Union Street Electric Gallery 2007-08 Commission

The Union Street Electric Gallery is an outdoor rotating exhibition space on the western-facing exterior wall of the Seattle City Light facility located at Union Street and Western Avenue. The ongoing program provides temporary display space and allows artists to display their work at a large scale, supported by Seattle City Light 1% for Art funds.

Five artists will be selected and funded to produce proposals for large-scale artworks to be rendered on vinyl mesh and installed at the Union Street Electric Gallery. The five finalists will each receive a $750 fee for their proposals and will present their commissioned proposals to the selection panel, which will select two artists to realize their proposals. The two selected artists will be paid $2,500 to oversee fabrication and installation. The total size of the final artwork is 14 feet high and 100 feet long. Each artist will produce one artwork that will be installed at the site for six months. Fabrication costs will be paid directly to the contractor by the city. The completed artworks will become part of the Seattle City Light 1% for Art collection.

The competition is open to established professional artists with a residence or studio in Seattle. Gallery representation in Seattle does not constitute residency. No students of any level are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit fourteen (14) artwork images, a letter of interest not to exceed 2000 characters, and a resume. Panel decisions are based on strength of past artworks, appropriateness for the setting, and artistic diversity of the collection. Although themes related to environmental sustainability are not required, the selection panel will also identify artists who have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to sustainability. Artists will be notified of the selection panel's decisions by January 2008.