The Giving Salmon Bronze Sculpture

The Homer Foundation is requesting qualifications from professional artists for The Giving Salmon, a bronze sculpture to be commissioned for the grounds of the new Homer Boat House Pavilion in Homer, Alaska. This RFP is open to all professional artists, with preference given to Alaskan artists.

The Giving Salmon will be an interactive sculpture featuring a larger-than-life sized, realistic bronze king salmon designed to receive and hold public donations and promote public awareness for the Homer Foundation. The sculpture will be located at 4350 Homer Spit Road, Homer, Alaska, 99603, on the Homer Spit within the city's port and harbor facility. The site is approximately 8,000 square feet and pedestrian accessible from all sides. The artwork must be between 48" and 72" in length, with overall height not exceeding 42" in elevation above grade, and the overall footprint including any backdrop or support pieces shall not exceed 10 feet in diameter. The sculpture must be a realistic representation of a chinook (king salmon) in an original bronze design, oriented horizontally with the ground.

The Giving Salmon must be sufficiently constructed to withstand local extreme weather including winds up to 100 miles per hour, temperatures ranging from -15 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, driving snow and rain, and the corrosive marine environment. It must safely support public interaction including climbing and sitting, and be secured so it cannot be removed without heavy equipment. The sculpture shall feature an internally integrated locking donation box with a weather-resistant external slot for donations. The box must be no smaller than 12" tall X 6" wide X 6" deep, installed entirely inside the salmon's body with a seamless appearance, and include two separately keyed locking mechanisms. A second identically sized donation box and matching bronze exterior section shall be included for field replacement. The artwork must be delivered by April 30, 2017, and designed to last a minimum of 30 years with minimal maintenance requirements. Total budget not to exceed $37,500 USD, with art budget not exceeding $30,000 (80% of total) and installation budget not exceeding $7,500 (20% of total). Entry deadline is November 15, 2016. Applications accepted online only through CaFE.