Park City looking for local artists to embody 'timeless connections' in bus shelter artwork

PARK CITY — Park City's decorated bus stops will soon triple in number as city leaders ask for artwork submissions for 21 new bus shelters.

Well-known for its lively Main Street, mountain views and recreation opportunities, Park City has been adding public artwork to bus stops throughout the city with the theme of "timeless connections."

"It ties in the history of Park City, the mining history and the wildlife and landscapes, all those things, into our current way it looks now and how it's developing. It's a good little connection piece," said Stephanie Valdez, art coordinator for the Public Art Advisory Board.

Valdez said it's exciting to add so many new bus shelters to the collection. Some of the bus shelters in this phase are also larger in size, allowing for a bigger canvas and greater creativity to be showcased.

Color will also be important in the designs as they should help people easily see which color route the bus stop is part of in the transit system, such as the blue or green line.

"It's a really good canvas. When you're waiting for the bus, waiting for your transportation, to have some colorful art and something to talk about and having a sense of place," she said.

Artists interested can submit as many proposals as they want, whether it's for just one design, a couple designs or a cohesive concept for all 21 of the bus shelters.

The city's Public Art Advisory Board will accept proposals until 5 p.m. on May 1 before presenting the finalists to the City Council. The city is also hosting a pre-proposal meeting on April 15 for those interested in submitting designs.

New artwork at the bus stops aids in the city's goals of improving transportation and increasing sustainability, she added. Public artworks tell the story of a city and help give visitors a "glimpse of what this ski town is made of."

"Bringing in that sense of place of Park City and tying the history and the things we're known for, having all those elements and keeping in mind the theme, the public art board's goal is to have wayfinding and that connection to Park City in mind," Valdez said.

She encouraged anyone interested to submit a proposal, as it may just be the opportunity an artist is looking for to get their name out there.

"We're just really looking forward to this round, and we are looking forward to see what beautiful art that describes Park City is submitted," she said.

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