Light-based Artwork Sought for Recreation Center

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from professional artists or teams of artists in response to a public art opportunity for Mecklenburg County (NC)’s Northern Regional Recreation Center. ASC is seeking artists or teams of artists with a demonstrated record of integrating dynamic lighting into architectural space, while responding to infrastructure and community input.

Budget: $282,000

Eligibility: Professional artists who have experience managing, designing, and completing public art project commissions over $110,000.00 within the past five (5) years

Deadline: February 15, 2019

Download full RFQ here.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Northern Regional Recreation Center will be located on a 41-acre site in Cornelius off Old Statesville Road (Highway 115) just south of Bailey Road. LS3P/Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture (Denver, CO) Design Team have worked with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the residents of Cornelius to design a facility that innovatively supports the desired programming and references the architectural vernacular of Cornelius. Northern Regional Recreation Center will provide a variety of health, wellness and educational opportunities including; indoor aquatics, sports courts, fitness center, indoor track, multi-use event rooms, arts/culture classrooms, and more. Programing at the center will be trend focused, innovative and responsive to the needs of the neighborhood’s diverse population. This unique site combined with the facility’s robust programming opportunities will establish the Northern Regional Recreation Center as a unique gathering place for the surrounding community. Learn more at: http://www.northmeckrec.com/

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This artwork will be a signature feature of Northern Regional Recreation Center and should be consistent with the center’s themes of healthy living, fitness, and strengthening community.  The selected artist/s will be asked to create an artwork that can interact and activate specific architectural features through integrated lighting and pattern. The “silo”, a 30’ OD perforated metal cladding housing indoor water slides, highlighted in accompanying renderings has been identified as the main artwork site. Further opportunities identified by the selected artist will be considered. The lighting for the artwork can be colorful, programmable, and interactive, and should respond to the design of the silo and water slides it houses. Artists are also encouraged to consider the relationship to the integrated lighting and the perforated cladding. Specific sections of the silo’s metal cladding could be customized to interact with and enhance the experience of the integrated lighting.

ARTWORK GOALS

This opportunity should achieve a cohesive and unique aesthetic experience that is sensitive to the site and architecture of the Northern Regional Recreation Center.

• Artwork should focus on the use of light to activate the “silo” architectural feature.
• Artwork should consider the relationship between the “silo” metal cladding and the integrated lighting. There will be opportunities to customize the perforated metal cladding.
• Artwork should be experienced during both day and night, and externally and internally to the facility.
• Artwork must be permanent and durable. Designed and built to a 20-year lifespan with minimal maintenance.

SELECTION PROCESS

This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission (PAC) to identify the most highly qualified artist(s) for this opportunity. A panel of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible artists’ applications, determine a shortlist of finalists, interview three to five finalists and select one (1) artist or team of artists. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to PAC and the ASC Board of Directors to enter into agreement for this project.

PROJECTED TIMELINE

• January 11, 2019:  Request for Qualifications released.
• February 15, 2019:  Artist application submission deadline.
• Summer 2019: Facility Design Complete
• Fall 2019 – Summer 2021: Facility Construction
• Summer 2021: Final Project Deadline

TO APPLY

To view/begin the application, go to https://asc.slideroom.com and sign up for an account. Applications must be received via SlideRoom by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Savings Time on February 15, 2019. There is no application fee to apply or use the SlideRoom online application system.

The following materials will be required to be uploaded to SlideRoom:

1. Credentials: Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)demonstrating professional history and skills or experience as a professional artist (maximum two pages)
2. Statement of Interest: a brief introductory narrative that also provides insight about your interest in the project
3. Images: up to eight (8) images or three (3) digital video or movie files limited to two minutes each – of recent work completed within the past five (5) years
4. Annotation: titles, date, media and dimensions of represented artwork as a separate document

References will be requested from the finalists.

QUESTIONS?  Contact Todd Stewart, Senior Program Director of Public Art, ASC, todd.stewart@artsandscience.org