Bicycle Rack Call to Artists
Longmont, Colorado
Deadline for submissions: January 28, 2011
The Art in Public Places Commission of the City of Longmont announces a Call to Artists to design and develop a functional and creative bicycle rack to be installed at the new Sunset Pool facility.
Sunset Pool is the largest outdoor public pool in Longmont. Open from approximately Memorial day through Labor Day, the pool hosts swim lessons from the youngest of swimmers in the zero depth, to the Redtails (high school) swim team, Masters swimmers, and the many many kids and families who hold birthday parties, dive, use the slides and just relax overlooking the incredible views of Longs Peak and the Rocky Mountains. The City offers two additional seasonal outdoor “kiddie” pools, as well as two other Olympic distance + indoor pools.
Sunset pool is adjacent to a City golf course in the western part of the (central) Old Town section of town. It is easily accessible by bicycle from all over the City, especially as the City continues to make great progress in striping more bicycle lanes and enhancing the bicycling experience for all – both motorists and cyclists – throughout the City.
Longmont has been awarded a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists consistently since 2002. As the City grows in population, more and more people are riding bikes to the various City facilities, as well as to school, work and for recreation. Many of these city facilities offer the old bicycle racks that can damage wheels, or the rack itself can simply be lifted and carried away. Many kids and families ride to the pool, and with the addition of the new bathhouse, opening in May 2011, the hope is that even more will commute by bicycle and utilize the new and unique bicycle parking facilities.
Art in Public Places completed two very successful phases of public art bicycle racks in 2005 and 2006, bringing 85 kids from the community together to paint inverted "U" racks which are permanently placed in the downtown area, and offering a call to artists that resulted in six unique and custom designed racks that welcome cyclists at various pools, recreation centers and parks throughout the City. To view these and other projects, sculptures.
Art in Public Places is funded from 1% of Capital Improvement Projects exceeding $50,000 within the City. The Ordinance was adopted in 1989, and since that time, there are more than 50 pieces that have been installed in the permanent collection. For more information about Longmont’s public art program, go to www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum/aipp.
Artwork Specifics:
Bicycle racks must meet the following criteria and must accommodate between at least ten – and preferably 12 - bicycles, locked up, each with two points of contact so as to minimize “wheel bending.”
The rack must allow for relative ease when locking a bike utilizing a “U lock” or a longer cable lock.
Racks must accommodate between at least ten (regular two-wheeled) bicycles
Footprint of rack must not exceed 8’ in width, 30’ in length, and can have multiple elements.
The racks must be constructed of durable materials for permanent exposure to the elements, as well as bicycles and locks of all kinds;
The rack must meet safety requirements as determined by the City’s Risk Manager
Additional considerations:
Artists might want to consider those who ride “irregular” bicycles for lock up, including recumbants, tandems, trailers, trail-a-bike, etc.
Buzz words that could be utilized: swimming pool, Sunset, mature trees, Longs Peak, golf course, sunsets, green, funky, timeless, tween/teen friendly, color.
Racks may be colorful, whimsical and imaginative; “pro bike” or “pro environmental” messages may be incorporated; any “hints” as to the use of the bicycle rack are encouraged (i.e some artistic bicycle racks are not identifiable as such).
Art in Public Places will be responsible for the installation of bike rack per artists’ specifications. This is to minimize insurance requirements and costs to artists.
Bicycle racks must be identifiable as such, and artist may incorporate a bicycle into the design or the AIPP Commission may choose place “bicycle parking” identification to the rack or within the vicinity of such.
Submission Requirements:
Artists may submit electronic images or (hard copy) sketches on 8 ½ x 11 sheets of paper; color or black and white. Artists may submit up to two proposals each for consideration.
On a separate sheet/file, please include:
Artists’ contact information (name, email, website, phone, snail mail address, etc.)
Three recent projects and contact information for each
Artists’ statement and/or artists’ appeal to this project, specifically
description and/or list of media and/or materials which will be utilized for proposed project
proposed sketch of secure (permanent) installation, with brief description if needed.
Eligibility:
This is open to artists residing in the USA. The AIPP Commission encourages artists from all cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds to apply.
The Competition:
A citizen selection panel, comprised of citizens, bicycle enthusiasts, and City staff will review all designs and select a winner. Upon notification, winner shall submit installation specs for the AIPP/City of Longmont engineering task force to review. Upon notification/contractual agreement, artist will have approximately twelve weeks to complete the work and ship them to Longmont.
Budget:
The winning artist will receive $4500 for the final design and completed and delivered bicycle rack. A travel or shipping stipend of up to $500 is available; the City will be responsible for installation and all of the associated costs thereof.
Timeline:
December 27, 2010 call to artists
January 28, 2011 submissions due
mid February winners notified
May 20 completed projects due to AIPP
May 23 installation
Please submit materials by January 28, 2011 to:
Lauren Greenfield
Art in Public Places Administrator
City of Longmont
400 Quail Road
Longmont, CO 80501
303.651.8924
FAX: 303-651-0483
Lauren.greenfield@ci.longmont.co.us
