The HeART of Fruita Call for Artists

The HeART of Fruita - ARTIST CALL

Deadline: August 1, 2023 - Submissions accepted from Grand Valley Artists only for 2023/24

Fill out the online application found here.

Please read all the information below carefully before submitting your application.

Thanks to the support from our community, The City of Fruita, Fruita Arts and Culture Board, the Fruita Rotary Club, and FCI Constructors. We are pleased to invite artists to apply for consideration to be featured in the 1st annual HeART of Fruita Sculpture Exhibition.

Overview

Fruita is 10 miles west of Grand Junction and just 17 miles from the Colorado/Utah border by way of Interstate 70. With the desert to the west, mountains to the east, and a comfortable year-round climate, the City of Fruita has become an outdoor recreational community and visitor destination. Sitting at the base of the plateaus and canyons of the Colorado National Monument and with the Colorado River running through city boundaries, the Fruita area provides many outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and fishing. Fruita has also emerged as one of the foremost mountain biking areas in the United States and subsequently has a large biking population.

Fruita has taken great steps to preserve its small-town atmosphere and community feel that makes it a special place to live. It's common to walk down the street or be on a trail run and meet people you know. The city hosts many cultural and community-based events throughout the year, including Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, Summer Thursday Night Concert Series, Dino Days, Fruita Farmers Market, Fruita Fall Festival and Hometown Christmas.

The 2023/24 HeART of Fruita program will include three Grand Valley artists chosen to display sculptures along Aspen Avenue in central Fruita for the period of one year starting with installation on September 7, 2023. An Art Walk with the artists and the community will be scheduled in the days following installation. Artists may submit up to 2 pieces for consideration. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 honorarium.

Benefits

1. All selected artists will receive a $1,000 honorarium.
2. Artists will have the opportunity to discuss their work with the community.
3. Promotional plaques including the artists website will be created for and installed with each piece.
4. Artists will be featured on the City of Fruita website along with the social media pages for the Fruita Arts and Culture Board.

Artwork

1. All artwork must be an original creation by the artist.
2. Larger sculptures are preferred (See specifications). We do not currently have pedestals available for smaller pieces but artists are free to provide their own as long as said base meets the specification and installation guidelines.
3. Proposals for unmade sculpture will not be accepted. Works in process will be considered provided the artist submits images showing an appropriate stage of completion.
4. Artwork must be completed works and mounted BEFORE DELIVERY to a suitable steel base.
5. Base- 48”x48” Maximum (¼” thick steel minimum) with at least three evenly spaced ½” bolt holes.
6. Overall Dimensions- Sculptures must be at least 4’ tall and no more than 8’ tall. The maximum width is 5’x5’.

Selection

Any and all artists are invited to submit up to 2 pieces for consideration. A selection committee composed of The Fruita Arts and Culture Board (Members submitting work to HeART of Fruita must recuse themselves from all aspects of the process), civic representatives, Downtown Advisory Board and Fruita Rotary Club members. Selection will be based on the following criteria:

1. Quality: First and foremost pieces must exhibit artistic excellence in conception, composition and execution.
2. Durability: Must be able to withstand the elements of the high desert and vandalism with a minimum of maintenance.
3. Safety: Works of art shall not create inordinate safety concerns for the general public, The City of Fruita, or the Fruita Arts and Culture Board.
4. Insurance: The City of Fruita can provide insurance in the amount of the value of the artwork resulting from incidents not related to normal wear and weathering of said sculpture. Artists can provide additional commercial liability insurance for their work during the installation and period of public display.

Timeline

1. Call for Artists May 24, 2023
2. Deadline for submissions August 1, 2023 before midnight MDT
3. Notification of selection August 10, 2023 via email
4. Installation is scheduled for September 7, 2023.

Submission Requirements - Please submit the following:

1. Completed application - Click here to fill out the online application.
2. Up to four quality jpeg images (front, back, side, other), at least 1920 dpi on the longest side, for each sculpture submitted. Name files with artist name, entry number and image number. EG: Smith1,1.jpg, Smith1.2jpg Smith2.3jpg, etc.

The Fruita Arts and Culture Board and the City of Fruita reserves the right to use images of selected artwork for publicity.

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Contact Information:

Marc Mancuso, Fruita Parks and Recreation Director

mmancuso@fruita.org

970-858-0360