Spokane Street Viaduct Public Art Commission

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) seeks an artist or artist team to develop a permanent artwork in conjunction with the expansion of the Spokane Street Viaduct. The selected artist will develop a creative response to the massive structure and industrial location of the viaduct and will fabricate and install two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional treatments on, under or adjacent to the structure at sites determined in collaboration with SDOT.

The Spokane Street Viaduct is located in the SODO (South Downtown) area of Seattle and serves as a key transportation link between West Seattle, Port of Seattle terminal facilities, and the SODO district. SDOT will widen the north side of the viaduct by 41 feet, relocate the westbound on- and off-ramps to First Avenue South and construct a new eastbound off-ramp to Fourth Avenue. The underside of the viaduct structure will be characterized by a forest of columns and spaces between them. With the addition of a wide sidewalk and curbs on the north side, the lower roadway will serve as an east-west bike corridor. The selected artist will design a bold and creative response to this challenging site, with artwork responding to the site with appropriate scale to be visually accessible to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The artist will determine exact locations and forms of artworks in collaboration with SDOT representatives and will take into account safety, maintenance, and structural considerations.

This call is open to professional artists residing in the United States. Students are not eligible to apply. The budget for design (including travel costs) is $60,000, with $340,000 anticipated for fabrication and installation, for a total project budget of $400,000. Application requirements include sixteen (16) artwork images, a letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters), resume, and references. Selection will take place in two parts: a panel of arts professionals, SDOT representatives and community members will review applicants' materials and identify up to four (4) artists to interview. Finalists will interview with the selection panel, which will determine the awarded artist. Applicants will be notified of the panel's decision by e-mail in May 2009.