McCall, Ken - RFQ Submission
Cover Letter
Ken McCall
McCall Studios
483 N. Quarry View Pl.
Boise, Idaho 83712
208-850-7579
Kmccall335@gmail.com
Main Office
483 N. Quarry View Pl.
Boise, Idaho 83712
Any individual who will perform work for the City of La Quinta is free of any conflict of interest.
Qualifications
Each public art project has its own potential and my approach is to create a new design for each opportunity. I am a
sculptor based in Boise who specializes in creating enduring works from metal. For over 25 years I have been sculpting
contemporary works that combine clean, flowing lines with unexpected details. My fabrication skill set serves not only
my own art but allows me the opportunity to collaborate with artists of other disciplines to design and create unique
works. Regionally I have collaborated with many Boise artists on a number of recent projects and have worked with
the nationally renowned sculptor Arthur Higgins. Some of my recent notable works are Circuitree for Greeley,
Colorado; Transference for Boise State University; a multiple sculpture design and installation for The City of Bend,
Oregon; an entryway sculpture for the Inn at 500 in Boise, Idaho; 24/7 and Call and Respond for Fire Stations #4 and
#8 in Boise, Idaho; a kinetic sculpture powered by the wind for Heroes Park in Meridian, Idaho; an iconic free-standing
sculpture Spiral of Injustice at the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise, Idaho; a kinetic sculpture
representing a historic park and it’s relationship with the surrounding community throughout time for Munson Park in
Norfolk, Virginia; and A New Leaf, an entryway sculpture for Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Washington.
Working in primarily metal allows the flexibility to produce both delicate and monumental objects of art that can live
in almost any space. The materials I work in most often are aluminum and stainless steel which are extremely versatile
for lasting outdoor installations. The meticulous construction methods that my studio employs often give a seamless
quality to the art to emphasize the elegant lines of the design. Color is used carefully to enliven the space and I often
incorporate other materials in the work as important details. Recent pieces have utilized gilding, mosaic, acrylic and
specialized finishes to enhance the design. These projects have required working with architects, contractors,
engineers, neighborhood associations and city planners in a team effort. The resulting art is a combination of artistic
vision, solid craftsmanship, and careful integration of the piece in the natural setting. Because I fabricate my own
designs, I’m able to offer “more sculpture” so to speak as I don’t have the cost of hiring someone else to build my
artworks, and also gives me the advantage of being in better control of meeting timelines and staying within budget.
I am confident in my abilities to design, fabricate and install unique artwork for the City of La Quinta. The skills needed
to do so; creative design, meticulous craftsmanship, solid fabrication, and practical experience with permanent
materials; are skills that I have been employing on many individual installations internationally.
This is an exciting opportunity to create artwork that captures the essence of the community to both uplift and
provoke thought in those who interact with it. I believe that my own artistic vision united with years of professional
design, fabrication, and collaborative working experience contribute to give me extensive knowledge of working on
artwork as well as combine to make me a unique candidate.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ken McCall
Ken McCall
McCall Studios
483 N. QuarryView Pl.
Boise, ID 83712
208-850-7579
Kmccall335@gmail.com
Mccall-studios.com
1993-1997 Attended Boise State University (Art program) – majoring in sculpture, design and fine art
1997-1998 Freelance fabrication, carpentry and construction
1998-1999 Welder and fabricator of custom metal work for Versarail. Responsibilities included design,
fabrication and installation.
1999-2014 Welder and fabricator of custom metal work for Jack’s Metal Works. Responsibilities included
design, cost breakdown, fabrication and installation
2000-present McCall Studios – metal sculpture, custom design and fabrication
Projects of Note
2014 Designed and fabricated, Arlo Agoseris, a kinetic wind sculpture for Liquidity Wines with
partner Mark Baltes in B.C., Canada – Project Total: $9,500
2015 Artist on Contract for Public Works at the Boise Watershed in Boise, Idaho –
Project Total: $400,000 (total for all 7 artists on contract)
2016 Designed, fabricated and installed, as lead artist with partner Leslie Dixon, Transference at
Boise State University in Boise, Idaho – Project Total: $24,000
2016 Designed, worked with neighborhood association, fabricated and installed Family Tree and
Leaf Spiral II for Central Rim neighborhood in Boise, Idaho – Project Total: $10,000
2016 Designed, fabricated and installed Aeternum Folia for Uptown Tree Program with partner
Leslie Dixon in Greeley, CO – Project Total: $10,000
2016 Designed, fabricated and installed (as lead artist) Symmetry for Inn at 500 with partners Leslie
Dixon and Mark Baltes in Boise, ID – Project Total: $30,000
2016 Designed, fabricated and installed Circuitree for Uptown Tree Program sculpture in Greeley, CO
