More Than 190 Artists From 32 States and Nine Countries Want to Make Art For South Station

South Station photo Uploaded by Daquella manera on Flickr

In June, the Women’s Transportation Seminar Boston Charitable Fund, Inc. announced that they were looking for artists to bring new, innovative works to the city’s busiest bus and train depot that pay homage to the working women of the transit industry.

This week, the group announced that they received more submissions from people interested in taking on the project than they had expected.

Through an online submittal process that called for qualified artists, members of Boston’s WTS chapter said 195 applicants from 32 states and nine countries put their name into the ring in regards to the upcoming project to install public artwork in some of the empty spaces inside South Station.

Called the “Women in Movement” project, which is being supported by the MBTA and MassDOT, a selection panel from WTS will now take on the task of sifting through the piles of submissions sent in by candidates, who the group said came from as far away as London, Spain, the Philippines, Poland, Canada, India, Iceland, Australia, and Peru, and as close to the city as Somerville.

“I am in awe with how much interest this public art project has engaged—there are submissions not only from around the country, but also from around the world. We are energized to move forward with the selection process and can’t wait to review the variety of ideas and designs,” said WTS-Boston public art co-chair Lisa Brothers.

The organizers of the art competition will first narrow down the pool to just three finalists, after reviewing applicant images, statements, and credentials. Those finalists will be announced by September 19. The design concepts of those three artists will then be presented to the public for review and comment in mid-January of next year.

With the help of those who frequent the bustling transit station, and art fanatics from all around the city, the group said they anticipate selecting a winner of the competition come the end of January of 2015.

The winning artist will be awarded a $150,000 stipend to complete their project, and can choose where it will go based on what they plan to construct, whether it be a painting or sculpture. The budget will cover all costs related to the artwork’s final design, fabrication, transportation, delivery, and installation.