Artists sought for Silver Box Project
(Courtesy photo) Sandpoint Arts Commission chair Elle Susnis and former arts commissioner Megan Cherry pose in front of the “Silver Box” located at Fifth Avenue and Oak Street during its installation in November.
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint Arts Commission spent the past two years developing a program to feature annually alternating sculptures in downtown, dubbed the “Silver Box Project.”
The project was approved by City Council members a year ago, and the silver boxes that will serve as the bases for the sculptures were installed in three downtown locations in November. Now, with the onset of spring, comes a call for artists to submit their artwork for consideration.
“For the artists involved, the Silver Box Project represents a paid opportunity to exhibit their work in some of the busiest parts of this art-loving city,” former arts commissioner Megan Cherry said in November.
Three sculptures will be selected by jury process for public display on a one-year loan. The artwork will be mounted on the stainless steel bases located at the corners of Church Street and Fourth Avenue, Oak Street and Fourth Avenue, and Oak Street and Fifth Avenue.
The chosen sculptures will be featured at various downtown community events and will be promoted through various media. For selected artwork, the artists will receive a $500 honorarium and will be entered in a competition for up to $350 in cash prize awards, according to a statement by city officials this week.
For each round of featured art, the community will be invited to vote on the selected works for the “People’s Choice Award” which will entail cash prizes to the winning artists.
The project was initially planned for locations by City Beach, at the trailhead for the Sand Creek, but commission members told council they felt the location was cramped, and would likely only be viewed by users of the path. The chosen locations by Farmin Park, the post office and the Columbia Bank building will not only be available for viewing by pedestrians, but vehicle traffic as well, commission chair Elle Susnis told council last year after revising the project.
The project is open to all artists residing in the United States, though local and regional artists may be given preference. Artist teams are also eligible to apply, including teams of artists from multiple disciplines. Sculpture requirements include:
- The artwork must be an original work of art made by the submitting artist. The artist must own the rights to the artwork and artwork must be available for the duration of the approximate one-year contract.
- The artwork may not contain advertising, religious references, sexual content, negative imagery, or convey political partisanship.
- Artwork must be durable in outdoor conditions and surfaces must not be prone to environmental degradation, e.g. unsealed rust.
- The artwork shall not have kinetic elements or water features.
- Artwork must be structurally safe for display in public and must not have the potential to cause injury. All components must be securely fastened.
- Artwork must arrive in the same condition as portrayed in the application photographs. The commission reserves the right to refuse artwork if it does not match the photographs submitted.
- Artwork minimum size is 24 inches with a maximum size of 48 inches.
- The footprint of the artwork must be able to be securely bolted onto a powder coated steel attachment plate. The city will provide a mounting plate template PDF at time of selection.
- Installation method for artwork should be welded tabs or a similar easy install method using bolts.
- Artwork must weigh no more than 300 pounds.
For information or to apply, go to sandpointidaho.gov/silverboxart2019. The deadline is April 12, and artists must be at least 18 years of age.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.