Arts Collaborative Medford is seeking a local artist to create a public sculpture for our property on Mystic Avenue.
We have spent the past two years creating a native perennial garden in front of our doors—one of the very few spots of green on Mystic Avenue. Now it’s time to add the finishing touch! Our goal is to create a landmark, drawing attention to our space from the road. We would like the work to reflect the surrounding neighborhood, including the Mystic River and the contemporary automotive industry.
Mystic Avenue is a working, industrial corridor, with dozens of auto dealerships, repair shops, and body shops extending from the Somerville border toward Medford Square. Additionally, it borders the beautiful Mystic River riverfront and the natural life it supports. We are interested in a sculpture that connects these elements of the riverfront’s natural history with the people, businesses, and industries that shape Mystic Avenue today.
A local business has offered to donate used metal and automotive parts for the project. We hope the materials will provide an opportunity to connect the artwork directly with our neighbors in the automotive trade. As a community arts organization, we are especially interested in work that reflects both the waterfront community and the working character of Mystic Avenue.
The project will involve:
Stage 1: Request for qualifications from all interested artists
Stage 2: Request for detailed proposals from up to 3 artists chosen from Stage 1 submissions
Stage 3: Development of project, including design, construction, and installation
We plan to pay $200 each for proposals from up to three artists (Stage 2), and then $5,000 for one artist chosen to complete the project (Stage 3). Stage 1 will not involve any payments.
We anticipate that the artist will be selected in 2026 and the work will be installed in 2027.
Artist qualifications:
Local artist with ties to or familiarity with Medford specifically
Experience in creating sculptural metal-based art
Experience installing outdoor sculpture
Licensed and insured to rent/operate a lift and other machinery as needed for installation
Interest in incorporating used auto parts into the sculpture
Ability to be on site for the full duration of installation
Sculpture Criteria:
The piece should be taller than wide
Maximum width 4 feet diameter
Includes to some degree used auto parts donated by Medford auto businesses; may also use other materials
References the rich history and current culture of the Mystic River area
Must be installed so that artwork is secure and has structural integrity, but also able to be uninstalled if needed
Interacts well with the evolving native perennial garden that shares the front of our building
How to Apply:
Send a letter of interest, your qualifications relevant to this call, and a resume to this email address:
artscollaborativemedford@gmail.com
Applications are due no later than November 22, 11:59 PM.
We will ask up to three artists for proposals, which will be due by December 22, 2026. We will make a decision by early January.