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Call to Artists: Tree Sculpture for Logan Park

The City of Medford in partnership with the Medford Arts Council is seeking an experienced wood working artist for a public art project to give new life to a deceased tree at local neighborhood park, Logan Playground. 

UPDATE: The application period is now closed, and submissions are being reviewed by the selection committee. Thank you to everyone who has applied!

About: 

We hope to honor this large, beautiful oak tree with a design that speaks to rebirth and memory. This tree and sculpture is a part of a larger park project which adds natural play elements to the park. The play elements have been sourced from natural materials, many of which are from materials previously removed during City maintenance (stumps, logs, and stone debris). The park, and this sculpture, will celebrate renewal and thoughtful re-use of materials. We are seeking proposals for a piece that explores these themes; the design can be additive or subtractive, meaning we are open to sculptural elements in addition to woodcarving.

Site Location: Logan Park, 24 Logan Ave, Medford, MA 02155

Site Photos: Click here for more photos of the site, now that the nature play area is nearly complete: Photos- PUBLIC 

Tree specifications: 3 ft diameter at the tree base, height can be altered but the City can leave up to 13 ft 

Timeline: The timeline for completing this project is variable. We intend to execute a contract with an artist by June 30th, 2026. Ideally, the City would like to hire an artist to start their work on-site this summer, 2026, and would expect work to wrap up prior to the winter season. 

Deadline to Apply: The application period closed on 7/8/26 and submissions are being reviewed.

Commission Amount: $9,000 

Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee that includes City staff, a representative from the Medford Arts Council, a representative from Arts Collaborative Medford, and a community member with experience working with large format wood and metal. There may be an optional interview with certain applicants to review any questions for the artist from the Committee.

Questions? 

Please reach out to Amanda Centrella of the Office of Planning, Development, & Sustainability with questions at acentrella@medford-ma.gov or 781-475-5033. 

Check out the Chicago Tree Project for examples of other municipal tree sculptures!