Ann Arbor seeking Michigan artist for West Park renovations
The City of Ann Arbor Public Art Commission and the Park Advisory Commission are looking for a Michigan artist to beautify a portion of West Park near downtown Ann Arbor.
The project, with a budget of up to $10,000, would decorate the park’s new concrete seat walls. They'll be built on the park’s hill starting this spring.
Al Swerdlow, left, and his wife, Bertha, play with their granddaughter, Sylvie Swerdlow, 2, on the merry-go-round at West Park in Ann Arbor in this file photo.
The project is funded through the city’s Percent for Art program, an ordinance passed by City Council in 2007 that mandates 1 percent of funds budgeted for city capital projects be set aside for public art.
The program sparked some controversy last year after the City Council was asked to spend nearly $850,000 on an integrated water-based art installation for its new police and courts building currently under construction at Huron and Fifth Avenue. One of the issues for those opposing spending the money was the fact that the artist is from Germany instead of Michigan.
At West Park, the three new walls are each 18 inches high by 18 inches wide and 120, 90 and 60 feet long, respectively, going downhill.
Amy Kuras, Ann Arbor’s park planner, said the city is looking for something that is vandal-resistant and does not interfere with seating. Options, she said, could include paintings, mosaics or impressions in the concrete itself, but it is up to the artist to come up with the idea.
The art should complement the park’s theme of creating a more natural environment. The park’s master plan also includes the addition of wetlands, native plants and new pathways.
Application
Those interested should submit a letter of interest, resume, three references and 20 images of past artwork to the city by Friday, Feb. 12. A panel of art professionals, Art Commission and Park Commission staff and community members will select a finalist.
The artist will be selected based on quality of presentation, strength of past work and experience working in public settings. Panelists will also judge artist’s ability to install the artwork and the ability to work in a team.
Timeline
- Feb. 2: West Park walk-through with Amy Kuras; recommended for respondents.
- Feb. 12: Art applications due.
- Feb. 16-25: Review panel meets to choose artist(s).
- March 4: Panel interviews finalists.
- March 5: Panel makes final selection.
- March 15: Panel meets with artist to discuss timeline and project approach.
- May 3: Artist’s design and budget complete.
- April - August: Park under construction, artist’s piece to be installed after May.
Comments
Ryan J. Stanton
Thu, Jan 28, 2010 : 5:16 p.m.
The West Park request for qualifications information recently posted to the citys news Web page has been revised to include/expand upon the following areas: Project walkthrough: A meeting will take place in West Park, in the parking lot at the Chapin Street entrance (between Huron and Miller) on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. Application and submission requirements Format and delivery of proposal submission specifications A sample service purchase order
pegret
Thu, Jan 28, 2010 : 1:15 p.m.
I bet the real reason they're looking for local artists now is because they can't find an 'international' one to do it for only $10,000 dollars. Maybe they could move the Giant City Hall Urinal to West Park, and then we can all swim there when they close the local city-owned pools.
Lynn Lumbard
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 4:43 p.m.
That was the summer of 1967, not 6.7
Lynn Lumbard
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
West Park has a lot of historical meaning in AA. It's not just an early Ann Arbor park, but Bill Browning used to tell AA school children about the Indian trails that went through it. And of course what MarqueA2 mentioned.. the Grateful Dead, I believe it was the summer of '6.7
tdw
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.
I looked at the website it looks like he only finishes a part of his projects
townie
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
Last I heard AAPAC was still seeking Herbert Dreiseitl, who collected his design fee and stopped returning phone calls. I wonder if they found him yet.
Lokalisierung
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 1 p.m.
"I'd prefer something by a Japanese artist. Not only would it look better and be of higher quality but it would also go along with all of those Japanese cars being driven by the Michigan artists." Here we go. Yes I hope they drive American cars that are completely made in Mexico and other countries...yippee.
marqueA2
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.
The park is NOT only used by homeless people. I spend a lot of time in West Park and I often see others there as well. I welcome the renovations to the park, but would really like to see part of that $$ be used to restore the old fountain on the south side of the park back to working order. Also, maybe if the area around the bandshell is improved we might actually get some concerts going there. My buddy Vince is always telling me about how he saw the Grateful Dead play there back in the day... why can't we get something similar going today?
Grumpy
Wed, Jan 27, 2010 : 6:43 a.m.
I hope the artist is able to find a way to incorporate the word "ART" into the design. That way, I can be sure it is indeed art.
mliverox
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10:49 p.m.
Interesting. In a city that can't figure out how to provide cores ervices it is putting in seats for, I assume, the seldom used bandshell? How about getting one of the homeless charities or commissions to pay for this since those are pretty much the only people using that park these days. Maybe the selected artist could design benches that are soft and comfy on top for sleeping, and have a lockable cubby down below so the homeless can lock their things in there. They should also have deep crevices for hiding crack pipes and liquor bottles for when the cops drive through.
Tony Hendrick
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10:41 p.m.
I think yohan's comment about Japanese cars being driven by Michigan artists is funny, but I'm a Michigan artist with many artist friends and guess what? We drive American cars (I can't speak for my friends, but I chose the car I drive because I thought it was the best I could drive for the best price.) I also live on a farm and have a son who sells sweet corn in the summer. I am able to see the benefits of buying locally grown food when there is a convenient option to do so.... and that's the key... when you have a choice, why not?
townie
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10 p.m.
Last I heard they were still seeking the German "artist" who cashed their check and stopped returning phone calls.
Tom Joad
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
ars gratis, gratis artis or something like that
yohan
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.
I'd prefer something by a Japanese artist. Not only would it look better and be of higher quality but it would also go along with all of those Japanese cars being driven by the Michigan artists.