Urban Trail Station 13 Appalachian Stage Fiddle and Quilt

The City of Asheville is requesting qualifications from artists capable of creating and installing a bronze fiddle and quilt sculpture to replicate the original artwork missing from Urban Trail Station 13 "Appalachian Stage" located at the U.S. Cellular Center plaza. The project will also include the design and installation of a permanent stand on which to display the fiddle and quilt adjacent to the existing "Appalachian Stage" sculptures.

The site is Station 13 of the Asheville Urban Trail, located on Haywood Street at the entrance of the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. The station currently features five bronze sculptures of dancers and musicians commemorating the first Mountain Dance and Folk Festival held in Asheville. The original fiddle and quilt were cast in bronze and attached to a bench that no longer exists. The casting molds for the original pieces no longer exist, so the intent is to replicate the newly created pieces as closely as possible to the originals in dimension, finish, and patina while matching the motif of the musician figures. To improve security, a permanent and secure stand will be created for the new bronze fiddle and quilt. The stand should be 30–36 inches tall and 16–18 inches in diameter, made of durable materials that complement the existing sculptures and withstand outdoor elements while meeting all safety codes. The stand must be installed within the brick and concrete of the plaza 20 feet from the building.

This is a regional call for qualified local artists who currently live in North Carolina in Buncombe, Yancey, McDowell, Rutherford, Polk, Henderson, Madison, Haywood, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Clay, and Cherokee counties (proof of residency required). The commissioned artist must be able to work in close collaboration with city staff. Submitted materials will be reviewed by City of Asheville staff. Once three finalists are selected, they will be required to enter into a contract with the City and conduct a site visit prior to design proposals. Finalists will be paid $500 each for their preliminary designs. The selected finalists will retain copyright over their original design; the City of Asheville will retain rights to promote and reproduce the completed work in print and electronic form on a non-commercial basis. The final artist's budget for this project is $15,000 on a turnkey basis, including all costs: materials, fabrication, installation, and artist commission.