EASTHAMPTON – Easthampton City Arts (ECA) and the ECA Public Art Subcommittee recently announced a request for proposals (RFP) for its newest public art initiative, “The Ferry Street Gateway to the Mills.”

For this new initiative, ECA will create a “pocket park” at the Ferry Street entryway to Millside Park that will consist of a new, original, artist-designed and fabricated public sculpture, public seating, wayfinding signage, as well as an artist-designed and fabricated bike rack. The project is in collaboration with the Realtor Association of the Pioneer Valley and is funded by a placemaking grant through the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Additional funding and support are provided by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Easthampton Planning Department and ECA.

The ECA is only currently seeking proposals from artists who are interested in creating the original, artist-designed and fabricated public sculpture. According to Pasqualina Azzarello, the city arts coordinator for Easthampton, ECA and the Public Art Subcommittee have been working toward this project for the last three years.

“It’s always pretty remarkable just how much time it can take to establish relationships and to develop an idea,” said Azzarello. “[This project] has really been a long-term conversation.”

The NAR had funded an interactive public art piece on Cottage Street on the Nashawannuck Pond boardwalk prior to this project, so the ECA already had a longstanding relationship with the organization. The Pioneer Valley chapter of the NAR appointed a new CEO a couple of years back named Brendan Bailey.

According to Azzarello, Bailey is a “big fan” of Easthampton and recognizes the values and efforts being done in the city around public art, community engagement and activating public spaces. When he was appointed CEO, Easthampton was one of the first places he wanted to be familiar with, as ECA began developing this idea for the “pocket park,” and how the idea ties in to other ECA initiatives.

Azzarello also wanted to acknowledge local realtor Peter Davies as being an integral component during this process. Back in 2016, he reached out to Azzarello to see what initiatives him and ECA could collaborate on in the future.  

“The fact that we were funded by the NAR to finally, after all these years, bring this vision to life is very exciting and very gratifying,” said Azzarello, who added that the project comes during a meaningful moment for Easthampton. “We’re certainly not post-COVID, but we are in a time of regeneration, of reprioritization. And I think that public art as a platform to activate our shared daily spaces is something that’s very powerful.”

Azzarello believes that there is a real opportunity with the public art sculpture because of how historic the entryway to the Mills on the Ferry Street side is. The location is also the entryway to Millside Park, where the city hosts many concerts and community events.

“I think there’s a real opportunity here to acknowledge, through art, the complex histories that are part of that land and part of the history of our city and this land before our city was here,” said Azzarello. “Being in the midst of a real reevaluation of the stories of histories we acknowledge and elevate, I really am hopeful for a diversity in applications in terms of the stories that artists are looking to tell and celebrate.”

Azzarello added that the Public Art Subcommittee intentionally did not ascribe a particular theme to the project because they did not want to limit what proposals might come in. ECA is looking for applications that welcome complexity, imagination and shared and simultaneous stories.

“The multi-functionality of the Mill buildings today is very central to the culture of Easthampton that we are all a part of creating right now,” said Azzarello. “There’s a rich presence of native stories and native culture that is here within the context of our now.”

According to Azzarello, ECA has already commissioned local artist and metal worker Michael Poole to design and fabricate another 01027 bike rack in the “pocket park.” That was funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Winter Streets Grant.

Artists have until Sep. 1 to apply with their proposal. After that, a review panel – which will consist of members from the ECA Public Art Subcommittee, a representative from the Manhan Rail Trail Committee, a representative from the Parks Commission, and certain business owners and local artists – will go through a review process in the fall. An artist will be selected in October. The chosen artist will have the winter to design and fabricate the sculpture, and then the city hopes to install it and have a public celebration in early February.

The ECA website has a list of eligibility requirements for artists who are looking to submit proposals for the possibility of being chosen to create this public sculpture. All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and can be based anywhere, though local applicants will be prioritized. ECA is also committed to supporting art and artists from underrepresented and marginalized groups of people. BIPOC, Queer, and Trans artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Other eligibility requirements are listed on the site.

“I think any time there is an opportunity to activate the spaces where two areas overlap or come together in a real intentional way with art at its core is very exciting,” said Azzarello. “We recognize the value and opportunity to be explicit about making connections.”

To apply or learn more about this public art initiative and the history of the location, people can visit the ECA website, https://www.easthamptoncityarts.com/resources/open-call-for-public-art. People can also email Azzarello with any comments or questions at PAzzarello@easthamptonma.gov.