Design a winning bike rack by July 8, get $5,000 to build it

Bicycle Racks:  Request for Proposals for Artist-Designed Bicycle Racks due Weds. July 8

According to the City of Ventura website:

The City of Ventura Public Art Program is accepting proposals by July 8 for artist-designed bicycle racks to be installed in high use locations throughout the city. The goal is to enhance Ventura as a bicycle-friendly city as more Ventura residents turn to cycling and other healthy, eco-friendly modes of transportation. Artist designs should be colorful, imaginative and FUNctional, accommodating two to six bicycles and conform to established safety guidelines.

Each selected artist will receive $5,000 for the final design and fabrication per bicycle rack. The City of Ventura will be responsible for all installation. Proposals will be considered for reproduction in limited edition series and should include a separate budget for the fabrication of additional racks.

• Download request the Request for Proposals (RFP)

Artists interested in submitting proposals should exhibit the following criteria:

• Experience working with durable materials specific to the outdoor environment.
• Demonstrated success in comparable projects using creative, innovative and effective approaches
• Ability to understand a locale’s sense of place and design in a context-sensitive manner.

For more information, contact Denise Sindelar at dsindelar@cityofventura.net or 805-658-4793.

Submission deadline is Monday, July 8, at 5 PM by mail, in person or email. (This is quoted from their website; I imagine she means Weds. July 8 not Monday july 6).

Send mailed or hand delivered proposals to:
City of Ventura Public Art Program
Attn: Denise Sindelar
501 Poli St Rm 226
PO Box 99
Ventura, CA 93002

About the Public Art Program

The Public Art program, established in 1991, sets aside 2 percent of Capital Improvement Project costs for the commissioning of artists and artist’s services. The Public Art Commission, a seven member volunteer council advisory group, oversees the program by approving artists, designs, and Annual Public Art Work Plans.

My guess is that’s a typo on the date: July 8 is Wednesday, not Monday. Good luck! The Ventura Bicycle Union will be involved in choosing the rack and making sure it’s not just a public art piece but functional. (Email me and I’ll tell you where to send the check!)

I talked with avid commuting cyclist artist Matt Harvey who joined us on the FFArtRide on Friday as well as the Summer Solstice Santacon about some of his ideas and they are HOT! Not only will they be funtional, but they are way FUN and knowing Matt and his work, they will resonate artistically as well.

I brainstormed some ideas with the Big Monkey who works with concrete and my nephew who just graduated with a degree in environmental studies from UCSC and with a degree in engineering from UC Berkeley. He’s got a huge passion for art and a huge hole in his pocket money wise but I coldn’t convince him to work on a project with the Big Monkey and I–and since we ‘ve got plenty going, I don’t think we’ll be going forward with our proposal as much as I’d like to!

Want one of these bike bike racks pictured above? Go here: www.dero.com/autospec/bike_bike.html

You can find the horse one here: http://brokensidewalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new_bike_racks_02.jpg

The Globe rack and a whole lot more here: http://www.creativemetalworksllc.com/Pages/custom_all.html

This blog post has some fun racks also: http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=1103