Public art will complement major rehabilitation work at three stations
The Chicago Transit Authority has kicked off a search for artists to create public works of art for three Blue Line stations that will undergo rehabilitation under the $492 million Your New Blue project – which is part of Mayor Emanuel’s Building a New Chicago program that includes infrastructure improvements to modernize the CTA transit system for the 21st century.
Now through early January, the CTA is accepting qualifications from artists who have an interest in seeing their art enhance public space at the Damen, Western and California Blue Line stations on the O’Hare branch. Prior public art experience is not a requirement. A community meeting is being held regarding this public art project to answer questions from the public and interested artists:
Monday, December 16, 2013
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Haas Park Fieldhouse
2402 N. Washtenaw Avenue
The CTA plans to incorporate public works of art at additional stations undergoing rehabilitation work as part of the Your New Blue project, details of which will be announced at a future date. Currently, the CTA already has more than 50 works of art at 41 stations along the Pink, Red and Brown Lines. An additional 11 rail stations will feature new artwork in the coming years as part of the recently completed Red North 7 and Red Line South Reconstruction projects, and also as part of the upcoming Wilson Station Reconstruction and 95th Street Terminal Improvements projects.
Local, national and international artists are invited to apply. Applicants are asked to submit their qualifications and portfolio for consideration per the instructions in the Request for Proposal. After reviewing all submissions, as many as nine artists may be invited to interview based on artistic merit, qualifications and professional recognition of the artists, and the artists’ written statements of interest. The final three artists will be determined following the interview process.
Submissions must be delivered in person or by mail no later than 3:30 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2014 to CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake St., 2nd Floor Bid Office, Chicago, Illinois, 60661.
Federal Formula Funds provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will be used to pay for the total project budget for art at all three stations. The comprehensive budget is not to exceed $480,000, which includes costs associated with artist fees, fabrication, shipping/delivery, administrative fees and a project contingency fund.
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