Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announces a juried public art competition, open to all Artists living in the Greater Philadelphia area. Artists and Design Teams are invited to envision permanent artwork that explores the theme of TIME as a source for inspiration. This
artwork may be designed for the Elevator Tower or other significant architectural features of the station. Together, the artwork will serve as a dynamic landmark for the tens of thousands of pedestrians, shoppers, residents, motorists and SEPTA riders commuting through or passing by this busy station each day.
ART IN TRANSIT PROGRAM
SEPTA has embarked on an Art in Transit Program designed to incorporate art elements into renovation and construction projects for selected stations and public transportation facilities. The program allocates up to one percent of the construction budget of capitally funded projects for the design, fabrication, and installation of permanent artwork. The purpose of the Art in Transit Program is to create a more welcoming and dynamic transit environment for regular and new riders and to foster a feeling of pride within the surrounding community.
PROJECT THEME
For many years, a large scale clock, mounted at the intersection of 52nd and Market Streets, served as a beacon for community residents and riders. The project’s theme pays tribute to this much loved local landmark. TIME, as the theme for this project, may be expressed literally as a clock, or it may serve as a point of departure for symbolic interpretation. The challenge will be to take an instrument of time from the station’s history and use it as the genesis of a new work, one that is both meaningful to the community and at the same time dynamic and imaginative as public artwork. The passing of time is integral to the daily urban transit experience.
Time is important to those who ride the El morning and night, back and forth, from home to work and from work to home. At 52nd Street, time also has meaning for the surrounding business community as hours when they welcome customers. TIME is also one of life’s greatest mysteries, a concept which Artists may creatively explore in many visually rich directions.
MARKET STREET EL
The process of constructing a new El is already underway in West Philadelphia and Delaware County, from 46th Street Station to the Millbourne Station. The 52nd Street station is the third of six stations
to be completed and, as the other stations, will receive considerable attention both within and outside the immediate community. A major feature of the reconstruction project is a new streamlined single-column structure, which visually opens up Market Street, bringing natural light to the street and streetscape, and welcoming riders to bright new stations and to the surrounding community and businesses.
The public art project is an important component of each station reconstruction project, and each of six stations will have a different art installation. Several stations may have artwork actually integrated into
the infrastructure wall, floor or guideway box beam, while others may have distinct sculptural elements suspended from the walls or ceiling. Each station will have its own unique personality expressed in the artwork, and, in turn, the characteristics that contribute to the personality of each piece should be a reflection of the community.
MATERIALS
The time theme offers an exciting opportunity for creative design utilizing various materials either alone or in combination. These materials include cast glass, ceramic mosaic, fiber optic, neon, or a
variety of durable metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. If a functional clock is integrated into an artwork, alternative power sources, such as solar, could be considered. In addition, since ontime performance is critical for our riders, a functional clock must have the capability to be automatically updated on a daily basis with the correct time.
BUDGET
SEPTA’s Art-in-Transit Program has established a total art budget of $140,000. The art budget is inclusive of all Artists’ fees, legal fees, insurance, costs of materials, fabrication, shipment and installation and other project related expenses.
ELIGIBILITY
This competition is open to all painters, printmakers, sculptors, and craftspeople, living in the Philadelphia area. Participation of artists of color and artists from West Philadelphia is strongly encouraged. Artists may apply as individuals or as members of a creative team. No proposal shall be from, or contract awarded to, any SEPTA or City employee or official who submits a proposal or solicits any contract in which he or she may have direct or indirect interest.
CONTRACT AWARD
Once an artist is selected, he/she will be required to enter into a SEPTA-approved Subcontract Agreement with the contractor prior to commencing the work. No selection shall be considered final until the artist and the contractor have properly executed that agreement. Selected artists are expected to work with the project manager on the preparation of construction documents and in the consideration of conceptual and technical concerns to assure the full integration of the artwork into the specific requirements of the site. Compliance with applicable rules, methods, and procedures of all
governmental boards, bureaus, offices, commissions, and other agencies of SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia is required.
ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS
First Phase:
All entries will be reviewed by a five-member Selection Panel, which will include SEPTA’s Manager of Art in Transit, a design team representative, a community representative, an artist, and an arts
professional, who together will recommend a group of five Semifinalists based on written statements, slide or digital submissions and previous experience.
