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BETHLEHEM — Art on the Rail Trail is looking for the second artist to produce public art for placement along the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail—and initial applications are due by the end of Monday, June 18.
The first ART mural, created by Andrea Hersh, was dedicated at 90 Adams St. last year and depicts fanciful green rolling hills and trees, dotted by pink flowers under a vibrant blue sky. The new one will be located on the piers under the Cherry Avenue Extension bridge along the trail.
“Our ideal project would create another iconic mural that becomes a landmark for both locals and visitors enjoying the Rail Trail,” said Amy Griffin, volunteer ART committee member. “It’s a challenging space with lots of potential and we hope to see some creative proposals for the best use of the space.”
Art on the Rail Trail is a new initiative designed to bring public art installations to the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail. It was spearheaded by Bethlehem community members who believe it will add to quality of life in trail-adjacent areas, beautify the nine-mile trail and create a sense of community ownership. A committee was formed in late 2016 and quickly joined forces with the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy to realize a collaborative vision.
While all artists are welcome to apply, ART specifically encourages those who work in public art, murals and mosaic. Artists, designers, studios, and teams may submit multiple concepts for the project, and artists from any location are encouraged to apply. However, preference will be given to Capital District artists and those living within a 100-mile radius from the Town of Bethlehem.
The selection committee will judge proposals based on:
— Quality, originality, and appeal of the concept;
— Concept’s appropriateness for the site; and
— Artist’s proven capacity for timely completion of the project.
Finalists will be announced in early July.
The selection committee will choose up to three finalists to make a public presentation in mid-July and the chosen winner will receive $5,000 to complete the project, hopefully by the fall.
Application Deadline: Initial applications are due at or before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 18.
Guidelines: Town Zoning requires that text should take up no more than 3 percent of the overall design. Although this is a public space and work should be suitable for all ages, all styles and themes will be considered.
Pier measurements: Width varies from seven feet and three inches at top-of-footing to five feet and three inches at bottom-of-cap beam. Each pier total height is approx. 22 feet.
Artists should include in the design how many and how much of the piers they will cover. There are eight piers in total. There is a photo of the piers on the website at www.mohawkhudson.org/ART
Applications should include:
— Artist’s resume (listing all public art projects)
— Names and email addresses of two references
— Five to 10 representative digital images of your work
— A written proposal (up to 750 words) with initial imagery to demonstrate your concept for the space.
Applications can be sent to [email protected].