– Project Total: $10,000
2016 Artist on contract for Park Identities Public Art Roster (for 3 years) in Meridian, ID
2017 Designed, fabricated and installed Call and Respond for Fire Station 8 in Boise, ID with
partners Mark Baltes and Leslie Dixon – Project Total: $45,000
2017 Designed, worked with committee, fabricated and installed (as lead artist) Gilded River
for Bend, OR roundabout with assistance from Mark Baltes and Leslie Dixon –
Project Total: $130,000
2017 Designed, fabricated and installed Journey of Heroes sculpture for Heroes Park in
Meridian, ID – Project Total: $73,000
2017
Designed, fabricated and installed, with partner Leslie Dixon, 24/7 for Fire Station 4 in
Boise, Idaho – Project Total: $45,000
2018 Designed, fabricated and installed Spiral of Injustice for the Idaho Anne Frank Human
Rights Memorial in Bose, ID – Project Total: $30,000
2018 Designed and fabricated sculpture, Guffey Bridge, for Nampa Highway District
for roundabout in Nampa, ID – Project Total: $28,000
2019 Designed and fabricated Boise & Interurban Trolley Sculpture for Nampa Highway
District in Nampa, ID – Project Total: $33,000
2019 Fabricated public artwork by Trademark Creative for St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, ID – Project
Total: $1,500,000
2019 Artist on contract (for 3 years) for Washington State Arts Commission – Project Total:
varies, up to $250,000
2019 Designed, fabricated and installed public artwork Illuminations for Renaissance Park in
Meridian, ID – Project Total: $40,000
2019 Artist on contract for Park Identities Public Art Roster (for 3 years) in Meridian, ID –
Project Total: varies
2020 Designed, fabricated and installed public artwork in Munson Park in Norfolk, VA –
Project Total: $80,000
2021 Designed fabricated and installed A New Leaf for the Washington State Arts Commission at
the Center for Allied Health Education at Bates Technical College in Tacoma, WA – Project
Total: $110,000
2021 Designed and fabricated roundabout public artwork, Courthouse, for the Nampa
Highway District in Nampa, ID – Project Total: $30,000
2021 Designed and currently fabricating donor tree relief sculpture for St. Joes’ School in Boise,
ID – Project Total: $35,000
2021 Currently in design phase for Uplifted for the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial
in Boise, ID – Project Total: $40,000
2021 Currently in design phase for public artwork for Fire Station #36 in El Paso, TX – Project
Total: $200,000
2021 Currently on Pre-Qualified Database for public artwork in Sacramento, CA and in Livermore,
CA; artist on contract for the Choice Neighborhood Project in Phoenix, AZ and for the City
of Ocala in Florida; and artist on the Oregon Art in Public Places Roster (for 3 years) – Project
Totals: varies
Past Works
Gilded River
2016
$130,000
22’ x 50’ x 50’ stainless steel, aluminum and
gold leaf
Roundabout collection – Bend, OR
Created for the roundabout collection in Bend, OR, this
kinetic sculpture features five stylized “trees” that
engage the surrounding space and created a strong
signature presence. The frequent breezes create a
rippling effect amongst the 500+ golden leaves.
Transference
2015
$24,000
15’ x 16’ x 3’ powder coated steel and acrylic
Boise State University – Boise, ID
Created for the City of Boise and Boise State
University, Transference celebrates Boise’s
success in geothermal energy. While the colors
illustrate the cooling and heating of the water,
the panels show the actual map locations of
buildings in Boise and on BSU’s campus receiving
the geothermal system.
Journey of Heroes
2017
$73,000
32’ x 15’ x 15’ powder coated steel and aluminum
Heroes Park – Meridian, ID
This kinetic sculpture created for Heroes Park in
Meridian, ID, moves in the wind representing
adventure, transformation and change. While the large
aluminum sails depict the harnessing of wind power,
the
illustrated ghost images pay tribute to courageous
individuals throughout history.
Symmetry
2016
$30,000
20’ x 30’ x 15’ powder coated steel
and aluminum
Inn at 500 – Boise, ID
A private commission for the Inn at
500 in Boise, ID, “Symmetry” was
designed to represent the delicate
balance in nature. The idea was
inspired by one of the Boise’s most
prized assets; trees. The large,
spiraled aluminum sections house
the small kinetic leaves, which spin
and turn in the wind.
24/7
2017
$45,000
20’ x 15’ x 2’ stone, steel and acrylic
Fire Station #4 – Boise, ID
Inspired by the constant service our
firefighters dedicate to the community,
the design of this functioning sundial
sculpture incorporates details
representing the mission of the fire
station. The sundial’s daytime shadow,
the Maltese Cross and the Helmet light
at night to signify the continuous hours
firefighters devote.
Arlo Agoseris
2014
$9,500
15’ x 16’ x 16’ aluminum, stainless steel, and steel
Liquidity Wines – B.C., Canada
A private commission for Liquidity Wines in B.C.,
Canada, this kinetic sculpture represents the element
of wind. Present throughout mythology and folklore,
this Mountain Dandelion’s entire top turns while the
wind blows.
Boise & Interurban Railway
2019
$33,000
20’ x 23’ x 4.5’ steel
Roundabout Collection –
Nampa, ID
Representing one of the
trolley cars from the
historic Boise & Interurban
Railway, this free-standing
sculpture created for the
Nampa Highway District is
displayed in the center
island of a roundabout in
Nampa, ID.
Heron Park Bench
2019
$5,000
7’x 4’ x 6’ power coated steel
Heron Park – Garden City, ID
Created for Garden SITy’s Art Bench
program, this site specific bench was
inspired by its location along the
Greenbelt at Heron Park in Garden
City, ID.
Illuminations
2020
$40,000
20’ x 14.5’ powder coated steel and acrylic
Renaissance Park – Boise, ID
This free-standing sculpture celebrates the significant
musical, scientific, literary and artistic contributions
made during the Renaissance. Each portal portrays an
iconic symbol which signifies the impact of each medium
during this transitional period in European history; the
largest portal displaying the Vitruvian Man representing
math and science, the medium with the Creation of
Adam portraying the fine arts, and the smallest with the
quill pen and the Stradivarius violin signifying literature
and music. The structures of the portals were influenced
by Renaissance era architecture, with primary colored
panels blending together to make multiple colors that
cast beautiful mosaics on the ground. The position of
“Illuminations” was engineered to radiate a marker on
the ground representing Spring Solstice, the beginning of
spring, or revival - a corresponding concept of the
Renaissance, as it means rebirth.
Place in Time
2020
$80,000
Munson Park – Norfolk, VA
20’ x 13’ powder coated steel, aluminum and navy brass
This contemporary, free-standing sculpture represents
generations within the Park Place community as well as the
changing dynamics of the community itself. The center
tree moves in the wind and contains “leaves” engraved
with Park Place street names, with Munson Place at the
heart. As it spins, it, at times, forms the shape of a heart. It
encompasses three time capsules in the base, enabling
ongoing community engagement - area schools and
neighbors collected items (drawings, essays, pictures, etc.)
and placed them within the time capsules: creating a
vehicle for timeless interaction with the artwork as well as
promoting creative thought and a new tradition within the
community.
The three figures surrounding the tree signify the roots of
the Park Place community; the past, present and future
generations. Each figure has a specific map engraved on
the surface; the largest showing a hand drawn 1918 map of
Park Place and Munson Park, the medium displaying a
modern-day map of the area, and the smallest showing a
simplified unlabeled map representing the future.
A New Leaf
2021
$110,000
Bates Technical College - Tacoma, WA
25’ x 17’ x 8’ stainless steel, aluminum and gold leaf
Inspired by the healing arts, each tree of this free-
standing sculpture represents allied health
disciplines at Bates Technical College. The trees not
only show the various branches of the educational
institution, but also represent the growth of
students as well as the college itself. The materials,
stainless steel and gold, are reflective of tools used
in the medical and dental fields.
The leaves of the trees are routered with historical
and present-day maps of the surrounding area,
illustrating the symbiotic relationship between the
college and the neighborhood. Each tree is kinetic,
turning in the wind to signify the revolving
connection between Bates and the Hilltop
community. The medical, technical and dental
symbols at the top of each tree represent Bates
Technical College, the heart of the community, on
the map. The veins of the leaves, the area’s streets,
symbolize the life-line that the neighborhood is to
Bates
Courthouse
2021
25’ x 15’ x 12’ corten steel
Roundabout Collection – Nampa, ID
Representing the historic Canyon
County courthouse, this free-
standing sculpture created for the
Nampa Highway District is
displayed in the center island of a
roundabout in Nampa, ID.
References
Client: City of Meridian
Client Project Manager: Mike Barton
Parks Superintendent
mbarton@meridiancity.org
208-888-3579
Project Description: Worked with Mike on public art pieces Journey of Heroes and Illuminations that I was
commissioned to provide for the City of Meridian
Project Date: Journey of Heroes 2016-2017
Project Date: Illuminations 2017-2018
Staff assigned to project by firm: Ken McCall
Final Outcome: Designed, fabricated and installed public art pieces Journey of Heroes in Heroes Park and
Illuminations in Renaissance Park
Client: Norfolk Arts
Client Project Manager: Karen Rudd
Manager
Karen.rudd@norfolk.gov
(757) 664-6883 (cell)
(757) 284-8445 (office)
Project Description: Worked with Karen on public art piece, Place in Time, that I was commissioned to provide for
Munson Park in Norfolk, VA
Project Date: 2019-2020
Staff assigned to project by firm: Ken McCall
Final Outcome: Designed, fabricated and installed public art piece Place in Time in Munson Park in Norfolk, VA
Client: Nampa Highway District No. 1
Project Manager: Eric Shannon
Project Director
eric@nampahighway1.com
(208) 467-6576, Ext. 221 (office)
(208) 921-2736 (cell)
Project Description: Worked with Eric on public art works, Guffey Bridge, Boise & Interurban Trolley, and
Courthouse for roundabouts in Nampa, ID
Project Date: Guffey Bridge January 2018 – June 2018
Project Date: Boise & Interurban Trolley January 2019 – June 2019
Project Date: Courthouse January 2021 – August 2021
Staff assigned to project by firm: Ken McCall
Final Outcome: Designed and fabricated public artworks, Guffey Bridge, Boise & Interurban Trolley, and Courthouse
for roundabouts in Nampa, Idaho