Second Phase:
Semi-finalists will be invited to an Orientation Meeting which includes a site visit. Drawings and detailed information about the site, including dimensions, will be provided at that time. (Information
about SEPTA may be accessed at www.SEPTA.org.) Semi-finalists will then be requested to develop a detailed proposal for review by the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel will reconvene to review the Semi-finalists' proposals and will make its final recommendations. (The panel reserves the right to recommend none of the submissions.) A design stipend of $1,000, which must cover all incurred expenses, will be awarded to each Semi-finalist or team.
PROPOSAL SELECTION CRITERIA
Semi-finalists’ proposals will be evaluated based on aesthetic quality, sensitivity to community, responsiveness to functionality, feasibility and compatibility to existing station design. Other selection criteria include adherence to specific dimension and weight requirements, technical proficiency, durability of materials, resistance to vandalism, concern for public safety and minimum maintenance.
Artists are encouraged to visit 52nd Street Station.
WHERE TO SUBMIT
All materials should be mailed or delivered to: Marsha Moss, Public Art Consultant,
SEPTA Market El Stations, 220 Locust Street 27D, Philadelphia, PA 19106
HOW TO APPLY
In order to accommodate those artists who prefer digital submissions of images, in additional to those who use slides, both methods will be accepted for this current project. Please note that you may submit images digitally or as slides. You may not use both methods.
1. Submit slides of your artwork. Submit a maximum of eight slides of recent artwork with no more than two slides of an individual work. A portion of the depicted work should relate in material and/or approach to the El Station project. Collaborative teams must include up to six slides per member. Each slide must be clearly labeled directly on the slide mounting with the artist’s name, a number
corresponding to the number on the slide sheet, and a red dot indicating the top right side of the slide. All slides must be 35 mm enclosed in 2" x 2" mounts. Slides must be submitted in a standard sized plastic slide sheet. (Glass slides or slides with applied labels cannot be screened.) OR you may submit digital images of your artwork. Submit a maximum of eight digital images of recent artwork with no more than two images of an individual work. A portion of the depicted work should relate in material and/or approach to the 52nd Street project. Collaborative teams must include up to six images per member. Images must be saved as PC compatible JPG files on a CD-ROM at 72 dpi. The
maximum pixel dimensions are 1000 in width and 1000 in height. The file size must not exceed 2MB. All images must be clearly labeled with the Artist’s last name_ first name and image number (order to be viewed). Example: smith_jane 01. Do not label images with characters, commas, periods or spaces. The Image Identification Form must correspond with digital images. Do not imbed images in a Power Point presentation.
2. Submit two copies of the Image Identification Form. Click here to download official call for entries, which includes this form. The Image Identification Form must be used and all information should
be typed or clearly printed. Each item must correctly correspond to the numbered image.
3. Submit two copies of a current résumé. If you are submitting a proposal as a collaborative team, each member must submit an individual resume.
4. Submit eight copies of a Statement of Interest. Please provide a typed statement describing the aesthetic and general approach to the El Station project. The statement should fill no more
than one side of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper. A detailed proposal is not expected at this time; however, we do expect the statement to focus on the artwork you are proposing and not on your past work.
5. Include a 9" x 12" self-addressed stamped envelope. Every effort will be made to ensure the safe handling of Artists' materials; however, we cannot be responsible for their loss or damage.
6. Additional guidelines:
• Incomplete or ineligible submissions will not be reviewed.
• All pages submitted must be 8 l/2" x 11".
• Use paper clips and not staples to secure any part of your application.
• Send no more than the maximum number of materials specified.
• Do not send folders, cover letters, printed reviews, tapes, brochures or catalogues. They will not be reviewed in this first phase of the process. If you have a specific question, please e-mail it to:
marshamoss@aol.com.
DEADLINE
Submissions must be received by 5 pm on January 5, 2008. No late entries will be accepted.
NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
Artists will receive notification of the panel's decision by letter before January 18, 2008. Materials accompanied by a return envelope with sufficient postage will be returned by mail. Regretfully, SEPTA will not be responsible for loss or damage to entries.
SCHEDULE 2008
Submission Deadline: January 5
First Phase - Panel review of submissions: January 15
Notification of Semi-Finalists: January 18
Return of submission material: January 24
Semi-Finalist Orientation Mtg/Site Visit: February 5
Second Phase: Proposal Presentations: April 1
SEPTA/Community/Art Commission Meetings: May/June
Installation: December
SEPTA reserves the right to modify or revise the Call for Artists at any time.
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