Steven Shachtman

You Might Recognize:

Denver- "Bridge" was awarded Best New Public art in 2012-Quincy BLVD across from Fort Logan National Cemetery.

The Fossil Creek Sphere located in Fort Collins is made up of 856 stones, stacked to form a 16 ton sphere. I moved all of the stone by hand three times. 

Public Art Average Success Rate

Probably around 450 RFQs, 9 awarded public commissions at a 1.79% rate. But When I have been a finalist (about 13 times), I have a 75% rate of being awarded the project.

Rejected Project Proposal

Proposed Project Location:

RTD Gold Line 41st and Fox Rail Station

First, I was really excited about this project as it was less then half a mile from where I lived in the Highlands and very close to my studio at the Old Tar Factory. I felt a strong connection to the area as a local artist.

As for the concept, I wanted to create a gateway pc or something that could be seen from I25 to help act as a way finder. Something that had a visual presence of, "you have arrived at the station"

"I Regret to Inform You..." Artist Response:

I was pretty bummed, as I had a lot of folks from the community that were on the selection panel that either lived and or worked in the area that were really excited about my proposal. In fact they had me drop off the Maquette at one of the panel members' businesses so they could further review; all of which gave me a sense that I might have had a strong chance of being awarded the project.

Neither, I'm the kind of person that just turns the page and moves one when it comes to rejection. There are always going to be other opportunities and as long as I keep creating, then I'm heading in the right direction. Typically when I'm rejected I hope at the very least another local artist is awarded the project.

Additional Thoughts:

The funny part of public art can be when the selection committee might want something abstract, and stress how they like an artist that has a true connection to the site, or connecting to the past, present, and future of the site. Then they choose a representational Unicorn from an artist who lives 500 miles away… totally relevant to the RFP, lol. What are you going to do? Move on.