The Water Tower project rethinks water towers and tank structures within the urban landscape. Participants are asked to come up with concepts or proposals that will improve water tower or tank structures within the Portland metro area.
Why are water towers structured so mundane and foreign to our landscape? What if they became integrated or reinterpreted within our urban fabric?
This project is open to all students and professionals from the local to international level.
Objective
Why are water towers structured so mundane and foreign to our landscape? What if they became integrated or reinterpreted within our urban fabric?
Portland contains over 100 water storage facilities throughout the city. They appear in different forms, such as large loo, steel towers to lower round concrete tanks partially embedded into the ground. Others are arranged on top of buildings. The oldest water tower was built in 1909 while the newest constructed in 2002. All provide water pressure using the simple force of gravity.
These water storage facilities serve the metropolitan area under severe drought conditions and power outages. Towers are traditionally designed to sustain enough pressure for one full day of water to homes and businesses.
This project rethinks water towers and tank structures within the urban landscape. Use any 2D media to convey and explore how these industrial structures have impacted the city when decommissioned from their modern functionality.
Any 2D media, 18” x 24” vertical, that best represents the artists’ interpretation and is original can be submitted.
Please consider the following deadlines:
- Online registration form deadline – 15 February 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST
- Submission deadline – 31 March 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Judging criteria:
- Originality
- Intent
- Technique
- Investigation
Prizes
- First Prize: $500
- Second Prize: $100
- Third Prize honorable mention
20+ juried and publication of works will be included in the exhibition inside Disjecta at studio 5.
Rules
- The Water Tower Project is open to all individuals and groups over the age of 18.
- This project is open to all students and professionals from the local to international level.
- Up to three entries are allowed per individual and group.
- Participants are asked to come up with concepts or proposals that will improve water tower or tank structures within the Portland metro area.
- Participants may either improve or introduce new ways of using these facilities.
- Participants are encouraged to explore designs that go beyond the confinement of practical use.
- The water towers and tanks must renew their relationships between site and form.
- A list of water towers and tanks will be distributed via email once your entry form and payment is received. You may choose any tower or tank from the list.
How to enter?
Complete an online registration form and submit along with the entry fee by 15 February 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Once you’re registered you can submit your entries until 31 March 2011.
Please forward questions to info [at] mergestudiolab.com (please replace [at] with @).
Entry fee
- 1 entry – $15
- 2 entries – $30
- 3 entries – $45
