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Arts Program

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Public Art Program

Neighborhood Art
	Bridle Trails Art
	Newport Hills/Lake Heights Art

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Bridle Trails Art

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Bridle Trails residents soon will comment on an equestrian-themed public art proposal for their neighborhood.

Some image ideas - horses, braided arcs, spirals, maple leaves

Project Update, August 2011
Responding to feedback from residents and the selection panel, artist Bruce Myers shared updated designs and models for art in Bridle Trails in a public meeting at City Hall in May. Bridle Trails panelists and other residents continue to help refine the design. The art is proposed for three sites, with each site featuring different designs. Some samples are shown in the pictures above.

Myers and Arts Program staff are preparing a model and illustrations of the proposal to put on display for public comment in locations convenient to the Bridle Trails neighborhood. Once display dates and times are coordinated, they will be posted here. Residents can view and comment on the designs in person at the model display and on this web page as well.

If you have comments or questions, contact Project Manager Mary Pat Byrne (contact information in the right column of this page).

Background
Commissioning an equestrian-themed work of public art is one of several projects Bridle Trails residents selected for their neighborhood through the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP). The project budget is $35,000.

Once a neighborhood votes its NEP selections, the project is transferred to the appropriate department or program, in this case, the city’s Public Art Program. Using city processes for commissioning public art, a selection panel including Bridle Trails residents and arts professionals was assembled and given the job of guiding artist selection and design development.

Artist Selection
Chaired by Bellevue Arts Commissioner and Bridle Trails resident Judy Holder, the panel reviewed entries and interviewed four of the artists who applied. The panel selected artist Bruce Myers based on his past work, his sensitivity to place and his thoughtful, enthusiastic response to both the Bridle Trails neighborhood and the equestrian theme. His daughter was taking riding lessons, and he said his household is steeped in equestrian culture. Here is some of the information he shared with the selection panel.

Bruce works in bronze, stone, concrete and other media. His studio is on Orcas Island.

Art Concept Development
The first step in developing the artwork was to expand Bruce’s contact with the community. In October, 2009 Bridle Trails residents had an opportunity to meet Bruce, see his past work and talk with him about their ideas for sites and for directions the art could take.

Bruce’s next step was to assemble images that could influence his work and trigger ideas. In the spirit of a true public art project, Bruce invited the community to suggest images and words as well.

Using these ideas Bruce developed a number of concepts that he asked the panel and residents to prioritize. Based on that feedback, Bruce has created three designs for 3 sites.

Sites Selected
Several sites were suggested for art, each with advantages and challenges. We took suggestions from residents, selection panelists and city staff. We checked for hazards, safety concerns and even traffic counts. Bruce's design includes work for all three of these sites:

	Northeast 24th Street and 120th Avenue Northeast, northeast corner: Gateway, high visibility for traffic. Parks staff worked with Bruce to develop a landscape design that will work well with art or without. Some of the landscaping has already been installed. The partnership with Parks is stretching art dollars and enhancing the project.
	132nd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 40th Street, by the path on the triangle median: Geographically, the site is roughly the center of the neighborhood and a nearby gazebo is a charming neighborhood feature. Traffic safety staff said only pedestrian-oriented work sited away from 132nd can go here because of serious concerns about traffic safety. The triangular median has a walking path through its center and plenty of trees, making the interior of the median fairly protected sight-wise from the street and passing traffic. Art work sited in the interior of the triangular median is unlikely to compete visually with the gazebo.
	140th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 60th Street: Gateway into the Bellevue portion of Bridle Trails, by the Bellevue Golf Course.

Bridle Trails Selection Panel

Judy Holder, Chair - former Bellevue Arts Commissioner, immediate past Chair for the Commission, and Bridle Trails resident
Bob Adamowski, Bridle Trail resident
Passion Julinsey, Bridle Trails resident
Peggy Swistak, Bridle Trails resident
Sue Raschella, Bridle Trails resident
Cable Griffith, Artist, Gallery and Exhibitions Curator for Cornish College of the Arts
Perri Lynch, Artist

Contact Information

Planning & Community Development
450 110th Ave. NE
P.O. Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
Contact: Mary Pat Byrne
Phone: 425-452-4105
E-mail: mpbyrne@bellevuewa.gov