Odessa Arts, in conjunction with the City of Odessa, invites professional artists or artist teams to submit qualifications to design and fabricate a significant piece as a public memorial to honor the victims and first responders affected by the mass shooting in Odessa, TX on August 31, 2019.
Budget: $300,000
Eligibility: Professional artists
Deadline: 05/15/2020
View full RFQ with site measurements here.
Project Description
On August 31, 2019, the City of Odessa, TX suffered unimaginable terror and heartbreaking loss when a gunman went on a shooting rampage though the city, killing 7 people and injuring many more. It was through the coordinated efforts of law enforcement & first responders that this tragedy was ended before more community members were affected. Odessa Arts and the City are looking for an artist to create a memorial that will honor the victims and their families, pay tribute to the first responders, and offer a place for community members to reflect and mourn, and draw feelings of hope and strength that this community endured an act of terror and came out stronger.
This piece should be able to withstand the West Texas elements, as it will be sited outdoors, should require minimal maintenance, and have a lifespan of at least 25 years.
Artwork Goals
The Public Art Committee seeks works by professional artists to add to and integrate with the City of Odessa and its growing collection of public art. In addition to the goals stated above, the art should also:
Artwork Location Description
The artwork will be installed at Memorial Gardens, a city park on a major street in Odessa. The park surrounds a large pond, and has several other works of art that will be re-sited to keep the focus on the memorial piece. Between the pond and the parking lot is a pergola with a statue of a native american in the center. The statue will be re-sited, and the artwork can be rented at the base of the pergola.
Site History
Memorial Gardens is a fixture of the community. Located on 42nd street next to Southwest Bank, this park consists of a large pond surrounded by a walking trail and various bronze sculptures of different sizes and shapes. This park routinely serves as a gathering place for community remembrance services to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, and also activities for breast cancer awareness and other awareness events. The site for the art currently hosts a bronze statue of a native American, which will be relocated to allow the chosen artist to install the new artwork. The selected artist will work closely with Odessa Arts executive director, Parks and Rec director and city staff to prepare the site for installation, so that the artwork is the major focus of the park.
Timeline
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by the August 31 Memorial Committee to ensure that each application is legible, complete, and meets all requirements. The pool will be narrowed to three finalists who will be asked to created a proposal.
Selection Criteria
Artwork will be selected based on the following criteria:
What to Submit
How to Submit
Submit ONLINE ONLY via PublicArtist.org
QUESTIONS? Contact Randy Ham, randy@odessaarts.org or 432-337-1492
