UPDATE, OCT. 18 1:15 p.m.: In response to some flipping out from certain sectors of the artistic community, the Redwood Community Action Agency wishes to emphasize that entries do not require a completed work of art as a project proposal.

Rather, entrants may describe the art they propose and submit that description along with samples of previous work.

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From the City of Rio Dell:

City of Rio Dell — Eel River Trail Community Art Wall

Call for Artists and Application

DUE: OCTOBER 28, 2024

Project description:

The City of Rio Dell, with Caltrans’ Clean California Local Grant Program funding, is developing the City’s first dedicated multiple-use trail. Caltrans established the Clean California program to beautify and clean up local streets, roads, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces. The trail will connect Davis and Edwards Streets along the Eel River (in 2025). It will include trailheads, parking, signage, and a community art installation (see below image).

Information about the project location & art project:

The community art installation element involves commissioning original art for a designated space located at the future Edwards Street trailhead. The art space is 4’8”x 5’8” and will be accompanied by Eagle Prairie Elementary students’ tile artwork (left and right white spaces). The selected artist will incorporate project themes into their artwork (see Application Question #12 for specific guidance on themes).

The artwork will be scanned, re-printed on a substrate (TBD), and scaled to fit the space. The original artwork will become property of the City of Rio Dell and displayed at City Hall or other location. Artists are free to use any material or combination of materials to express their work. This could include (but is not limited to) paint, textiles, digital art, mixed media, or photography. The artist will be paid $2,000 for their original work which includes one high resolution scan (with future use TBD). There is the potential to work with local students in the development of their accompanying art tiles (sampled designs below in left and right open spaces. Compensation will be discussed if so).

Conceptual design of the future art wall.

This Call for Art will fill center space. Side panels will be filled with future student tile art (placeholder images shown below).

How to apply:

Interested artists can fill out the attached application and submit it by email to (along with examples of work and their proposed design) by October 28, 2024. Please see application for complete timeline. [ED. NOTE: Please see the Important Update at the top of this post for clarification, especially if you are the type of artist who believes that they were not given enough time for this project.]

Project timeline and selection process:

The applications will be reviewed by a small panel and three artists will be selected. Final selection will be a competitive vote process decided by Rio Dell residents. Preference will be given to designs with themes appropriate to the trail project (see application for specific guidance on themes). Other selection criteria will be at the discretion of the community review panel.

Timeline for selection:

• October 9 – Call for artists and project information released.
• October 28 – Artist proposals due.
• October 28 – Panel reviewers select top 3 proposals via rubric. Selected artists are asked to present 30% conceptual design sketches by 11/6.
• November 6-13 – Three artist design sketches are put out to the Rio Dell community for a competitive voting process. Final artist is selected Nov. 13.
• November 13 - Artists are notified of the panel’s decision. Selected artists are contracted for work, the other two artists are thanked with $75 award. Selected artist proposes a draft review schedule leading up to final design (two design drafts).
• December 11 – Artwork is completed, artist is paid.
• December 13 - Artwork is scanned and reproduced at scale for future trailhead art space.

The selected artist must execute and agree to comply with the terms of an Artist Agreement prior to, and as a condition of, developing any artwork.

Artist compensation and expectations:

Artists will provide their own high-quality paint, materials, and painting tools at their own expense.

The artist will be paid $2,000 for their artwork (includes one scanned reproduction, with future use TBD). Artists must submit a W9 form and an invoice to receive payment, and payment will take 3-4 weeks on average but could take up to 6 weeks. Submitting a W9 in advance and submitting an invoice quickly upon completion will greatly expedite payment.

City of Rio Dell Eel River Trail Community Art Installation Application

Please fill this out as completely as possible and submit by email to Abixler@rcaa.org by Monday October 28, 2024 by 5 pm

1. Legal Name:
2. Alternate name/ artist moniker (if used):
3. Email:
4. Phone:
5. Address:
6. Instagram/ Social Media link(s):
7. Website:
8. Artist bio – If selected, this bio will be used in the press and elsewhere to promote this project. Please limit your answer to one paragraph of 100-200 words:
9. Artist experience – What is your experience in creating pieces of public art? Please limit your answer to one paragraph of 100-200 words 200 words:
10. Artist vision – What is your vision for the artwork you are proposing? What materials/ paints will you use? Please limit your answer to one paragraph of 100-200 words:
11. Artwork samples – Please attach 2-4 images of artwork you have completed. If possible, at least one of the images should be a large-scale piece of art, public art preferred.

These images will be used to review applications.12. Proposed design – Please fully describe what you propose to create for the trailhead art space, including how your design will capture the project’s themes. You can briefly detail several alternatives (such as featuring people abstractly or not etc.) as desired.

Please limit your response to 400 words.

Themes to convey include:

• Importance of a clean and healthy river environment (litter free)
• Connection to place (iconic Scotia Bluffs and Eel River bar)
• Respect, stewardship and love for the local riverine environment and wildlife

Convey an overall positive message.

Please email abixler@rcaa.org with any questions regarding themes.

Thank you very much for your interest!