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Call for Art Proposals

Rochester Art Center is seeking proposals for three temporary outdoor, site-specific art installations at three locations along the trails near downtown Rochester as part of the Art4Trails program. One proposal for each site will be selected and the artist will be awarded $3,000 per site.

 

Artwork will be installed between June 1 and June 20, 2026. Applications open October 1, 2025, and are due by November 15, 2025 at 11:45 pm.

 

Rochester Park and Trail System

The Rochester trails provide a convenient way to do activities such as inline-skating, biking, running and walking – either for getting to work and back or simply for recreation and exercise. Rochester has 85+ miles of trails available for pedestrians, bikers, wheelchairs and strollers. Art4Trails site locations for temporary sculptures can be found here. They are at Silver Lake Park by the old fire station, Slatterly Park, Mayo Park East, and on a river landing near the waterfall sculpture at the end of 3rd St SE.

 

Eligibility

Artists 18 years of age or older living in Minnesota and neighboring states are invited to submit proposals individually or collaboratively. Students who do not meet the age requirement can participate by having a teacher or guardian sponsor a proposal. 

 

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be judged based on artistic merit as evidenced by representation of past work, the proposal itself, and other supporting materials. A selection committee consisting of working artists, curators, arts professionals and a representative of the Parks and Recreation Department will review and select proposals by December 15, 2025.

 

Review the Full Call for Art Proposals: pdf version | word doc version

Link to application: https://forms.gle/1fihwR3vDdQYzXid6  pdf version

Map of installation sites: Click Here

 

Unveiling Event

An unveiling event is proposed for June 2026.

Art4Trails is turning 10 in 2026, and we’re raising $10,000 by January 1 to bring three new sculptures to Rochester’s trails this June. Your gift goes directly to paying local artists and making public art free and accessible for all.

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Every donation brings us closer — join us in shaping the next decade of Art4Trails!

Celebrate 10 Years of Art on the Trails!

​2025 Art4Trails Installations

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  • Dynamic Landscape by Hanyin Ma | Slatterly Park

  • Dispersal by Malini Basu & Tobias Gilbert | Silver Lake Fire Station

  • Great Blue Heron by Tim Adams | River Landing

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Google map of Installation Sites: https://tinyurl.com/5vbhadj​

Printable map: Click Here

 

Dynamic Landscape by Hanyin Ma at Slatterly Park

Dynamic Landscape highlights the unseen forces of wind and sunlight, revealing their transformative impact on urban and natural environments. This installation redefines landscapes as active, evolving elements rather than passive backdrops  to architecture. By showcasing the interplay between nature, human presence, and the built environment, Dynamic Landscape fosters a deeper appreciation for landscape heritage and its lasting influence, urging a more integrated and responsive approach to urban spaces.

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Artist Bio
Hanyin Ma has always been driven by the fascination with anthropology and the intricate relationship between the territory and humanity, believing that positive spaces could be a strong factor to influence human behavior, enhancing the quality of life. As an artist, Hanyin consistently uses hand sketches to narrate compelling stories throughout the design process.


Hanyin holds a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Science in Landscape Heritage and is a designer at Coen + Partners.
Beyond the professional practice, Hanyin also volunteers as an editor in ICAF, a nonprofit organization for children’s art publication, and devoted to exercises and drills every day, especially running and tennis.

 

Dispersal by Malini Basu & Tobias Gilbert at Silver Lake Fire Station

Malini Basu and Tobias Gilbert explore the tension between native and invasive species through a woven basket-form crafted from invasive buckthorn. Standing six feet tall, the structure features  window-like openings holding ceramic seed pods of native wildflowers, contrasting resilience with displacement. The pods rattle in the wind, echoing natural seed dispersal.

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Artist Bios

Tobias Gilbert (he him) is an artist and teacher working with wood and ceramics. Through the creation of everyday objects from locally sourced, natural materials and time-intensive, hands-on processes, he questions the loss of material intelligence and how we value the objects around us in a post-consumerist and globalized world. His work purposefully sits at the intersection and overlap of art, craft, and design and draws on a childhood surrounded by nature, craftspeople, and farming. He has a BA in Studio Art and Political Science from Macalester College and has exhibited at the Law Warschaw Gallery, Macalester's Koch Gallery, and The Art Students League of New York.


Malini Basu (she/her) is an interdisciplinary printmaker, illustrator, and textile artist. Raised in Kolkata, India, she draws from the idea of jugaad—everyday creativity in South Asia. She expands her practice by involving community in her process and merging walking and slow-looking with visual art making. She holds an MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and a BA in Studio Art and Environmental Studies from Macalester College. Her artwork has been exhibited at Rosalux Gallery, the Textile Center, MCAD’s Gallery 148, Macalester’s Koch Gallery, and Homewood Studios.

