And the winners are...

After a rigorous selection process that included METRO staff, art specialists and - most importantly - members of the community, 19 artists have been selected to enhance stations of Houston's inner city rapid transit network expansion.  Selection took place between Feb. 26 and Mar. 2, 2007.  The selected artists will work in the North, East End and Southeast Corridors, as well as on the Intermodal Terminal.  Art and artist selection for the University and Uptown Corridors will take place at a later date. 

The artists selected will now join the Facility Provider team responsible for final design and construction of the stations.   

Background / selection process 

The METRO Solutions Public Art Program was launched in the fall of 2006 to provide transit passengers and the neighborhoods with station enhancements that respect the character, history, and diversity of the surrounding communities.  To encourage the participation of local artists, application seminars took place in diverse Houston neighborhoods, including the Community Artists Collective and Houston Arts Alliance.   A Call to Artists was issued in October to invite artists to propose works within the established guidelines by November 30.  A total of 262 artists from throughout the nation submitted their works.  After a rigorous screening process of those applicants, 40 were invited to submit full proposals.  Thirty six artists submitted proposals. Most of the artists are Houston residents who live along the corridors and who have an abiding commitment to their neighborhoods.

Community Visioning Workshops took place so that area residents would provide input as to the artistic and historic character of their neighborhoods.  These sessions brought forth people's passion for their neighborhoods, their cultural heritage, and for being a part of creating a vision for public art along the alignment. The material in these sessions was carefully documented and given to the artists as material upon which to base their proposals. The artists took the input from the community and shaped a variety of proposals, including a journey through the history of the Third Ward, iconic images of Harrisburg Avenue in the East End, and flora and fauna inspired by Moody Park.

Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.   The North, East End, Southeast and Uptown lines are scheduled to begin operating in 2010.

 
Watch video

METRO Solutions Public Art Program exhibit

The public is invited to view the presentation boards of the artists who have been selected to be Team Artists for the METRO Solutions Public Art Program.  The boards will be displayed until Mar. 16 at City Hall Annex, 901 Bagby, Second Floor.