CITY OF SRQ CALL FOR SIDEWALK ART

I love seeing the city making an effort to keep growing the collection of public art. We already have the finest beaches and cityscape but pretty art breaks up all the gray matter of buildings and cement in downtown. Initiatives like this help build community. Thanks City of Sarasota! -- Dill

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Sarasota, FL: The City of Sarasota is issuing a Call to Artists for unique sidewalk inlays for the Downtown Sarasota Historic District. The inlays will replace dozens of 16 x 16 grey tiles along the Main Street sidewalk.

Selected local professional artists will be paid $250 to create a one of a kind 16 x 16 inlay. Preferred materials include but are not limited to: stoneware ceramic, granite, stainless steel, synthetics, or alternative materials with specifications proving adequate durability with no sharp edges or slick surfaces.

Applications and supporting documents for the Call to Artists are available on-line at: www.sarasotagov.com/PublicArt Proposals must include: two (2) jpeg files of the proposed design: 72dpi and 300 dpi drawings must be to scale; a detailed description of the materials to be used to produce the inlay; the dimensional thickness of the inlay when completed.

The deadline for submissions is July 28, 2009. Interested professional artists shall reside in Sarasota County or Manatee County.

This initial Call to Artists will replace 32 of the 97 grey tiles along Main Street. The Public Art Committee will announce future Call to Artists to swap out the remaining grey tiles, giving downtown Sarasota a unique sense of place. "We want people to know they are in a special area of downtown," said Ernie Ritz, downtown business owner who proposed the inlay project. "By seeing these wonderful creations, they will know they are in a special place." Last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior acknowledged the area is distinctive by placing the Downtown Sarasota Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

All submissions will be reviewed by the Public Art Committee during its regular meeting August 12th in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. It is anticipated the 32 designs selected will be installed on S. Main Street in September or October beginning at Sarasota News & Books and moving north.