Public art project along Jordan River Trail in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Proposals due: July 31, 2023

Award of contract: August 31, 2023

Commission award: $3000 (see notes under “Budget” below)

Project Summary: The Glendale Neighborhood Council, in collaboration with Salt Lake City Parks & Open Lands, is seeking proposals from artists or teams of artists for the re-design of a series of four (4) wooden art signs along the Jordan River Trail in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City.  See a map of the panel locations.

We are seeking one artist or team of artists to do all four signs, each of which features 2 sides. We are interested in having the artist design all 8 sides of these signs. The artist would fully carry out the front sides of each sign, and host a community art project to engage the public in helping carry out the art for the B-sides. 

History: The Jordan River Art Sign Project was an idea that came from Van Hoover (Salt Lake City Parks & Open Lands) 8 years ago. He was interested in having community artists create art that could be switched out regularly for trail users along the Jordan River Trail to enjoy. He also saw it as a communication tool, suggesting to the community that there is attention and care going into the area along the trail in our neighborhoods here on the West Side. Hoover engaged some youth groups in the initial project by taking them out on the canoes and giving them a river experience with the artists before helping create the art signs. Lewis and Laura Hansen, director of the Jordan River Commission, secured a grant through the county to build and create the signs. Justified Inc did the initial designs and currently there are multiple signs along many miles of the Jordan River Trail. Many years have now passed and Glendale Neighborhood Council is seeking to update and refresh those signs that reside in the Glendale neighborhood. 

Themes: Diversity of Glendale (including Tongan and Latinx communities), Jordan River (wildlife, features).

Imagery Requests: To include environmental and other physical elements in the vicinity of each sign. i.e. Labyrinth, Fife Wetlands Preserve marsh area, Three Creeks Confluence, International Peace Gardens

Project Goals: The selected artist or team of artists will have proposed an engaging, unique, and meaningful design for these wooden signs. The selected design will add interest to the Jordan River Trail as well as to the neighborhood and will reinforce a sense of place and belonging for community members, as well as engage community members from outside of Glendale as to what this neighborhood is all about. 

Budget: $3000 total, inclusive of the artists’ fees and materials necessary to complete the project.

Letter of Intent: Each artist or team of artists must send a letter of intent to chair@glendaleslc.org no later than June 30, 2023. If applicable, include the names of all artists on the team, designate a representative and include that person’s contact information, state your intention to submit a proposal, and include links to artists’ websites if you believe you have especially significant qualifying experience. 

There will be additional opportunities to engage with the community for final design. Include questions if you have them.

Proposal Requirements: Interested artists or teams of artists must submit the following by July 31, 2023:

• A sketch design, showing the proposed design in context, at a scale of no smaller than 1⁄4” = 1’, showing colors and materials accurately. Add materials notes and other explanatory text to orient and inform the selection jury. Highly preferred to have sketch in digital format (jpg or pdf).

• A work plan, including an installation schedule, a list of any large equipment required and a timeline for the use of that equipment, a summary of measures to be taken to protect the structure, and a list of any hazardous or obnoxious materials, means, or methods required to complete the project.

• A proposed date or dates and plan to engage the community in helping carry out the B-sides of each wooden sign. 

• A list of completed projects. The artist will be a contractor to the owner, and must coordinate efforts with the builder so as not to create conflicts with the builder’s work plan. The owner may require insurance for the duration of the project, and may enforce certain worksite standards, including, but not limited to, OSHA workplace safety standards. Evidence of experience with this kind of work arrangement will be considered favorably.

• A basic line-item budget, showing the major projected expenses, including artist’s fees, any engineering fees, equipment rentals, and materials. This is to assure the developer that the proposal can be completed within the budget and schedule.

• Artists must certify availability between a start date and a completion date to be determined in post-award negotiation.

• At least one client or professional reference.

• Artists may be asked to sit for an interview with the selection panel

• Optional: A portfolio of completed work, including color photographs of at least one large-scale publicly visible project for which at least one team-member was the lead artist.

Deliver proposals, no later than July 31, 2023, in PDF format, to:

Turner Bitton, Chairman
Glendale Neighborhood Council
chair@glendaleutah.org
(801) 564-3860

Proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee, which will include representatives of Glendale Neighborhood Council and the Glendale community.  

Site Specifications: The dimensions of each wood sign are 70” x 70” with an extra ½” around the edges that will rest behind the wooden frame. Proposals should plan to cover the entirety of the space within the Plexiglas frame of each wood sign. 

Award of contract: Artists who have submitted proposals will be notified of selection results by August 31, 2023. At the time of contract award, the artist will receive an initial payment of $1,000 to cover material expenses. 

Remaining payments to be made upon completion of this project. A contract for the work will be presented for review at that time.

Questions: Direct any questions about the project by email no later than June 30, 2023 to: chair@glendaleslc.org. We will distribute our responses to all the artists on the mailing list, so that all teams have access to all the information.