International Call for Artists: Public Sculpture or Installation

The Village of Saranac Lake issued a request for proposals from any professional artist or artist teams for a Sculpture or Installation for Riverfront or Prescott Park on the shoreline of Lake Flower. The intention of the project is to enhance the park experience without distracting from the original purpose of the parks of providing green spaces for the community. 35 proposals were submitted in January 2023. A selection panel, consisting of the Village of Saranac Lake Arts and Culture Advisory Board, Downtown Advisory Board, and Parks and Trails Advisory Board members reviewed all proposals.

Timeline

•   Deadline for Proposals: January 23, 2023

•   Selection of Finalist March 30, 2023

•   Village Board Approval April 10, 2023

•   Notifications sent to Artist(s) April 12, 2023

•   Installation Complete September 30, 2023

About the Project

The Village of Saranac Lake asked for proposals from artists to create a permanent artwork to be installed along the shoreline of Lake Flower.

The proposed work may be a sculpture, statue, installation, monument, earthwork or landscape-oriented artwork. The artwork should meet the following criteria:

• Durable and visible through four seasons

• Prominent dimensions and features visible to pedestrians on the street-side sidewalk

• Cohesive with the existing lake and landscape

• Safe and easily maintained.

The proposed artwork may reflect the theme, culture or history of the Adirondack Park or Saranac Lake, but it is not required. Proposed sites are used by the public, including children, and subject matter should be appropriate. Hands-on, interactive, or kinetic aspects will be considered but are not required. All public artworks in Saranac Lake are exposed to extreme weather variables and physical stresses and could be subject to vandalism. Artwork cannot be in the water or impede the sidewalk bordering Lake Flower Avenue. The artwork should be fabricated of durable, low-maintenance materials. At this time, no electricity is available at the site, and Adirondack Dark Skies should be honored.

Additional Proposal Submission Details

Budget: The budget for the artwork is $10,000 all-inclusive for artist’s fees, materials, fabrication, delivery, transportation, liability insurance and any other costs associated with producing and installing the artwork. Artists may have accommodations provided during installation. Applicants should contact Jamie Konkoski at comdev@saranaclakeny.gov with questions about installation or equipment needs.

Sites: Lake Flower is a 300-acre lake created as an impoundment of the Saranac River. It is the only lake within the borders of the Village of Saranac Lake. It is the site of the Willard Hanmer Guideboat & Canoe Race in July, the finish line of the 90-Miler Adirondack Canoe Classic in September and the source of the ice for the Ice Palace, built on the shore of Prescott Park every February during the Winter Carnival. Riverfront Park is situated just northwest of the Boat Launch, between Lake Flower Avenue and Lake Flower. The Village Improvement Society, founded in 1910 by 10 women of the village, took the proposed vision of the Olmstead Brothers (of Central Park, NYC fame), and made it into a reality, eventually establishing 10 parks within the Village boundaries. Some of those parks are still maintained by the VIS. Prescott and Riverfront Parks are now preserved by the Village of Saranac Lake, continuing the mission of VIS of providing green spaces for community enjoyment.

Application Requirements: Applicants will submit up to 20 digital images of at least 1200 pixels on the shortest side, with at least six completed artworks (different views or construction drawings may be submitted), a CV, and a statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters. An image of a proposed work for this project is helpful but not required, as works in progress or concept images are acceptable. From these applications, the selection panel will choose up to three semifinalists. The selected artist or artist team for the project will confer with and get approval from the Selection Panel and Saranac Village Board on final design issues and placement.

Eligibility: This call is open to national and international artists and teams. Applicants should have a record of successfully completed projects at larger dimensions; however, emerging public artists will be considered if their demonstrated work and proposal are strong. Applicants should be 18+.

Questions should be directed to the Village of Saranac Lake Community Development Director, Jamie Konkoski via email, comdev@saranaclakeny.gov