Call for Artists: Hidden Waters — Water Drops
Authored by Brian Tonetti
The Seven Canyons Trust and The Blocks Arts District are seeking artists to create Water Drops for the Hidden Waters installation on North Temple between State Street and 600 West in Salt Lake City. Eight artists will be selected to design and fabricate Water Drops within a standard 2.5-foot by 3-foot frame. Artists will be awarded a $1,500 commission.
Deadline
Friday, August 9, 2024 at 11:59 PM MST
Budget
$1,500 commission per artist; Eight artists will be selected
LOCATION OF INSTALLATION
North Temple from State Street to 600 W and the Folsom Trail
PURPOSE
A partnership project curated by Seven Canyons Trust and The Blocks Arts District. Funded by: The Blocks, Crocker Catalyst Foundation, Willard L Eccles Foundation, and Utah Humanities.
The Hidden Waters installation will celebrate water in our oasis on the edge of the desert. It will highlight Salt Lake City’s relationship with its hydrology and the stream that built our city. It will highlight a series of narratives based around water, including the Indigenous Peoples of the Salt Lake Valley, the Greatest Snow on Earth, the 2034 Winter Olympics as water sports, stream daylighting, the Great Salt Lake, and more. It will work to culturally daylight the creek—not physically bringing the creek back to the surface. But rather, bringing the idea that the creek runs underneath our city, to the surface of the collective consciousness. Efforts will ultimately build education and stewardship of the hydrology in our city named after water.
About this installation
The installation will be initially focused on North Temple where City Creek flows aboveground and then underneath the street in a pipe. It will connect City Creek Park to the Utah Transit Authority’s North Temple Frontrunner/TRAX Station and Folsom Trail corridor at 600 West in Salt Lake City. Efforts will animate the pedestrian environment along North Temple. The installation will consist of two distinctive phases, the first is a series of artist-commissioned Water Drops and the second will be The Source—a large sculptural element serving as a beacon for the project.
Water Drops will consist of a series of artist-commission pieces installed within a standard three-foot by two-foot metal water drop-shape frame. Artist-commissioned elements can include metalwork, stained glass, wood, written words, and more—the creative possibilities are nearly endless. They will be installed on light posts, similar to a street banner. The pieces will create a new “creekside” walk along North Temple as pedestrians discover the next drop.
The Source will be the second phase of the project. It will serve as a large beacon to draw pedestrians into the installation on North Temple. The piece will be placed at a well-trafficked location on North Temple. The vision is to feature a livestream recording of City Creek on the piece within its concrete pipe underneath North Temple. This will bring the audio and visual of the creek back to the streetscape as it did before its burial at the turn of the 20th Century. It will feature the word “water” in the estimated 120 languages spoken in Utah to create a connection to water for our diverse residents. It will include historical imagery, information about past and future stream daylighting: City Creek Park and the City Creek at Folsom Trail project, and a reproduction of the Stansbury map of the Salt Lake Valley from 1852, which includes some of the Native names for the seven Wasatch canyon creeks.
Timeline
Call for Artists Opens: Monday, July 8th
Application Deadline: Friday, August 9th at 11:59 PM MST
Application Review: Monday, August 12th to Friday, August 16th
Artist Notification & Contracting: Monday, August 19th
Drop Fabrication/Creation: Monday, August 26th to Friday, October 25th
Drop Installation: Monday, November 4th to Friday, November 8th
Unveiling Walk: Monday, November 11th to Friday, November 15th*
*Exact date to be determined.
Details
Eight selected artists will be paid to design and fabricate a single Water Drop within the standard aluminum water drop-shaped frame. Frames will be roughly three feet high by two and a half feet wide. Two sides will sandwich the artist-commissioned piece inside the frame. Artwork should be duplicated or double-sided and viewable from the front and back. Maximum thickness for the artist-commissioned piece is ½ in and maximum weight is 20 lbs. Artists must ensure the edges of the piece are water resistant. If deemed necessary, pieces may be protected with plexiglass, a clear enamel, or non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coating.
