Artists sought to design 5 bike racks for downtown Carson City

Local artists have the chance to showcase their talent while contributing to Carson City’s vision of becoming more bike-friendly.

The Carson City Visitors Bureau is partnering with Muscle Powered in seeking applications from Northern Nevadan artists for the design of five functional bike racks with an artistic flair.

The racks will be installed June 12 on Carson Street at the Legislature Building, Mom & Pop’s Diner, Attorney General’s office, City Hall and The Basil.

The racks will debut in time for the Carson City Off-Road Epic Rides event to return June 16-18. ßå

The project’s aim is to encourage bicycling in the capital city while contributing to the city’s public art collection.

Each freestanding sculptural rack must be designed to accommodate a locking mechanism. The finish must be low maintenance, such as stainless steel or a powder-coated, durable, weather-resistant veneer.

Artists selected will be contracted to design one to three of the five racks, with a $500 payout for each unique and functional design.

Artists will be required to visit their assigned installation sites to take measurements, gain site-specific inspiration from Muscle Powered sponsors and comply with the Carson City public right-of-way policies.

Final designs will be reviewed by a panel assessing engineering feasibility, aesthetics and relevance to location.

Additionally, after designs are selected artists will be paired with local welders who will be contracted with a budget of $1,000 per rack to cover materials and labor.

The deadline to apply is April 30, and those who apply will know if they are selected by May 5. Final designs are due by May 26.

Applicants must be at least 18 and demonstrate experience in design, fabrication or installation of public art. They must show a developed and consistent body of work with experience in working collaboratively.

To apply, submit a one-page letter of interest and introduction (pdf format); a resume complete with phone and email of two references (pdf); up to 10 images demonstrating artistic eligibility (jpegs or pdfs at maximum 1 MB each); and one page of image descriptions (pdf).

Send applications to Arts and Culture Coordinator Mark Salinas, msalinas@visitcarsoncity.com with the subject “RFQ Application.”

For information, call Salinas at 775-687-7410.