Call For Artists: Garfield Super Block is Looking for Talented Applicants for New Projects

August 14, 2023 Ike Everard

The Garfield Super Block is located in Seattle's Central District and is shared by Medgar Evers Pool, play fields, Teen Life Center, and a community center, all owned and operated by Seattle Parks & Recreation and Garfield High School. The site boundaries are Cherry Street to the north, 23rd Avenue to the west, 25th Avenue to the east, and Alder Street to the south. The area is mainly residential in character along 25th and Alder, with mixed commercial uses at Cherry and 23rd Avenue.

Calls for Art

1) PILLARS OF PROMISE

The Garfield Super Block Coalition (GSB) is seeking seven artists to create
seven separate pillars, and one collaborative pillar to tell the stories of the seven
ethnic communities that settled in the Central District from 1800 to 1975. These artworks will be created by an artist from each of the 7 cultures: African American, Chinese, Duwamish, Filipino, Italian, Japanese and Jewish people. The pillars will be fabricated by a third party for the Garfield Super Block site.

Additionally, the artists will have the opportunity to collaborate on a single seven-sided pillar (e.g. a heptagonal shape when looked at plan-view), with each artist designing one side. This pillar will have a solar/light function.

The shape, size, and material of the pillar will be designed in coordination with Site Workshop. Site Workshop will provide all artists with the size and weight constraints during the design process. Foundation and anchoring for the artwork will also be designed by Site Workshop.

Budget:

The selected artist(s) will receive a stipend of $10,000 after their final design is submitted to and accepted by the coalition.

Eligibility:

This call is open to emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in Washington State who represent one of the seven ethnic groups; Black/African American, Chinese, Duwamish, Filipino, Italian, Japanese, and Jewish people.

Selection Requirements:

Letter of Interest related to the scope of work. (Please also explain your connection to the cultural community you are applying to represent.)
Bio or Artist Statement
1-Page Concept Proposal that includes, concept for pillars, materials, and which ethnic community/s the artist represents.
6-10 Images of Past Artwork

Application Deadline:

All application documents should be emailed to alison@garfieldsuperblock.org on or before 11:59pm on Tuesday, September 12th, 2023. Applications received after this date won’t be reviewed.

Link to call: http://publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=6545

Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

www.garfieldsuperblock.org

info@garfieldsuperblock.org

2) REFORESTING THE CENTRAL AREA

The Garfield Super Block Coalition (GSB) is seeking an artist to create three separate tree stump designs to be used for seating that will be fabricated by a third party for the site of the Garfield Super Block.

The present reality of the Central Area is the urban village, a strategy of rezoning for maximum building height that, some would argue, helped speed up the process of gentrification and displacement in the neighborhood. At this moment in time, it is hard to imagine a pre-settlement, pre-industry, and pre-peopled reality. The Garfield Super Block Art Team asks that an artist join the design team, in collaboration with the landscape architects, to envision a “reforested” space that honors the history of the land and the roots systems that connect us to the past and future. This project represents trees, stumps, roots, and other biome that would have occurred naturally in the area. They will be utilized as sculptural seating elements in the park and should also remind us of the true scale of nature in relation to the human body.

The artist will submit final designs to a mutually decided upon fabricator for construction and installation. Materials will be decided upon mutually with the design team and landscape architects. This commission is for DESIGN ONLY.

Budget:

The selected artist will receive a stipend of $10,000 after their final design is submitted to the coalition.

Eligibility:

This call is open to emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in Washington State.

Selection Requirements: