Call for Artists: Participatory, Site-Responsive Artwork

Call for Artists

Still Water, Living Lake

A Summer Gathering for Art, Ecology, and Community Connection

Presented by: A House Unbuilt
In collaboration with: Brown’s Creek Watershed District and community partners
Location: Long Lake area, Stillwater, MN
Event timeframe: July 25, 2026
Artist honorarium: $600 + materials, documentation, accessibility support

Overview

Still Water, Living Lake is a one-day or weekend summer gathering that brings together artists, ecological science, and community members to deepen public understanding of Long Lake and its ongoing recovery. This program is intentionally event-based, with no permanent installations or alterations to the landscape.

We are seeking three artists to lead participatory, site-responsive experiences that invite reflection, learning, and connection through low-impact artistic practice. The event will also include the presence of a watershed biologist, who will share plant samples and examples from a regional botanical archive to support ecological learning.

Artistic Framework

Artists are invited to respond to the theme of healing and stewardship through one of the following three engagement pathways. Applicants should clearly indicate which pathway best aligns with their practice.

Engagement Pathways

1. Embodied / Performative Engagement

Artists working in movement, walking scores, gesture, sound, or time-based practice are invited to propose guided experiences that help participants attune to the lake, their bodies, and the surrounding environment.

Examples may include:

• Guided movement or stillness
• Walking or listening scores
• Gesture-based participation
• Quiet, durational actions

2. Community Voice & Listening

Artists whose practice centers conversation, story exchange, or facilitated dialogue are invited to propose participatory formats that create space for sharing lived experience related to water, land, memory, or care.

Examples may include:

• Small-group story circles
• Listening prompts or exchanges
• Low-pressure conversational frameworks
• Temporary or ephemeral documentation (notes, drawings, participant-held materials)

3. Hands-on / Material Participation

Artists working with tactile, accessible materials are invited to propose drop-in activities that help participants explore ecological ideas through making or mapping.

Examples may include:

• Simple fiber, paper, or drawing activities
• Mapping or marking exercises
• Intergenerational making experiences
• Take-home or recyclable materials

Environmental & Site Guidelines

• No permanent installation or alteration of the site
• No digging, staking, or attachment to trees or infrastructure
• Activities must be safe, supervised, and respectful of habitat
• Materials should be lightweight, temporary, and reusable or recyclable
• Proposals should consider accessibility and varied levels of participation

Collaboration with Ecological Science

Artists should be open to working alongside a watershed biologist who will be present during the event with plant samples and elements from a botanical archive. This collaboration is intended to be informal and conversational, allowing art and science to exist in parallel and in dialogue.

Artists are not required to interpret scientific data, but should be comfortable situating their work within a learning-rich environment.

What We’re Looking For

We are especially interested in artists who demonstrate:

• Experience with participatory or community-engaged work
• Sensitivity to natural and public spaces
• Clarity in facilitation and communication
• Interest in ecology, stewardship, and place-based practice
• Ability to work within a shared curatorial framework

Artists at all career stages are encouraged to apply.

Submission Requirements

Please submit:

1. A brief proposal (1–2 pages) describing your engagement idea
2. An indication of which engagement pathway you are applying under
3. 3–5 images or links to relevant past work
4. A short artist bio
5. Any accessibility considerations or support needs

Selection Process

Artists will be selected by a small committee including representatives from A House Unbuilt and the watershed district. Selection will prioritize clarity, site sensitivity, and alignment with the goals of the gathering.

Why This Matters

Still Water, Living Lake is an opportunity to engage the community in a moment of shared learning and care—honoring the lake’s ecological resilience while creating space for reflection, curiosity, and connection.