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Commission selects three local artists for 2026 Silver Box public-art program, forwards picks to City Council
Summary
After reviewing four submissions, the commission found one proposal ineligible for exceeding height limits, chose three artists (Dave Gonzalez, Maria Larson Arens and Lee Harris) for three downtown Silver Boxes, and voted to present the selections and proposed box locations to City Council for approval.
The Sandpoint Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission on May 12 finalized recommendations for the 2026 Silver Box public-art program, choosing three artists and proposed siting for their works and forwarding the selections to City Council.
After Cheryl Hughes, the city’s Central Services Director, walked commissioners through the RFP scoring rubric and required materials, commissioners scored four submissions. One entry, from JD Tjo, was flagged as ineligible after reviewers concluded the proposed work exceeded the program’s maximum box dimension (the Silver Box maximum is 48 by 48 by 48 inches, per the RFP). Commissioners agreed that a piece exceeding that height would need to be placed on a shorter box or disqualified from the 3x3x3 locations; as a result they removed that submission from final consideration.
The three eligible, highest-scoring entries the commission selected were Dave Gonzalez, Maria Larson Arens and Lee Harris. Commissioners discussed placement and settled on location plans that emphasize visual fit and pedestrian/driver sight lines: Gonzalez’s pine-cone piece was discussed for the larger 3x3 box near Arman Park/STCU kiosk (the corner adjacent to the post office/park), Larson Arens’ piece for the post-office box, and Lee Harris’ brightly colored piece for a Fifth Avenue site on the Columbia Bank building corner.
Commissioners noted score totals during deliberations (transcript excerpts referenced scores such as Gonzalez 93.8 and Lee Harris 71.3 in spreadsheet tallies) and debated image clarity and completeness when scoring. They also discussed formalizing a local-preference scoring element in future RFPs so that Sandpoint-resident artists and nearby Bonner County artists would receive explicit evaluation weight.
A motion to present the three selected artists and proposed locations to City Council passed by voice vote; commissioners moved and seconded the motion and recorded no opposing votes in the transcript. Staff will prepare the materials for the council packet, including the artists’ proposal materials and site recommendations.
Why it matters: the Silver Box program locates artwork at several highly visible downtown sites; choices affect downtown character and pedestrian experience and are visible to drivers and businesses. Commissioners emphasized local representation and the need for clearer submission photos and dimensions to avoid later eligibility problems.
What’s next: staff will assemble the commission’s recommendation and the selected artists’ materials for City Council consideration. If Council approves the selections and sites, staff will proceed with installation plans and artist agreements.
