Cool announcement for artists from the City of Asheville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department:
The City of Asheville is seeking to commission a qualified artist or team of artists to create a permanent exterior public art feature above the parking garage exit at the north side of the Aloft Hotel on Aston Street. The Aloft Hotel at 51 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville is a visible landmark in the skyline, set apart by its contemporary architecture and vibrant color scheme. 51 Biltmore is the shared address of the City of Asheville’s new parking complex which is the site for the public artwork. The 51 Biltmore Public Art Project is intended to enhance the sense of local identity in downtown Asheville, as well as compliment the architecture of the Aloft Hotel and is part of the City’s Percent for Art mandate.
This is a nationwide call with preference given to all qualified local artists/teams of artists who currently live in North Carolina in Buncombe, Yancey, McDowell, Rutherford, Polk, Henderson, Madison, Haywood, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Clay and Cherokee counties (proof of residency will be required).
Artists’ qualifications will be accepted electronically through October 30, 2013 at CallforEntry.org, also known as CaFÉ™. Project specifications and instructions on how to apply are located at www.callforentry.org. For information about the call for artists, contact Basil Punsalan at 828-259-5552 or bpunsalan@ashevillenc.gov.
The City of Asheville Public Art Program oversees Asheville’s public art collection with assistance of the Public Art & Cultural Commission. The collection includes the popular Urban Trail, a historic walking tour of downtown Asheville; along with other prominent works in the downtown area including but not limited to the Pack Fountain, Energy Loop, Deco Gecko and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.