public art: high line canal trail

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for along the High Line Canal Trail, in the University Hills neighborhood of Denver. The goal of the project is to commission artwork that activates the trail, celebrates the neighborhood’s history and future, and engages users with a sense of motion and connectivity.

About The High Line Canal Trail

Built in the late 1800s as an irrigation canal and transformed into a recreational trail in the 1970s, the High Line Canal Trail spans 71 miles from Waterton Canyon in Douglas County out to the plains of Northeastern Aurora. Designated as a National Landmark, the High Line Trail is utilized by over 1 million users annually and home to over 200 species of birds, mammals and reptiles. Beloved by runners & cyclists, children and adults alike, the trail is stewarded by the nonprofit organization High Line Canal Conservancy, who seeks to preserve, protect and enhance the canal, alongside the multiple municipalities in which it intersects.

The trail segment running through the University & Holly Hills neighborhoods of Southeast Denver (approximately miles 37-41 of the HLC) is appreciated by residents as a “hidden gem” and “oasis from the city” that provides a safe space for exercise and encourages an appreciation of nature. Community members appreciate that the trail is open and accessible to everyone, connects them with their neighbors and helps them discover nearby parks and businesses.

The University Hills neighborhood surrounding this segment of the HLC trail is a suburb approximately 8 miles southeast of downtown Denver, near the University of Denver campus. The neighborhood experienced rapid growth in the immediate aftermath of WWII and has continued to be a high-demand suburb of Denver in the decades since.

Media & Materials

The panel is looking for artists who work in mediums suitable for outdoor display. Durability and ease of maintenance are also important at these locations.

Maintenance, Durability & Accessibility

This artwork will become a permanent addition to the Denver Public Art collection. All applicants must consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects are in the public realm and will be exposed to physical stresses, as well as be subject to potential vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the City of Denver’s Public Art Committee to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete their work in an approved timeframe.

Goals:

• The panel hopes to see artwork(s) that are culturally relevant and balance the unique past, present and future of the physical space (note: especially including indigenous history and the 19th century construction of the Canal).

• Artists are encouraged to consider experiential, interactive, or functional elements for the artwork(s), specifically kinetic aspects that convey a feeling of “motion.”

• The panel is interested in colorful artworks, which evoke feelings of happiness and joy, and emphasize a feeling of safety and welcome for trail users.

• The panel welcomes applicants who exemplify the collaborative spirit of the public art process and are open to working with community stakeholders and trail users.

• Artists are encouraged to consider ways to engage with a spectrum of different human abilities (i.e. visual, auditory, physical, etc).

• The panel is interested in multi-piece artworks that repeat along the trail, encouraging travel and appealing to users moving through the space (ie. Walkers, bikers etc.)