CTA seeks artists for rehabbed North Red stations

The CTA announced today its search for artists to create public art work for the seven north Red Line stations being rehabbed this summer and fall.

Artist David Lee Csicsko created these mosaics inside the station at Belmont as part of the CTA's art-in-the-stations program. (Photo by Patrick Barry)

A Request for Proposals will ask local, national and international artists to submit qualifications and their portfolio for consideration. Then an evaluation committee will select about 25 artists from the submissions based on artistic merit, qualifications and professional recognition of the artists, and artists’ written statements of interest. Those artists will be asked to submit specific art proposals. The seven artists ranked highest among the group will be offered a commission, according to a CTA spokesperson.

The CTA already supports the arts with about 50 pieces at 41 rail stations on the Brown, Red and Pink lines.  “Expanding the CTA’s collection of permanent art is a valuable investment for our system and the communities they serve,” said Elizabeth Kelley, who is curating the new public art for the seven CTA Red Line stations.

Submissions must be delivered in person or by mail no later than 3:30 p.m. Oct. 10 to CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake St., 2nd Floor Bid Office, Chicago, Illinois, 60661.

The CTA will discuss the Public Art Project at two community meetings: one at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18  at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway; the other at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Ave. Funding for the $525,000 project is provided by the Federal Transit Administration. The stations to get artwork are Jarvis, Morse, Granville, Thorndale, Berwyn, Argyle and Lawrence.

This story appeared early this morning as an exclusive on CTA Tattler. Read the CTA press release. 

This piece by David Lee Csicsko is in the stairwell at Belmont. See more on the artist's website: http://www.csicsko.com/belmont.htm (Photo by Patrick Barry)