The City of Santa Clarita is seeking an artist (or team of artists) to provide for the design and construction of a community entry art piece along Magic Mountain Parkway and the exit from the 5 Freeway (North). The artwork will be situated prominently on a large wall at intersection of Magic Mountain Parkway and the off ramp from Interstate 5.
The new art work will welcome visitors and help define the image of the City by creating a landmark entrance. Motorists exiting the 5 Freeway at the Magic Mountain Parkway northbound and those traveling eastbound on Magic Mountain Parkway will be greeted by this art piece.
Interested artists are asked to apply through Café (the on-line Call for Artist service) at the following website: www.callforentry.org
PROJECT GOALS
The following project goals will help guide the selection of the commissioned artwork:
- Artwork is of an original, site-specific design(s).
- Artwork is fabricated in a durable, low maintenance material that will withstand the heat and other elements of Santa Clarita.
- Artwork is complementary to the overall context of the park and surrounding area.
- The piece must not cause driver distractions or confusion.
- Artwork must be installed no later than October 31, 2013.
DESCRIPTION
The cement wall in which the art will be placed is 34 feet wide and 36 feet tall. The usable space for the art piece is 34 feet wide and 15 feet tall.
The artwork can be created using a variety of methods and materials including: sandblasting, etching, tile work, stone, metalwork, grating, paint, etc. There is vegetation (Districtis Buccinatoria / Blood-Red Trumpet Vine) on the wall and will be very close to the art work.
PROJECT THEMES & BACKGROUND
There are three distinct themes that provide community identity for the City of Santa Clarita. Residence value Recreation, Outdoor Resources, and the History found in the valley.
RECREATION:
Recreation is of prime importance to the City. There are currently a total of twenty-six parks scattered in various neighborhoods throughout the city. Many have lighted tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields. There are over 3,000 acres (12 km2) of open space and 32 miles (51 km) of off-street trails within its boundaries.
In addition to the Parks, the City has also built the Santa Clarita Sports Complex (skate park, activities center, gymnasium, and aquatics center), 60 miles of off-street trails, and others to assist with an active and healthy lifestyle.
HISTORY:
Santa Clarita has a rich history. The area has been home to Ancient Civilizations, Spanish Land Grants, vaqueros herding cattle, California’s first Gold Rush, and an oil boom. Many Hollywood Westerns were shot in the valley, and film continues to be an important part of the city.
ENJOYMENT OF NATURE & OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION:
Since the City’s incorporation in 1987, the City has made a significant effort to preserve the greenbelt and undeveloped land within and outside the City. Preserving open space in and around the City has always been an important priority for the community and City Council. In July 2007, City of Santa Clarita property owners voted in favor of creating the Open Space Preservation District (OSPD). The District is designed to expand the City’s existing Open Space, Park and Parkland Program in order to preserve natural land from development, create more parks for community usage, and protect rare biological and geological regions.
BUDGET:
A budget of $15,000 must cover all associated costs of the project, including but not limited to, design, fabrication, materials, labor, transportation, insurance, consulting fees (such as structural engineering or testing), installation, permit fees, per diem, and taxes for both pieces. It is the responsibility of the artist to purchase all the art materials necessary to complete the project.
ELIGIBILITY
The project is open to all artists, age 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, natural origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. Employees of the City of Santa Clarita and immediate families of each are not eligible to apply for this project. Immediate family includes the spouse, great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the employee and his/her spouse. This also includes individuals for whom the employee is current legal guardian.
TIME LINE
July 12, 2013 Deadline to submit materials to Café (the on-line Call for Artist service) at www.callforentry.org
July 15 – 22, 2013 Artist Selection Committee rates applicants.
July 24, 2013 Artist Selection Committee meets to finalize recommendation for three finalist artists for the proposal phase. Each finalist artist will receive a stipend of $500 for this phase of the project.
August 29, 2013 Finalist artists present their concept proposals to the Artist Selection Committee. In order to receive the stipend/honorarium, the finalists will be required to present and submit a detailed conceptual design proposal that includes the following:
- To-scale renderings of the proposed artistic enhancement, location, and orientation
- A written description and/or sample of the materials to be used and written substantiation of their appropriateness
- A timeline for the design, fabrication, and installation
- A written budget for all project costs (not to exceed)
- A brief written narrative describing the concept, theme, and intent of the proposal
September 12, 2013 Arts Commission approves recommendation of the Artist Selection Committee for selected artist.
September 13, 2013 Artist Agreement sent to the winning artist(or artist team).
September 20, 2013 Agreement returned to Arts and Events Office.
October, 2013 Completed artwork installed at Magic Mountain Parkway site.
The City of Santa Clarita reserves the right to change the project timeline.
HOW TO APPLY
Artists interested in being considered should submit the following through Café (www.callforentry.org) by July 12, 2013:
1. Letter of Interest.
2. Current Resume.
3. Three examples of the artist’s work.
For additional information or questions please contact:
Jeff Barber
Arts & Events Supervisor
Community Services Division
City of Santa Clarita, CA
(661) 250-3779
Call to Artists: For Piece at Magic Mtn/5 Freeway
