Project: Aurora K-6 School Gym Addition 2014
Deadline for Entries: Thursday, November 6, 2014 10:00 pm
Contact: Curator of Public Art, 1% for Art, (907) 343-6473
Amount of Commission: $18,000 to $36,000
Eligibility: National Call; Alaska Preference
Code
In accordance with Municipal Code 7.40, the Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualified artists to create artwork for Aurora K-6 School on the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
Project Information
Project construction began in May 2014 and will be completed by summer 2015. The installation of artwork is preferable when school is not in session by July 2015.
Site Description
The art selection jury intends to commission one or two complementary interior art installations ($18,000 or $36,000) to be permanently installed at one or two locations inside the remodeled elementary school which is located at 5085 10th Street, JBER in Anchorage. There are two potential areas that have been discussed for placement of artwork. One is located in the foyer of the main entrance of the school and the other potential location is located along four hallways including areas above drinking fountains. The art selection jury will consider other suggested sites.
The first potential location is the interior wall areas just inside school’s main entrance also called the north commons. The three walls are just over eight feet tall and are covered with sheetrock. The middle wall measures 25’ 2 ¼” wide and the two oblique walls measure 13’ wide. The oblique walls are located about 9’ away from the larger, middle wall separated by double doors on either side of the middle wall.
The second potential area for artwork will be located in the four main hallways of the school including wall areas above the four public water fountains throughout those hallways.
Themes
Aurora K-6 School is located on the northeast end of Anchorage situated on the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Aurora Elementary was originally constructed in 1956 and is one of five schools on the base that serves military families. There are about 300 students who attend the school annually. The school was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2013 because of their success in improving student achievement. The school colors are royal blue and gold and the school mascot is an eagle.
In the mid 1980s nationally known artist Robert Stout created a multi-paneled artwork as part of an artist in residence with students that will be re-hung in the B-Wing of the school. It is the only public artwork located in the school.
The themes discussed by the Aurora Elementary School Art Selection Jury focused on patriotism, all military branches of service, eagles, the aurora borealis or other Alaskan themes. The artwork will preferably be functional and/or interactive.
Budget
The total budget for the artwork during this addition to the building is $36,000 which includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation and an identifying plaque. State laws related to public construction, including licensing, insurance, bonding, and payment of prevailing wage rates, may apply.
Selection Criteria:
Artists will be selected to develop proposals with the project team based on:
Artistic Merit as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in images.
Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style and previous experience in relation to the project goals and setting.
Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope including familiarity with the public art process, the public review approval process, and/or collaboration with elementary schools; design agencies; and art selection juries.
Artists must have good communication skills and be able to work with diverse community members.
Diversity of artists and media reflects the overall program goals to strive for diversity in style, scale, media and artists in new and traditional art forms. Artists with no prior public art experience will be seriously considered. Artists with strong bodies of work, with little public art background are encouraged to apply and will be given equal consideration.
Artists are required to submit the following items:
1. Six digital images of past work should be loaded into CaFE (callforentry.org) following the guidelines on that site.
2. Each image should be identified with title, materials, dimensions, and value;
3. Current 1-2 page resume.
4. Your artist statement should include a description of why you are interested or particularly qualified for this project. It should also address any experience or work sample deficiencies in relation to your chosen medium.
5. Answers to any required questions about location, medium, or commission level.
ART SELECTION JURY
Principal Debra Washington and teachers Ann-Marie Foust, Lee Miller, and Krista Mason represent Aurora Elementary School on the art selection jury; Victor Valenote is the design representative from Bezek, Durst, and Seiser Architectural firm; Stephanie Mormilo represents the Municipality Of Anchorage and Megs Wood represents the community.
Additional Information
Requests for additional information may be directed to the Curator of Public Art, at Municipality of Anchorage at the Permit Center. The telephone number is (907) 343-6473; the FAX number is (907) 249-7567. The 1% for Art program for the Municipality of Anchorage has a web site at http://www.muni.org/publicart.
