APPLICATION INFORMATION

EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk 2006

Middletown County Park is a scenic 107 acre county park and home to a mix of oak, pine, manzanita and madrone. The grounds are flat, containing numerous vernal pools and a small pond. Ponderosa pine and moss laden oak groves are separated by grasslands sprinkled liberally with wildflowers (especially in Spring!). The park is open year round from dawn till dusk.

There are three entrance trails to the park for pedestrian and horse use. These trails are accessed from the large parking lot off Dry Creek Cutoff. The central trail has been designated for EcoArts and offers many advantageous site specific locations for art installations. This trail is approximately 3/8th mile long and meanders to a picnic area with large oaks shading half a dozen tables. In winter and early spring some areas of the trail system will be wet or boggy. Temperatures can range from the 20's in the winter to the 100's in the summer. There is no water and no electricity.

Lake County obtained the land that became Middletown County Trailside Park through a bond measure, honoring a conservancy bequest from a local rancher. The County is sensitive to the compatibility of the sculptures to the park environment. EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk is a celebration of nature and man's place in the natural world. We seek a human dialog with nature. The sculptures are temporary and built to be removed with minimal impact to the landscape. What goes in goes out.

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EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk is the only public forum in Lake County where art and nature come together. We are a diverse group of artists given an amazing venue to create expressions that evoke a response: a memory, a laugh, a spark of curiosity, and dialog; all in a beautiful natural setting using materials or messages that relate to nature.

We invite artists to participate in creating works built to be removed with minimal impact to the landscape. Lake County has provided a gorgeous natural venue for this exhibit. The Middletown County Park is located approximately 20 minutes north of Calistoga and accessed from Highway 29 to Route 175 to Dry Creek Cutoff.

The 2006 EcoArts Sculpture exhibit will be installed from May 13th through May 21st, 2006. Works are to be removed October 21st to October 29th. There will be an opening reception in early June. Reception details will be forthcoming in the Spring.

Like many counties under severe budgetary constraints, Lake County has no insurance beyond basic public liability and no monies to protect or maintain the art works. We offer an incredible venue, longevity of display, a showcased event, and an appreciative public. This fourth year will be longer and stronger. Each subsequent year will continue to bring new and exciting works as well as new and exciting opportunities. Over time, we believe this could become an international event.

The exhibit will be showcased on the Lake County Arts Council website, a separate EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk webpage, and promoted to various radio, Cable, TV, print, and Internet formats. We'll create a tour Guide available free to the public at the beginning of the trail with information about you, your project and your contact information.

EcoArtists participating in the 4th Annual EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk are invited to join us in other venues throughout the County as the opportunities arise. To participate, please see information and Application Forms provided below.

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There are no fees to apply or participate. Application forms need to be mailed, or emailed to the project coordinator by March 15, 2006. Email address for submissions is Karenturcotte@Yahoo.com. Mailing address is EcoArts of Lake County, P.O. Box 8, Cobb, CA 95426. All applications will be acknowledged upon receipt. Applications will be reviewed by the project coordinator, the Lake County Arts Council, and Lake County Department of Public Services. After an understanding of your project, the event coordinators will be in touch to see what assistance or further information you may need. All applications will be assessed by the second week of April.

Summary of Application Process

• Fill Out Application Form
• Sign County Liability Waiver: You hold the County harmless should you become injured in the course of fabrication or installation related to this project.
• Acknowledge that there is no insurance for vandalism or theft of art works (on the Application Form)
• Mail application by March 15th to EcoArts of Lake County, P.O. Box 8, Cobb, CA 95426 Tele: 707-928-0323.

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It's important that the installations impact the park as little as possible. Within reason, all impact needs to ultimately be mitigated. Dislodged soil will be set aside to refill any holes at the end of the event. Wildflower seed will be scraped and saved to put back at the end of the season. Please be sure to keep this in mind when conceiving or designing your project. During the installation period, Karen Turcotte, coordinator of the event, will be on hand to assist in these and any other endeavors required.

There is no water at the site. Any drinking water or water used in installation and/or anchoring needs to be brought in. The coordinators can help assess your needs and provide assistance. Bathrooms are located in the parking lot. Middletown has an amazing hardware and food store called Hardesters. You can get food from their deli or a bolt for your installation.

You are strongly encouraged to visit the site prior to submitting an application. You can request a specific site for your installation. Karen can provide one-on-one meetings to tour the site and mark your space. Meetings will be on weekends only and subject to availability. Driving directions to Middletown County Park can be found on this website. Specific site availability is on a first come basis.

Summary of Installation Criteria:

• A sensitivity to the site must be maintained at all times.
• What comes in goes out. You are responsible for setting up and removing pieces within specified time allowances at the beginning and end of the event (at least a 7 day span).
• Use no live material that could set seed or take root within the park.
• Driving access on the central trail can be arranged to drop materials at or close to your installation site.
• There is no water or electricity at the site; if you need it, you have to bring it.
• Materials must withstand high summer temperatures.
• Artwork should be anchored in some way, if possible.
• Any site specific branch/ brush/vine clearing needs approval and involvement of the project coordinator.

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(Before submitting, be sure to read the Application Information above, most especially ABOUT THE INSTALLATIONS).

Note: Your contact information and exhibit piece will be described in the self guide tour book. We will take the information from these forms and revisit the final text with you before it is published. It is important that you install within the time allotted so we can include a photograph of your work in the guide.

Download a Microsoft Word version of the application.
Download an Acrobat PDF version of the application.
Click here for a printer friendly web version of the application.

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Please return a completed liability waiver with your application. Mail, fax or email to the project coordinator by March 15, 2005. Email address for submissions is Karenturcotte@Yahoo.com. Mailing address is Karen Turcotte, 1464 Grove St., No. 202, San Francisco, CA 94117.

Download a Microsoft Word version of the liability waiver.
Download an Acrobat PDF version of the liability waiver.
Click here for a printer friendly web version of the liability waiver.

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