public art opportunity: open buffalo park water tank mural

The City of Flagstaff is seeking Statements of Qualifications for Artists or Artist Teams qualified to paint a mural on the Buffalo Park Water Tank.

The Buffalo Water Tank is located at the entrance to Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Envisioned is an artwork that will reflect the City as a whole, the current activity and history of the park, and the communities that utilize this natural and recreational resource.  The work will be large scale and become emblematic of the park and the greater area.  The mural must be able to withstand the elements (including intense ultraviolet radiation, and ongoing freeze and thaw cycles), require minimal maintenance, meet safety requirements, and be designed and painted in a manner to deter graffiti. City will then select and contract with an Artist to complete the selected design.  This Artist will execute the selected design onto the surface of the water tank.

City will select up to five (5) Artists through the RSOQ process.  These five Artists will be invited to a site visit, and will research the area’s physical and cultural features, including local ecology, geology, meteorology, indigenous and municipal history, and the unique emotional experiences to be had at this special site. The Artists will be guided by a survey of collective values, desires, and observations of the local community. Artists will then be invited to submit proposals for the Artwork. Upon submittal of a proposal, each Artist will receive an honorarium of $5,000. The City will select a winning design, and the Artist will need to enter into a final contract with City.

Project Site and Background

Buffalo Park consists of a main 2.2-mile loop trail that is flat, well-maintained and great for all levels of ability and includes access for wheelchairs, strollers, and bikes. This park stretches north into the Ponderosa forests before rolling up into the Dry Lake Hills. The park offers incredible views of Mount Elden and Mt. Humphreys, Arizona's tallest peak. Buffalo Park is valued for its recreational offerings, including stargazing, picnicking, dog walking, and high-altitude endurance training, as well as cross-country skiing in winter. The trail is outfitted with exercise stations to further enhance a workout.

Buffalo Park was originally established on McMillan Mesa in 1963 when the City Council authorized a Wild West Wildlife Park on 163 acres of city-owned land, part of more than 700 acres acquired by the city in a trade with the Forest Service in 1958. The park not only included bison (mis-named as “buffalo”), but a stagecoach ride, holdups, as well as the town's Old Trapper (O.T. Gillette), Navajo hogans, assorted elk, deer and antelope, an array of barnyard animals and a bird sanctuary. The park closed in 1969 and the park’s namesake buffalo sculpture at the entrance remains a testament to that era.  The sculpture, nicknamed “Ralphie” by residents, receives continual repairs and re-paintings by community members.

Envisioned is an artwork that will reflect the City as a whole, the current activity and history of the park, and the communities that utilize this natural and recreational resource.  The work will be large scale and become emblematic of the park and the greater area. The selected Artist will work with the City’s Beautification and Public Art Program to create their site-specific mural.

Buffalo Park Water Tank Specifications

The painting surface is 110’ diameter and 29’ high and is approximately 10,000 square feet in surface area.  The artwork shall cover the entire water tank 360˚; the imagery does not need to be as detailed or prominent in areas where the public line of sight is obscured or reduced due to trees or other obstructions.  However, the design should be continuous around the water tank. The artwork may include top and bottom borders of unadorned space. The entire tank may be painted with a new base color, or the existing green base color may be left in place.  Materials to be used in this mural will be appropriate weather resistant paints and recommended topcoats as advised by the City. The current base paint and recommended paints are attached (Attachment B). The mural will be durable to the elements (able to withstand high frequency freeze and thaw, and intense ultra violet rays), require minimal maintenance, and be designed in a manner to deter graffiti.

Artist will be responsible for applying their design onto the surface of the water tank.