ART PROSPECTUS #13

TriMet Public Art TriMet is the transit agency Old Town/Chinatown station art for Portland, Oregon and the surrounding region. TriMet invites artists In 1992, TriMet voluntarily to submit slides and initiated an art program qualifications to for Westside MAX, the develop artwork for 18-mile extension of its two light rail stations existing light rail system. and their immediate With more than 20 artists areas. This work should participating, the Westside help define a place MAX public art program that is at the center became one of the of a growing new arts country’s most ambitious district in downtown efforts to integrate the Portland. The total vision of artists into public art budget, including transit. In 1997, TriMet design fee and formalized its commitment fabrication, is $75,000. to art by passing a resolution to establish an Background and goals agency-wide public art program. Since then, the The I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail Project will extend MAX service between art program has added Clackamas Town Center and Portland State University. In downtown works by more than 100 Portland, the new alignment will travel north and south on the current artists to the expanding bus mall along SW 5th and 6th avenues. The Old Town/NW Couch St bus and light rail system. and Old Town/NW Davis St stations are located in the heart of Portland’s The goal of TriMet’s Public Art Program is to promote transit use and community pride by integrating temporary and permanent art works into the public transit system, thereby celebrating the contributions of public transportation and recognizing the cultural richness in the region. ART PROSPECTUS #13 historic Old Town/Chinatown area. The streets are lined with historic brick buildings that house restaurants, shops, art galleries and nightclubs, as well as government offices and social service agencies. The Chinese Classical Garden is nearby as well as the Oregon Jewish Museum, the Portland Art Center and the future Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery. The neighborhood is home to an economically diverse population that includes homeless individuals, artists and more affluent Pearl District residents. Construction will begin in early 2007 and the alignment will open for service in September 2009.

The goal of this commission is to provide a unique identifier to each of the two Old Town/Chinatown light rail stations that both reflects the current personality of the neighborhood and also helps to define the visual character of the growing new arts district.

Art opportunities Opportunities include, but are not limited to, benches, leaning rails, shelter columns, tree grates and paving. Artwork should: • support the character of the station areas in a forward-looking way • be safe, low-maintenance and vandal-resistant Artist fees Total art budget for the Old Town/Chinatown stations is $75,000, including artist fees, fabrication and/or construction. All artists’ expenses, including travel, must come out of this fee. Installation will be provided by construction contractor. Budgets can potentially be enlarged by drawing on construction funds. Application procedures Applications should include: 1. A one- to two-page letter describing a. your interest in the project b. your previous experience and abilities 2. Resume (not to exceed 2 pages) 3. Up to 12 slides/digital images, numbered and labeled with artist’s name and correct side up, and a corresponding image list with title, medium, brief description and date of work 4. Stamped, self-addressed return envelope. ART PROSPECTUS #13

Selection process The criteria used by the selection committee includes the artist’s professional qualifications, proven ability to undertake comparable projects, and artistic merit as evidenced by slides/digital images. The selection committee will be comprised of the Portland Mall Art Advisory Committee and two members of the Old Town/Chinatown community. The committee is not required to commission work from among submitting artists. Timeline Application due ...... May 18, 2006 Selection ...... Week of May 24 Conceptual proposal due ...... July 6 Presentation to committee ...... July 12 Final design due ...... September 7 Presentation to committee ...... September 13

Installation is expected to be in early spring 2009. The new light rail line is due to open September 2009.

Schedule is subject to change.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 18. Email applications will not be accepted. Submit to:

TriMet Public Art Program 710 NE Holladay St. Portland, OR 97232

While all reasonable care will be taken in the handling of materials, TriMet is not liable for lost or damaged materials.

For questions, contact: Mary Priester, TriMet public art manager, at 503-962-2291 or [email protected] or Michelle Traver, TriMet public art coordinator, at 503-962-2159 or [email protected]. Portland Mall Art Advisory Committee Steve Fosler—architect, TriMet Public Art Advisory Committee (chair), Portland Mall Citizen Advisory Committee Paul Fujita—artist, Cal Skate Skateboards Bob Hastings—project architect, TriMet Lee Kelly—artist John Mangan—Northwest Business for Culture and Arts (vice-chair) Linda Tesner—curator, Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art Dorie Vollum—Regional Arts and Culture Public Art Advisory Committee member