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Carbondale design team seeks artists for Chaco's Park panels and poetry; CPAC to help screen applicants
Summary
Design team presented a draft RFP for artist collaboration on a new Chaco's Park shade structure and fence panels, asked the Public Art Commission to help recruit and screen applicants, and proposed an RFP timeline contingent on Historic Preservation Commission review.
Design and town staff presented a draft request for proposals seeking artists to help finish graphic panels and poetry elements for the new Chaco's Park, asking the Carbondale Public Art Commission (CPAC) to widen outreach and help screen applicants.
Nicholas DeFrank, a local landscape architect and urban designer with ReLand, said the project expands the original park footprint to include the 4th Street plaza and a section of 4th Street and aims to create a multifunctional downtown town square. "[We were] honored to have this opportunity to really bring Carbondale its first town square," DeFrank said.
DeFrank and town staff described a raised platform shade structure with perforated panels intended to play with light and shadow and to reference a hummingbird motif discussed with the Chacos family. The team said panels and fence elements will be the primary sites for artist work and that poetry will be sandblasted into concrete steps. "We actually have hummingbirds that are cast on the ground and they move across the site each day," DeFrank said of the design concept.
Staff told CPAC the RFP is at an early stage and recommended the Historic Preservation Commission review permanent elements (scheduled Feb. 5) before the RFP goes widely public. The timeline presented in the meeting would place an RFP release in mid-February, proposals due about March 20, and contract approval with trustees around late April, contingent on design finalization.
On procedure and artist scope, staff said artists would not be responsible for fabricating or sourcing materials at the RFP/design phase; instead the selected artist(s) would deliver a vector/design package and collaborate with the design and construction teams. CPAC members asked that the RFP clarify budget expectations and whether firms or individual freelance artists should apply; staff and a former CPAC chair said the town's 1% for the arts resolution allows architectural embellishment, meaning integrated solutions are eligible.
The design team asked CPAC to help screen applicants and suggested a smaller CPAC representative join town and design-team staff to interview the top three finalists. The team also asked CPAC’s help in broadening outreach to poets and graphic designers beyond the town’s usual mailing lists.
The design team emphasized accessibility, year-round use, and acoustics: rear panels will use nonmetallic materials to improve sound quality for music events, and removable bollards will allow the 4th Street festival area to close for markets and events.
Next steps: staff will revise the RFP language to clarify budget deliverables and submission requirements, coordinate timing with HPC review, and publish the RFP after CPAC helps finalize outreach channels.
