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Bend, Warm Springs plan joint roundabout and public-art program to mark gateways and tribal presence
Summary
City and tribal officials proposed a collaborative public-art program — starting with roundabout art at gateway locations — and outlined a work-group process, artist call, selection committee and implementation steps with ODOT and local outreach.
Bend City Council and Warm Springs Tribal Council members discussed a proposed joint public-art program to place culturally informed artwork at gateway roundabouts and other public locations in Bend.
City Manager Eric King introduced the idea and staff proposed forming a joint work group to define scope, budget, timeline and suitable locations. A staff presenter outlined a process that includes a public call to artists, use of the Art in Public Places platform (CAFE) to distribute the call, a selection committee and contracting and installation with city staff and Oregon Department of Transportation oversight where state right-of-way is involved.
Renee (staff member) described the steps: identify a work group between both councils, draft a call to artists with eligibility and selection criteria, advertise widely, select an artist and then execute contract and installation. She also said artists would be compensated through the city’s Art in Public Places program.
Tribal council members urged artwork that reflects Warm Springs cultural history and local ecological themes. Carlos Calika, identified in the meeting as a Warm Springs Tribal Council member, described examples he has seen elsewhere — murals, totems and fish imagery — and urged work that honors salmon, water and tribal food-gathering traditions.
“Maybe having a big fish scaffold in the middle of the roundabout... something that depicts our people,” Carlos Calika said, recounting examples from other communities and urging local murals and gateway art that tell shared history.
Locations and outreach: Officials said they have talked with ODOT about Highway 20 at Cooley and Roble as potential gateway sites and noted other partnerships (for example, with the Old Mill). The tribe requested local advertising in the community newspaper referenced in the meeting as “SCILLI” and local radio so Warm Springs artists and Bend residents can participate.
Process and next steps: Council members and tribal leaders supported creating a work group and returning to councils with recommended scope and member appointments. City staff said they will ensure a call to artists includes local outreach and that compensation is part of the award. Officials stressed a deliberate approach to ensure cultural meaning and community buy-in rather than a hastily executed installation.
What officials did not decide: No site was selected and no artist was chosen. No appropriation or final budget was adopted at the meeting.
Ending City and tribal leaders asked staff to return with a proposed work-group membership, draft call-for-artists language and a recommended approach to local outreach and ODOT coordination.