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Great Blue Heron by Tim Adams at River Landing

This sculpture captures the elegance and resilience of the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), a majestic bird native to Minnesota. With its striking blue-gray plumage, long legs, and expansive wingspan, the heron embodies adaptability, thriving in diverse environments from frozen northern waters to  coastal wetlands. Crafted from sheet steel, the sculpture’s layered, hand-cut feathers and wire details replicate the bird’s intricate plumage. Its legs and stance are formed from solid steel bars, while the outstretched wings, shaped for structural stability, convey movement and grace. This piece pays tribute to the heron’s enduring presence in the landscape, symbolizing strength, adaptability, and the delicate balance of nature.

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Artist Bio

Tim Adams is a 1985 Landscape Architecture graduate of Iowa State University and is a Registered Professional Landscape Architect. Tim owned Stony Creek Landscapes, Inc., Webster City, Iowa, a full-service landscape design/build firm and is now pursuing art full-time. Tim is a lifelong student of the arts. His career has been built around creating and installing "One Off" sculptures and designs for gardens, entry features, parks, churches, municipalities, and schools. Tim's primary medium is weathered steel, stainless steel, aluminum, acrylic sheet/Lexan, and native limestone. Tim's inspiration comes from his professional training in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture plus his frequent skiing trips. Natural landforms and native plants are the starting points for Tim's sculpture concepts. To foster sustainability Tim strives to incorporate recycled metals and repurposed materials when practical. His works are designed and constructed to be stout, long-term installations with little or no maintenance needed.

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Art4Trails Acknowledgements

Thank you to our generous volunteers: Viridiana Anguiano, Natsumi Hitosugi, Mary Ellen Landwehr, Nick Miller, LaVanda Mireles, Mike Nigbur, and Anthony Rostvold.


Thank you to Rochester Parks & Recreation for continued support. Thank you to our friends at We Bike Rochester for supporting this project.

Art4Trails Sculptures | Permanent

"Playtime" by Jamie Weinfurter

7th Street NE Near Silver Lake

"Drinking Sunshine" by Craig Snyder

Bear Creek Park

"Unbroken" by Katya Roberts

Mayo Park

"The Send Off" by Sebastien Richer

3rd Ave SE Near Government Center

"Biking Bunny" by Richard Brubaker

Soldier's Field Park near Castle Park

"Nautilus" by Kristopher Tiffany

Rochester Art Center back patio

"Tractor Cat" by Richard Brubaker

Roy Sutherland Playground

"The Artist" by Richard Brubaker

Rochester Art Center

"Untitled" by Hugh Butt

Mayo Park East

"Pyramide" by Sebastien Richer

Kings Run Area

"Phoenix Rising" by Richard Brubaker

Soldier's Field

"Sunrise, Sunset" by Richard Brubaker

Mayo Park East

"Flathead" by Andy Arend

Kutzky Park

"Perfect Canoe" by Sebastien Richer

Mayo Park East

Past Art4Trails Sculptures

"Nidum" by Jon Kamrath

River Landing

"Alchemist" by Bobby Marines

Mayo Park East

"Loom" by Jamie Weinfurter

Mayo Park East

"Fantastical Fruit" by Amarama Vercnocke

Mayo Park East

"Reclaim" by Mary Beth Magyar

Mayo Park East

"Rudbeckia" by Tim Adams

Silver Lake Fire Station

"Huldufolk (Elf) House" by Jerry Carlson

Slatterly Park

"Golden Spirit" by Victor Yepez

Slatterly Park

"Heron" by Judd Nelson

River Landing

"Letting Go" by Judd Nelson

River Landing

"Cyclist" by Victor Yepez

River Landing

"Yield" by Zoe Cinel & Eric Anderson

Bear Creek Park

"Blast From the Past" by Peter Segar

Silver Lake Fire Station

"Greeting Tower" by Sunghee Min

River Landing

"Variations on a Circle of Fifths" by Isaac Kidder

Slatterly Park

"Spark of Magic" by Sunghee Min

Silver Lake Fire Station

"Reluctant Swimmer" by Simon Huelsbeck

River Landing

"Bicycle Tree" by Joshua Schroeder

Silver Lake Fire Station

"Portal Paraboloid" by Greg Mueller

Mayo Park East

"Meandering Connections" by Ryan & James Pederson

Silver Lake Fire Station

Artist Talks

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