Tower Road Call for Artwork

The City of Commerce City and the Commerce City Cultural Council are seeking to purchase sculpture(s) from Colorado artists or artists who reside in the Colorado Region (Colorado and neighboring states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona). The artwork is for possible placement along Tower Road, a prominent arterial roadway in Commerce City that was widened and reopened in 2016. The road serves as a main gateway to Commerce City and provides access to the new commuter rail station at 61st and Pena.

The total public art budget is up to $135,000 for multiple sculptures. Artwork should be of appropriate size, scale, and materials to be sited along the roadway, in a median, or alongside a multiuse path. The budget for each site is inclusive of all costs including delivery and installation. Artists are expected to work with the City to determine specifications for a concrete footer to be engineered and built by the City. Artwork should be at least 5 feet tall and larger-scale to stand out in the area. Acceptable materials include steel (stainless or Corten), other strong metals, cast metals, stone, and wood. Unacceptable materials include glass, ceramic, mosaic, and other fragile artwork. All applicants must consider long-term preservation and maintenance, as public art is exposed to weather and potential vandalism.

The art selection committee seeks artwork that is evocative of the natural history of the area, evokes joy and delight, and has a pleasing and calming effect on commuters. It should be appropriate for all ages. Applications must be submitted through CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org) by Friday, June 29, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Applicants must submit a maximum of five digital images of sculpture available for purchase (including materials, dimensions, and cost), a current résumé, and answers to eligibility questions. There is no application fee. Semi-finalists will be notified the week of July 9th, 2018, with Cultural Council review in August 2018 and City Council review in September 2018.