Artists should consider future maintenance in design and fabrication. If the artist-commissioned piece is damaged, artists may be asked to make major repairs or full replacement. Additional funding is available to support this.
If selected, artists will pick up the Water Drop frames and will be responsible for installation of the artist-commissioned piece inside. Pieces will then be dropped back off for installation on the identified street light posts.
Artists will be expected to join an unveiling walk between Monday, November 11th and Friday, November 15th. Exact date and time will be coordinated with chosen artists to find a time that works best.
Location of the Water Drops*:
Drop #1 - North Temple Frontrunner Station Viaduct
Drop #2 - NW corner of North Temple/400 W
Drop #3 - NW corner of North Temple/300 W
Drop #4 - NW corner of North Temple/West Temple
Drop #5 - Midblock Crosswalk of 60 N Temple
Drop #6 - NE corner of North Temple and State Street
Drop #7 - NW corner of North Temple and State Street
Drop #8 - Entrance of City Creek Park (North Temple & State St)
*If an artist desires a particular location, please include this information in the application and the reasoning why.
What does a great Water Drop application look like?
Artists should describe the water narrative their piece is reflecting. Guiding elements can include, but are not limited to, celebrating water, water stewardship, water and its connection to the Indigenous Peoples of the Salt Lake Valley, Greatest Snow on Earth, 2034 Winter Olympics, stream daylighting, Great Salt Lake, and more.
Some helpful guiding questions include: How are Salt Lake City residents attached to water? How do we rely on water? How can we create a lasting impact on water stewardship? How is water within you? What are our responsibilities towards water?
The artwork should meet as many of the following goals as possible:
Highlight North Temple, City Creek, and the Folsom Trail corridor within The Blocks project area to create east-west connections
Increase knowledge of Salt Lake City’s hydrology–its creeks, the Jordan River, and Great Salt Lake–and issues related to water
Increase pedestrian traffic from the Central Business District to North Temple and the Folsom Trail corridor
Connect people to our waterways and highlight cultural narratives around water through a hopeful, solutions-based lens
Increase understanding and exposure of Seven Canyons Trust, The Blocks, and additional collaborative partnerships
The artwork must also conform to the following design criteria:
Avoids metallic and reflective materials that cause glare for users, drivers, and reflects into nearby buildings;
Avoids shapes and colors common to standard street signs or pavement markings (see the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices);
Does not include logos, infringe upon any copyright or trademarks, or function as a sign or advertising in any way (Sign Ordinance - Chapter 21A.416 of Salt Lake City Code);
Is free and clear of obscenities or vulgarity as determined by the Selection Committee;
Utilizes materials and supplies appropriate for Salt Lake City’s variable climate;
Resists general wear, vandalism, and offers easy and low-cost maintenance; and
Meets public safety and maintenance standards and all applicable United States, State of Utah, Salt Lake City, and any other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
The artwork must be sealed, including all edges, to be water resistant.
ALL CAN APPLY
Seven Canyons Trust and The Blocks are seeking proposals from qualified local artists to design their Water Drop for the Hidden Waters installation. This request for proposals is open to all artist and/or artist-led teams residing in Utah regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, political opinion and affiliation, and mental and physical ability. Those new to the public art process in Salt Lake City, or artists and designers working outside of the traditional mural process are encouraged to review the sign ordinance to be in compliance (Sign Ordinance - Chapter 21A.416 of Salt Lake City Code).
Selection of the artist(s) will be based on having met as many of the following criteria as possible:
Robust professional experience in accomplishing projects of similar scope and scale;
Ability to meet deadlines, budget, and perform work in a timely, professional manner;
Willingness to consult and work collaboratively with partners, Selection Committee, stakeholders, and community members;
Understanding of the project goals, placemaking concepts, and design in a context-sensitive manner;
Interest in the project and connection to the surrounding community; and
Creation of previous lasting works that do not require excessive maintenance, repair costs, and meet all public safety and maintenance standards.
