The city of Pendleton, Oregon invites artists with public art experience to submit their qualifications for the design and installation of a public art project designed to honor the city’s veterans, as part of the Pendleton Veterans Memorial Park project.

BUDGET:  $125,000

ELIGIBILITY: Professional artists residing in the United States and western Canada; must have successfully completed at least 2 public art projects valued over $50,000

DEADLINE:  December 16, 2019

View site images here.

Artwork Goals

• Honor the courage and sacrifice of all veterans from the Pendleton area, past, present and future in all five armed services.
• Create and install an artwork that will be recognized as a key attraction for locals and visitors in the city of Pendleton, one that is unique for its purpose and quality.

Site Information

The site is a pre-existing pedestal raised above ground level four feet in a small park near a heavily trafficked intersection in Pendleton, Oregon. The site is near the intersection of a state highway and a busy city street.

Timeline

Request for Qualifications Issued: 10/22/19
Qualifications Response Due: 12/16/19
Site Visit for semi-finalists: 1/8/20 (approximately)
Concepts, maquettes due: 4/15/20
Concepts review: 4/20/20
Finalist selected: 5/1/20
Artwork produced, installed: 3/15/21
Dedication: 4/15/21

Selection Process

The individuals described under community participation will meet as a committee to review the RFQ responses and select three finalists who will be invited to submit concepts. The finalists will have three months to complete the concepts.  The artists will be paid $1,500 for the concept, in addition to travel expenses to visit Pendleton and view the site and meet with the selection committee.  The artists would also be reimbursed for any expense to ship concept materials. The purpose of the meeting in Pendleton is to allow the artist to understand the hope the committee has for the final art piece and for the committee members to meet the artist.  The artist would also have the opportunity to visit the town and understand its character and inspect the site for the artwork.  Members of the VFW would also meet the artist. All sketches, plans, specifications, and reports, including maquettes, submitted as part of the conceptual design proposal will become the property of the City of Pendleton, Oregon upon payment of the concept fee and travel expenses to the artist.

Selection Criteria

• The concept that best captures the spirt of courage and sacrifice by veterans, while also exhibiting a unique approach that will capture the public’s attention for decades to come.
• The ability of the work to withstand the ravages of weather and time.
• The degree to which the artwork will require maintenance or not.
• The ability of the artwork to be produced within the budget, given that the artist has researched the production method and determined its cost.
• The response from the artist’s references.
• The degree to which it appears that the artist will be able to work with the public process.
•  Note that the concept is the number one priority but that other points will be considered.

What to Submit

1. Provide background on the artist or artists if applying as a team.  Description of experience, including types of projects, who commissioned, where installed, how the process worked. Not more than three pages please.
2. Professional references. At least three.
3. Work images: a typed list of your work that you are submitting as an indication of your capability and experience.  Include the title of the work, the dimensions, the budget, and where it was installed and for whom it was produced.
4. Images of at least three works. No more than ten.

How to Submit

Select one of these application methods:

Via email:  Send materials to application@upwithvets.com with the subject line “Application from [artist name]”

Online: Visit www.upwithvets.com and complete an online application

Via U.S. Mail:  Mail applications to:

Veterans Memorial

Pendleton Arts Commission

City of Pendleton

500 SW Dorion Ave.

Pendleton, OR 97801

QUESTIONS?  Email application@upwithvets.com