WICKER PARK — A four-year, $492 million overhaul that will cut travel times and allow people to better use cell phones on the CTA Blue Line hasn't left the art world in the cold.
With a plan to use up to $480,000 in federal funding to include public art in renovations of three CTA Blue Line stations, the organizers of the "Your New Blue" project are putting out a call for local, national and international artists.
A community meeting to answer questions about the project from artists is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Haas Park Field House, 2402 N. Washtenaw Ave. in Logan Square.
The CTA plans to incorporate public works of art at additional stations undergoing rehabilitation work as part of the Your New Blue project, details of which will be announced at a future date.
The local stations targeted for new public art are: Damen at 1588 N. Damen Ave., California at 2211 N. California Ave. and Western at 1900 N. Western Ave.
Currently, the CTA has more than 50 works of art at 41 stations along the Pink, Red and Brown lines.
Under the plan, an additional 11 rail stations will feature new artwork in the coming years as part of the recently completed Red North 7 and Red Line South Reconstruction projects, and also as part of the upcoming Wilson Station Reconstruction and 95th Street Terminal Improvements projects.
According to the CTA, the total budget for the art projects is not to exceed $480,000, with the funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) earmarked for costs associated with artist fees, fabrication, shipping/delivery, administrative fees and a project contingency fund.
Local, national and international artists are invited to apply, according to a news release, which asks applicants to submit their qualifications and portfolio for consideration, per the instructions in the Request for Proposal. View the full RFP here.
After reviewing all submissions, as many as nine artists may be invited to interview based on artistic merit, qualifications and professional recognition of the artists, and the artists’ written statements of interest. The final three artists will be determined following the interview process.
Submissions must be delivered in person or by mail no later than 3:30 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2014 to CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake St., 2nd Floor Bid Office, Chicago, Illinois, 60661.
