Call for Artistic Concepts

The Snohomish County Arts Commission is requesting two different artistic concepts: a “memorial beacon” and for individual memorials. Both are planned to be installed at the SR 530 (“Oso”) Slide Memorial. A vision has been created for the Oso memorial site which includes a memorial beacon and an area where memorials to individual victims will be located in the larger overall site plan. Concept submittals are due July 10, 2019 to the Snohomish County Arts Commission.

Slide Memorial Beacon – Call-for-Concept HERE:
The current site plan includes a gathering area in the memorial which will be used during important events as well as by groups visiting the site to learn about the tragedy. Within this gathering area, a beacon is planned, which will be visible from anywhere in the memorial and will be placed so as to cast a shadow on a focal point on March 22nd, 10:37 a.m. of each year.

A preliminary concept for this beacon has been designed which includes forty-three branches to represent the forty-three victims of the slide. The ultimate design for this piece has not been determined and this call-for-concepts is planned to be used as the basis for commissioning the piece.

Individual Memorials – Call-for-Concept HERE:
Individual memorials will provide places for families to come and remember their loved ones and leave personal items. It is important to the family members that their loved ones be remembered as loved individuals and that the memorial area not be reminiscent of a graveyard. It is the desire of the family members that lost family groups be honored together in a single memorial panel.

A preliminary concept for the individual memorials has been designed, which is envisioned to be created out of curved corten steel to represent the “embrace” of the community. The concept includes cutouts to represent the missing individual(s) and also to allow for light and shadow to be created by the panels. There is the intent to personalize each of the panels with quotes, pictures and names, as well as plantings around the memorial panels.

In total, twenty-six panels will ultimately be created which will be placed to reflect single victims lost as well as family groupings of up to six individuals. The panels will be personalized to represent the victims, but a general style should be consistent throughout the space.

Submittals Due July 10:
You may submit to one or both Call-for-Concepts. After following the instructions in the Call-for-Concepts closely, deliver entries to: jeremy.husby@snoco.org, or by mail to: Snohomish County Arts Commission, Attn: Jeremy Husby, 14405 179th Ave SE Monroe, WA 98272. More at SnoCoArts.org