The Arts Council of Lake Oswego is pleased to invite artist submissions of up to three works of art per artist for outdoor public display in Lake Oswego’s nationally recognized, award-winning outdoor Gallery Without Walls exhibit. In its twenty first year, this program’s mission is to integrate art into the daily lives of local residents and visitors to the community by presenting works from regional, national, and international artists that resonate with people of diverse backgrounds.
Artists can submit completed works as well as proposals for new works to be completed by installation in August of 2021. Artwork will be on display throughout the downtown business district for a two-year exhibition period starting in the summer of 2021 and ending in the summer of 2023. Submissions will be evaluated by a Selection Committee based upon the overall quality and merit of the submitted art works. Submissions from all emerging, mid-career, established and collaborations of artists are encouraged. We seek works of a variety of media including sculpture, new media, projections, murals and encourage proposals that engage, educate and inspire the community. Submissions of artwork that has been created within the last three years is highly encouraged.
Up to fifteen artists will be chosen by the Selection Committee to display in Lake Oswego. Selected artists will be awarded an honorarium of $1000. Selected artists are also eligible for an annual People’s Choice purchase award of up to $20,000 (with a 30% gallery fee). Selected artists are invited to attend the annual Gallery Without Walls Celebration in September. This is a community celebration premiering the new sculptures and recognizing our artists and all who support this wonderful program. Selected artists will enter into a two-year contract with the City of Lake Oswego for the exhibition loan period. During the exhibition period, works will be available for sale with a 30% gallery fee, if sold, paid to the Arts Council. Sold artworks must remain on display for the contracted exhibition period.
Program Goals
Display quality art work suitable for public display in a downtown, outdoor setting
Support artists in showing their work to new audiences
Display art that contributes to the sense of pride in our community
Strengthen and sustain our nationally recognized GWW program
Vision
Public Art in Lake Oswego fosters a sense of place for our City, it enriches our built and natural environments, encourages economic development, promotes sustainability and provides opportunities for exploration, discovery and delight.
About the Arts Council of Lake Oswego
The Arts Council of Lake Oswego works to ensure the arts are an integral part of life in our community now and into the future. With the purpose of placement and preservation of public art in Lake Oswego, we provide access to art exhibitions for residents and visitors, and advance lifelong learning about the arts through educational programs and docent tours. The Arts Council of Lake Oswego administers the public art program partnering with the City and community to select, site, and maintain the nationally recognized Gallery Without Walls public art program, maintains the City’s permanent art collection of over 250 works and provides accessible arts programming for the community.
Exhibition Logistics
Artworks are generally displayed on concrete plinths of varying sizes and locations. There are options (while limited) for earth mounting works in a park or greenspace, as well as utilizing building facades for proposed murals, projections, or similar. A limited number of plinth locations have electrical capability. Selected artists will be notified of their anchoring/display method in May. Anchor methods are either anchor bolts or weld only depending on the assigned site location. Our engineer typically requires 1/2" Titen HD bolts that screw through the sculpture base. Bolts are provided by the Arts Council. Baseplate holes must be drilled to 3/4" to accommodate bolts. Concrete pads range in size from 2 x 2' - 7 x 7' (4 – 49 square ft.). Weld only pads require weld-able tabs on the sculpture/sculpture base. If welding, ACLO will provide a welder and contractor on-site for installation and de-installation. The Arts Council’s provided contractor will install all works of art and artists (or an artist representative) are required to attend installation.
Upon installation and during the two-year exhibition period, the City will maintain liability insurance to cover any damages, should they occur. It is the artist’s responsibility to deliver and be present (or send a representative) for installation and de-installation of the work. Artwork cannot be shipped as there are no available vehicles, storage space, or staff for this purpose.
The Arts Council reserves the right to reject work that, upon delivery, differs from the original proposal, or does not meet standards of durability, safety and quality. Artists in the current 2020-2022 GWW exhibition are ineligible to apply; we encourage you to apply next year.