Visual Arts

City issues two Calls to Artists for roundabout sculptures

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Submissions due by Feb. 28 through internet site

Bravo! is the title of the Jorge Blanco sculpture in the roundabout at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Ringling Boulevard. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota

Two competitive Calls to Artists issued by the City of Sarasota for sculptures within roundabouts are open for submissions through Feb. 28, the city has announced.

Both are posted on www.CallForEntry.org, “a leading portal for art entries,” a city news release explains. “Artists are required to submit proposals via the website,” the release adds. Registration for artists to use www.CallForEntry.org is free, the release notes, “and there is no cost to submit proposals to the City of Sarasota.

The two roundabouts under construction on U.S. 41 are the locations “where the landmark sculptures will be installed,” the release notes. Each location has a separate Call to Artists:

“Submissions must complement the specific roundabout location and meet the required criteria detailed in the Call to Artist,” the release points out. The criteria involve height, lighting, the necessity for the form to be non-interactive and the ability of the artwork “to withstand extreme weather conditions,” the release says.

Artists may submit entries for one project or both.

The budget for each sculpture is no more than $150,000, which will be covered by developer contributions to the Public Art fund, the release notes. Both pieces will become part of the city’s permanent Public Art collection.

Three finalists selected by the Public Art Committee (PAC) will make in-person presentations to the PAC, which then will make a recommendation to the City Commission for consideration, the release explains. The selected piece will be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation for review and approval.

“To enhance aesthetics and a sense of place,” public art is installed within the center of each new roundabout located in the city limits, the release adds. The most recent roundabout sculpture, BRAVO!, was created by Jorge Blanco and installed last August within the roundabout at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.