REVIEW PROCESS AND COMMISSION
The Blocks and Seven Canyon Trust will review and make sure all submitted applications meet the established requirements and deadlines. All properly submitted applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. The Committee will select eight artists and two alternates. The Selection Committee shall be a group of representatives, including but not limited to, the Seven Canyons Trust, The Blocks Arts District, Salt Lake City Arts Council, and Downtown Community Council.
Eight artists will be selected to receive $1,500 commissions each. This sum is inclusive of all fees and related expenses including, but not limited to, design, preparation, installation on frame, materials, protective coating, travel, or any other costs incurred to perform the work. Artwork should include elements on both sides of the framework (either duplicated or double-sided).
The total commission for each selected artist is $1,500. Payment will be made as follows:
$750 (50%) upon artist selection, signing of the artist agreement, and design approval
$750 (50%) will be made upon completion of the Water Drop
The selected artists will enter into an agreement with the Seven Canyons Trust. The alternates will only enter into an agreement if the Trust and any of the eight selected artist(s) are unable, for any reason and within the Trust’s sole discretion, to enter into an agreement. The agreement lays out the terms and conditions of the project, including services, compensation, quality assurance, insurance, termination, ownership, and maintenance. The selected artist(s) will be required to carry general liability insurance, auto insurance, and workers’ compensation (unless a waiver of coverage is allowed and acquired). The Blocks will be responsible for ongoing maintenance following the inspection, approval, and acceptance of the completed artwork.
Applicants are encouraged to review the agreement before submission to make sure the terms and conditions are acceptable. Click here to review the agreement.
SUBMISSION
Please send submissions to info@sevencanyonstrust.org in PDF format. Submissions are due Friday, August 9th at 11:59 PM MST.
Please direct all questions to info@sevencanyonstrust.org until Friday, August 2, 2024. Questions and responses will be posted at sevencanyonstrust.org/hidden-waters for review. Please review the website prior to emailing questions. Questions received after August 2nd will go unanswered.
Applications that meet this deadline and all other requirements will be reviewed. Applications should be packaged into a single file and submitted as a .PDF with the following file name: last name_first name_proposal.pdf. There is no application fee.
Late, incomplete, or applications not submitted within the page lengths, formatting, or parameters below (as determined by the Selection Committee) will not be reviewed. Please do not include additional materials not requested herein. This may result in disqualification.
Each application should include the following REQUIRED materials:
Cover Letter (One Page Limit) – Briefly describe your proposal, your interest in and qualifications for the request, and any other applicable information. The letter must include the address, email, and phone number of the artist(s).
Proposal (Two Page Limit) – Describe in detail your concept, what narrative the piece is covering, how it meets the above goals, and any other helpful considerations. Although it is not required, artists are encouraged to include a sketch, graphic, or rendering of the proposed design(s).
Applications may also include the following OPTIONAL materials:
Artwork Examples (Five Image Limit) – A maximum of five images of prior artwork by the artist(s). Under, near, or on the image, please include the artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, and a brief description. Please do not submit collages containing multiple images.
Resume (Two Page Limit per Artist) – This should include the artist’s training, professional experience, name, address, email, and phone number. Each artist may submit a two-page resume.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES
The Blocks and/or Selection Committee reserves the right to proceed with additional selection processes, reject any or all submissions, and revise the evaluation process. Any revisions will be announced in writing to all respondents and on applicable materials. The Selection Committee will determine, at its sole discretion and based on the submitted information, the most qualified application as evaluated by the criteria herein. The determination shall be final and conclusive.
The issuance of the request for proposals and the receipt and evaluation of submittals does not obligate the Selection Committee to select an artist(s) or enter into an agreement. Applicants shall not contact the employees of The Blocks or members of the Selection Committee to manipulate or otherwise influence the process in any way. This process may be canceled at any time prior to the execution of an agreement without liability. The Blocks and/or Selection Committee reserves the right to then pursue negotiations with an alternative artist(s). Costs incurred in responding to this request will not be compensated.
