Current Call for Entries

Art in Public Places, Inc. (APP) on behalf of a new public art initiative for the City of Bend, Oregon known as ArtMatch, seeks to commission a work of art for the roundabout (traffic circle) at NE 15th and Bear Creek Road in Bend, Oregon.

Location/Context: The roundabout (traffic circle) is located at the busy intersection of NE 15th Street and Bear Creek Road in a residential neighborhood of Southeast Bend. Bear Creek Elementary School is one block away. Bear Creek Road follows the path of the Emigrant Trail, the route taken by Oregon’s first non-native settlers.

Project Intent/Theme: The committee will evaluate all submissions based on artistic merit, an artist’s past experience, and the ability of the artist to work in large scale. There are numerous possibilities for adding a public artwork to the site that would serve as an “identifying signature” for the neighborhood and refer to the history of the Emigrant Trail. Given the varied nature of the artwork in other Bend roundabouts, ranging from traditional representations of wildlife to abstract works to kinetic sculptures, there are no restrictions on artistic interpretation.

Site: The roundabout, including the border curb/apron, is 85 feet in diameter. The area available for the installation at the center of the roundabout is oval and 50’ x 65’ in diameter. A residential neighborhood, juniper trees and brush surround the roundabout. The City of Bend is in the planning stages of building a bus barn adjacent to the roundabout.

Media/Style/Size: The work of art must be fabricated in durable, permanent, outdoor media that is safe, easily maintained, and has proven its viability in public artworks. The scale of the artwork should be appropriate to the site and neighborhood.

Project Funds: From $50,000 to $75,000 is available to commission a work of art for the intersection of NE 15th Street and Bear Creek Road through a matching program of Brooks Resources called ArtMatch. Individuals, businesses, the Celebrate Bend Foundation and the City of Bend have donated the funds for this project. The donated funds are matched at the 100% level by Brooks Resources, a local real estate developer.

Ownership of Work: The completed and installed sculpture becomes the property of the City of Bend. Reproduction of the selected art work will be in the form of a shared copyright, as the Art in Public Places and the City of Bend, Oregon, need access to images of the works in the collection for public relations, advertising and educational purposes. This will not bar the artist from using images of their work for their own purposes. The Art in Public Places and the City of Bend will not use images of the Public Art Collection of Bend expressly for commercial purposes unless directly authorized by the individual artists.

Application/Selection Process: Details are on the Selection Process page (click here).

Materials to Submit: Details are on the How to Submit page (click here).

Questions/Follow-up: Questions about the project may be directed to Marcelene Trujillo at the Art in Public Places offices by phone (541) 633-7242 or by email (click here).

Project Timeline:

Application Due: January 31, 2008
Notification of Finalists: February 22, 2008
Presentation of Models/Proposals by Finalists: May 12, 2008
Selection: Week of June 2, 2008
Installation: Fall/Winter 2008