DUBUQUE, Iowa – The City of Dubuque, Iowa is now soliciting sculpture proposals for its 16th Art on the River public art sculpture exhibit, to be held along the Mississippi Riverwalk in the Port of Dubuque from August 2022 through July 2023.
"Crossing Bridges" has been selected by a community planning committee as the theme for the 2022-23 exhibit and is described as follows:
“Connected to neighboring states of Wisconsin and Illinois by three distinct bridges, Dubuque, Iowa is a community historically defined by embracing and relying upon the crossing of bridges to thrive and prosper.
In modern society, building and maintaining both physical and metaphorical bridges serve to connect us across divides, help us overcome barriers, and are essential to economic growth and community prosperity.
Whether it be bridges that offer a safe passage between previously separated places or the interpersonal collaborations that foster new understandings across cultures and ideas, a ‘bridge’ provides the means to move smoothly from one place to another towards a connected space. However, it is only in the willingness to actively cross those bridges that we can acknowledge shared experiences, embrace inclusion, and cultivate an ecosystem where we live, work, and grow together.”
Artists are encouraged to submit proposals for existing sculptures as well as concept proposals for new sculptural work for this year’s exhibit. Both permanent and semi-permanent/temporary works will be considered. Successful applications will propose sculptures that draw upon themes of connection, unity, equitable progress, and stability. Applicants should seek to inspire viewers to reflect on “bridges” as a concept that represents the connection between individual experience and a shared humanity.
Ten sculptural works will be selected for the exhibition, to be displayed at the Port of Dubuque from August 2022 to July 2023. There is no fee to apply and artists can submit completed works or those to be fabricated by late July 2022 install dates. Artists may submit multiple works for consideration; a separate application must be completed for each artwork. Online applications are
due by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, April 1, 2022. Access to the online form is at
www.cityofdubuque.org/AOTRapply.
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Selected artists receive a $1,800 stipend for each work included in the exhibition. Additional cash prizes of $1,000 for Best in Show and $200 for People’s Choice are also available. Artworks are encouraged to be for sale as special efforts are made to promote purchasing throughout the year. The City coordinates all financial transactions related to sales of artwork and retains a 25 percent commission of the retail price.
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Art on the River is part of the Dubuque City Council’s ongoing efforts to foster diverse arts and culture experiences that will improve the social and cultural vibrancy of the community. Since its inception, the program has featured 143 sculptures representing the work of 89 artists at the Port of Dubuque. This 90-acre riverfront campus welcomes 200,000+ visitors each year with features like the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the Grand River Center, Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark, Diamond Jo Casino, the historic Dubuque Star Brewery, Dubuque Shot Tower, and the Port of Dubuque Marina.
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More information is available at
www.cityofdubuque.org/artontheriver or by contacting City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jenni Petersen-Brant at jbrant@cityofdubuque.org or 563.513.5636.
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