Equity Residential, developer of the Junction's biggest project looking for artists

Local artists commissioned for Junction neighborhood apartment project; first-phase request for proposal issued for building’s 20 exterior columns

The face of the West Seattle Junction, began the process of changing dramatically when apartment developer Equity Residential began the process of creating what will be the largest construction project in the Junction to date. Now they've issued a call for artists, to develop art for the interior and exterior of the building going up at 4706 California Ave SW.

A press release sent by the company follows:

"Equity Residential has issued a request for proposal from local artists for its mixed-use residential project located at 4706 California Ave. SW in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. The company’s Artist Engagement Program will incorporate art into the architecture and design of both interior common spaces and exterior walkways of the project, which will include 206 apartment homes and 19,814 square feet of ground-floor retail. Equity’s goal is to source locally focused, site-specific artwork that will be directly purchased or commissioned from West Seattle artists, without a curatorial commission percentage. The program is being managed by local artist and curator, Sara Everett, who also curated Youngstown Flats in the Delridge neighborhood.

“We believe it’s important for our apartment projects to reflect the local neighborhoods, and public art provides a medium to accomplish that in a very creative and functional way,” said Bradley Karvasek, First Vice President of Development at Equity Residential.

“West Seattle is home to so many talented artists who we believe will be inspired by this community-based engagement program,” said Everett, an award-winning artist with deep experience blending art with mixed-use residential real estate projects. “We look forward to receiving submissions in the next few weeks.”
As part of her consulting role with Equity Residential, Everett will coordinate all requests for proposals and artist submittals, as well as manage the curatorial and art-installation process at the project, slated to open next June. The RFP issued this month will address art for the building’s 20 exterior support columns, each given a specific art niche. Two artists will likely be chosen for exteriors, and separate calls for submissions will be issued in the next few months for the project’s interior spaces.

The focus of the work will reflect the idea of a “junction” as a transition, or a boundary between two places, things or ideas - such as between city and quiet, water and land, or neighborhood and industry, according to Everett. The program will pursue visual representations of industrial contemporary, or those which span between nature and man-made.

West 5 owner and former West Seattle Chamber of Commerce president Dave Montoure believes public art is essential to the future of the area. “West Seattle is a vibrant, energetic community,
and we’re constantly looking for ways to express that uniqueness, especially in the built environment. I fully support Equity’s effort to add a new dimension to this apartment project.”

When complete, Equity Residential’s mixed-use project will include a variety of floor plans, including an open one-bedroom and live/work apartment homes. Units will feature modern kitchens with quartz counter tops, stainless steel Energy Star appliances, wood-style flooring, in-home washer/dryer and 9-ft. ceilings. Amenities will include a roof-top deck, fitness center, onsite bike storage, and more.

Interested artists can contact Sara Everett at info@saraeverett.com or visit saraeverett.com for additional information.

About Sara Everett
Sara Everett is a curator for real estate development in the Seattle area, an occasional writer for Artist Trust as well as a working painter. Everett often makes use of re-purposed wood, which she manipulates with stains, carvings and texture before sealing it and applying detailed oils. Her work currently appears in Seattle's CORE Gallery and has been shown in Washington galleries and internationally. Everett is an Artist Trust EDGE program graduate, an awardee of a Vermont Studio Center Artist Fellowship and recently completed a printmaking residency in Co. Donegal, Ireland."

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