Alameda Creek Watershed Center 2-Dimensional Artwork Purchase Request for Available Works

Project Overview

The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists residing in the United States to submit available 2-dimensional, wall-mounted artworks for consideration for purchase for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center (ACWC). The Arts Commission will purchase one artwork for the ACWC Community Meeting Room that highlights the Watershed’s distinct natural landscape, and provides local benefit through the direct purchase of an artwork by an artist who currently resides in, and/or has a meaningful connection to, the Alameda Creek Watershed and surrounding region. The size of the unframed artwork should be no larger than 84 inches x 60 inches, and no smaller than 60 inches x 48 inches.

Project Budget 
The purchase price of the individual artwork should not exceed $10,000, and be appropriate to the scale of the artwork, medium, as well as the market rate for the artist’s work.

The artist whose original artwork is selected for purchase will be responsible for the delivery of the artwork to the framer/installer in Oakland, CA. Framing and installation costs will be the responsibility of the Arts Commission.

Project Description

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is currently constructing the Alameda Creek Watershed Center (ACWC) in Sunol near the Sunol Water Temple as part of its effort to improve its existing facilities in the Sunol Yard. The 660 square mile Alameda Creek Watershed is the largest watershed in the Bay Area, and is a territory shared by four distinct Ohlone tribes: The Confederated Villages of Lisjan, the Him'ren Tribe, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and Ohlone Tribe Inc.

Located one mile from downtown Sunol, on a site that is the aboriginal homeland of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, the Alameda Creek Watershed Center's mission is to educate the public about the Alameda Creek Watershed, the SFPUC water system, and the history and heritage of the Muwekma Ohlone people through interpretive and interactive exhibits. The nearby Sunol Valley Water Temple, a 1910 beaux arts landmark, marks the confluence of three sources of water flowing into Sunol Valley. Adjacent to the Temple is the Sunol AgPark, 18 acres of land that support small-scale sustainable farms that provide fresh food to Bay Area communities, as well as hands-on environmental education and job training. Construction on the Alameda Creek Watershed Center is scheduled for completion in Spring 2022.

Selection Process

Artists will submit images of up to 10 original artworks that are available for purchase (one image per artwork) to SlideRoom.

Artwork Selection Panel: The submitted artworks will be presented to the Alameda Creek Watershed Center Project 2D Artwork Purchase Selection Panel consisting of two representatives of the SFPUC, one ACWC staff member, one community member, and one member of the design team. The panel will score the submitted artworks based on artistic merit and appropriateness to project goals, and select one artwork to recommend to the Arts Commission for purchase.

Arts Commission Approval: The Artwork Selection Panel’s recommendation will be submitted first to the Visual Arts Committee, a subcommittee of the Arts Commission and then to the full Arts Commission for approval.

All Arts Commission meetings and Public Art Selection Panel meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Arts Commission website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To check the meeting schedule for public art projects, please go to our website at: http://www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/category/public-meetings/.

ARTIST SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS

Selection Criteria for Artists and Artwork: Artists and artwork will be selected in accordance with the Mission and Goals of the Civic Art Collection and in accordance with the criteria below. Criteria to be used when considering when scoring an artist’s application for a commission and/or acquisition of artwork by either purchase or commission shall include, but not be limited to the following considerations. Per City contracting requirements, artist applicants who are registered as a Local Business Enterprise will be given a rating bonus of 10% relative to other applicants.

  • Artistic Merit: Artistic Merit may be judged by such measures as originality of concept and artistic vision; the degree to which the work engages the viewer emotionally, intellectually, spiritually; the qualify of craftsmanship or mastery of skills and techniques. Artistic merit may also be credited to artwork that reflects a significant or direct relationship between the artist and distinct racial or cultural communities.
     
  • Meet Project Goals: The proposed meets the specific goals of the project as defined in the Project Outline and/or RFQ or RFP as approved by the Commission.
     
  • Contributes to the Quality of the Civic Art Collection:  The  artwork is  judged to support and improve the city’s collection in terms of artistic qualify and diversity of artists represented. The Arts Commission is committed to acquiring art works that reflect diversity in style, scale, media, and artistic sources as well as diverse cultural communities and perspectives.  The Arts Commission also encourages exploratory types of work as well as established art forms. 
     
  • Duplication:  Artists will be asked to warrant, as a condition of their agreement with the City,that the artwork commissioned or purchased is unique and an edition of one, and shall not be duplicated unless it is part of a limited edition or otherwise stated to the contrary in the artist’s contract with the Commission.

How To Apply

Artists are invited to submit images of up to 10 original artworks that are available for purchase (one image per artwork) via the following SlideRoom link: https://sfgov.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/60478

Applications will not be accepted after the January 5, 2022 11:59 p.m (PST) deadline.

Application materials include:

1. Resume

  • 25,000 characters maximum.

2. Meaningful connection to the Alameda Creek Watershed and surrounding region.

3. Up to 10 images of available artwork

  • SlideRoom accepts all image file types up to 5MB. Images should at least 72 dpi and no larger than 1280 x 1280 pixels
  • For more information about working with media on Slideroom, kindly click here 

4. Image descriptions

  • When you upload your images, SlideRoom will prompt you to fill out image descriptions. Please include the title, medium, dimensions, year, and purchase price for each work. You may also include a brief statement (2 sentences maximum) about each work.

Please note that Arts Commission staff will be available to answer questions about this call until 5 p.m. PST on the deadline date, January 5, 2022. Please contact Craig Corpora at craig.corpora@sfgov.org or 415-252-2249

SlideRoom technical support is available Monday – Saturday by email, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST support@slideroom.com.

Project Timeline

RFAA Issued                                                      November 15
RFAA Deadline                                                  January 5, 2022
Artwork Selection Panel                                 January 10, 2022
VAC Approval                                                     January, 19, 2022
Arts Commission Approval                               February 7, 2022
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Eligibility

Eligibility is open to professional, practicing artists who reside in the United States. Entries not meeting eligibility guidelines will be withdrawn from consideration.

What's Coming Up

Public Meeting

Visual Arts Committee Meeting

April 17
/
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online
Public Meeting

Executive Committee Meeting

December 18
/
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Hybrid: 401 Van Ness | Rm 125 and Online
Public Meeting

Community Investments Committee Meeting

April 16
/
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online
Public Meeting

Civic Design Review Committee Meeting

April 15
/
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online