Story last updated at
9:41 PM on
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Artists invited to submit ideas for city project
BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER
The Homer Public Arts Committee issues a request for proposals Friday for the new Homer City Hall-Town Square project. To help artists learn about the project now at a 10-percent design stage a public workshop will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 24, at Cowles Council Chambers, City Hall.
Photo provided
This artist's sketch of the proposed new Homer City Hall shows the building as viewed from the Town Plaza.
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Architects, designers and contractors will present a "fly through" of the project using the Google SketchUp program.
As with the Homer Public Library, artists and crafts-people are invited to submit concepts and ideas at the beginning of the design process. The RFP doesn't solicit fully developed proposals, but seeks a narrative of the art or project idea, a resume of the artist or craftsperson, a resume and photos of the creator's work. RFPs will be available Friday at the Homer City Clerk's office. Under the city's 1 percent for art program, $70,000 has been dedicated to art for the City Hall-Town Square.
That amount can be stretched, though, by incorporating art into structural parts of the building, such as walkways, exterior walls, signage and floors. In the Homer Public Library, this approach resulted in artists like Leo Vait designing and building a fireplace and Paul Roark making the circulation desk.
"You can access funds that ultimately might be dedicated to other functions of the building," said Asia Freeman, a member of the Town Square art selection committee. "You have things that feel structural and inform the personality of the space," she added.
"We want to have as much participation as possible," said Hope Finkelstein, a member of the Public Arts Committee, said of next week's workshop. "This upcoming event is asking for artists and community involvement, not just in ideas, but the physical formation of the design."
Finkelstein said the workshop will use the charette process, a collaborative format where participants and designers share ideas.
Details on the Homer Town Square project are available at www.homertownquare.com. A Google SketchUp file of the 10-percent design concept is available for download.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
