Ruby Hill Park Public Art Commission

Ruby Hill Park is a regional park situated on 80 acres of expansive rolling hills offering magnificent views of downtown Denver and its surroundings. The park currently contains barbeque grills, a picnic shelter, tables, a playground, an outdoor pool, and active recreational baseball and softball fields. A Master Plan developed by Parks & Recreation aims to upgrade the park's irrigation system and implement several phases of park development with environmental sustainability as the focus. The plan seeks to enhance creative play and park activity during both summer and winter months, including the "Rail Yard" collaboration between the City and County of Denver and Winter Park Resort, which provides a ski/snowboard location and winter playground for the city's multicultural youth.

Phase I of the Master Plan includes two areas for art integration: a signature Pavilion area that will accommodate large gatherings of up to 200 people and feature a layered covered shelter, 11-foot columns, tables and a sun calendar oculus projected on colored concrete pavement (allowing for 3D or 2D integrated opportunities); and a Play Area incorporating a "celestial" playground theme with sun, moon and star imagery, sand and water area, hills, a tree house village and a labyrinth maze (where 3D or kinetic artwork could be situated within or around the perimeter).

Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaboration. The total contract to be awarded is approximately $12,000.00, inclusive of all costs including design fee, consultation fees, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and contingency. Semi-finalists (up to three) will each receive an honorarium of $500.00 to prepare and present a final proposal. Applicants must submit eight digital images, a résumé (no longer than two pages), and a letter of interest (no more than 250 words). Artists submitting kinetic or sound works must also submit a DVD or VHS tape of no more than five minutes to the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs. The postmark deadline is Friday, May 8, 2009. Semi-finalists will be selected by May 22, 2009, with finalist selection on June 10, 2009, and finalist notification in early July 2009.