Your idea may be big, bold, colorful, subtle, playful or profound. Whatever the case, Riverlife wants you to think big under the bridge!
Riverlife is seeking qualified artists, designers, landscape architects, and other creative professionals to design and implement a temporary public installation under the Fort Duquesne Bridge next year. The process is part of Riverlife’s ongoing ‘to be determined’ initiative to make Pittsburgh’s riverfronts cleaner, safer and more fun for everyone.
Image by Maranie Staab.
Located along the Allegheny River between Point State Park and the Cultural District, the space under the bridge feels almost like a cathedral, vaulted with massive concrete bridge support columns and an 800-foot wall running along the river. For years this space was well trafficked by families and trail users, but still felt underused, neglected and unsafe.
Riverlife’s ‘to be determined’ (or ‘tbd’) series aims to create conversation about how this space could be enhanced to make it a more welcome part of Pittsburgh’s riverfront park system. Previous ‘tbd’ installations include Kim Beck’s 750-foot mural Adjutant in shades of gray; Maranie Staab’s Displaced pop-up exhibit of Syrian refugee photography; and art and poetry by students of Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School wrapping the bridge columns.
As we look to our next installment in 2018, we want to hear from creative professionals who are up for tackling this challenge. Read and download our Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to learn more about the process. Don’t forget that RFQ applications are due by noon EST on December 1, 2017.
UPDATE: The period for submissions closed on December 1, 2017. Three semi-finalists have been chosen and notified. Please stay tuned for a public announcement in January 2018. Thanks for your interest in the ‘tbd’ project!
Top: Volunteers help paint Kim Beck’s Adjutant mural in 2015. Photo by Riverlife.
