Specific Proposal) where finalists receive a modest honorarium to create a site-specific proposal including final design, 3-D rendering, itemized budget, materials list, warranty information, implementation schedule, and project narrative; and Round 3 (If needed, Public Forum and Additional Feedback). Final approval requires Thornton City Council approval. Submission deadline: May 3, 2020. Review & Selection Process: May – June. Award and Installation: July – December. Final Project Deadline: December 31, 2020.