LSU Seeks Artist for Playground Commission in New Orleans

The State of Louisiana Percent for Art Program is seeking highly qualified artists or artist teams to submit proposals for the design and implementation of a safe, child-friendly enclosure/partition to be installed at a playground (along Tulane Avenue) on the grounds of the LSU Human Development Center located in New Orleans, LA.

Budget:  $240,000

Eligibility: Professional artists over 18 who have successfully completed at least one public artwork with a commission value of $50,000 or above

Deadline:  March 1, 2019 11:59 p.m. CST

Project Description

The LSU Human Development Center (HDC), located in New Orleans, LA, was established in 1974 and became a University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) in 1984.

HDC is a member of AUCD, a national network of 67 UCEDD programs. The Mission of the HDC is to provide leadership and innovation in interdisciplinary education, community service, research, and to disseminate information to strengthen and increase the capacity of local communities to support and include individuals with [developmental] disabilities and their families in all aspects of life in the community. HDC initiatives include employment and transition, K-12 education, health and clinics, and early childhood.

The Human Development Center (HDC) is part of the LSU Health School of Allied Health Professionals.

Artwork Description

Currently, an elevated playground located on the grounds of the HDC is enclosed by a chain link fence. This playground is utilized by young school-age children.

The Percent for Art Program is managing the implementation of a safe, child-friendly enclosure/partition to be installed at a playground (along Tulane Avenue). The design goals for the space include enhancing the experience of those utilizing the playground by constructing a protective, child friendly partition that is also a work of public art, and to enhance the appearance of the building as it is experienced from the street, nearby buildings, and overhead walkways.  This project will serve as the focal point for the space and therefore should reflect the mission of the Human Development Center (HDC) and its initiatives.

Design Parameters

The development and design for the artwork should:

• Consider the mission of the HDC as a source of design ideas
• Consider the elements of the site as a source of design ideas
• Consider the facility and its intended uses
• Consider the area surrounding the artwork and its intended uses as described in this call
• Reflect the HDC’s history, diversity and cultural profile
• Complement the building and the campus’ architecture and aesthetic values
• Be durable, sturdy and stable, suitable for the climatic conditions, resistant to UV damage, non-staining, and safe for public interaction.
• Any openings or perforations (negative space) must be less than 3.5” wide or greater than 9” wide to prevent child head entrapment
• The art should also be installed 3” from the wall
• The site-specific art work should be unique and visually engaging for passersby and those who utilize the playground space.
• The artwork will also be subject to direct sunlight (UV radiation) and must be unique, permanent, and require very minimal long-term maintenance.

More detailed specifications will be given to artists selected to develop a proposal.

Selection Process and Criteria

An Art Selection Committee (the Committee) includes representatives from the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning & Control, the architectural firm that designed the facility, representatives from LSU HDC, and the State Arts Council. The Committee will review all eligible artist submissions. Submissions will be evaluated by the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence and originality as evidenced by representations of past work images and other supporting materials.
• Appropriateness of artist’s medium, style, and previous experience as they relate to the project goals and setting.
• Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope.
• Availability to participate in the design and implementation of the project as required
• Special consideration will be given to Louisiana Artists, as defined by La. R.S. 25:9000.1(E)
• The committee may also take into consideration when selecting artists whether or not an artist is already represented in the state’s collection.

Finalists will be required to attend a site visit and present their proposals to the Committee. The proposal must include the concept, materials, size, weight, installation requirements, details of maintenance, and budget. The proposal must include a maquette and digital renderings as appropriate, which shows the physical volume of the space and allows for multiple perspectives of the artwork within the space. All proposal documents, including the maquette and renderings, will become property of the State of Louisiana and will be used for educational and/or promotional purposes of the program. Each finalist’s proposal and/or maquette may be exhibited for Committee and community consideration.

A proposal fee of up to $1,500 will be paid to finalists to offset expenses associated with development of proposals and travel to present to the Committee.

NOTE: The Percent for Art Program and the Artist Selection Committee reserve the right to reject any or all applications or proposals, to reject any finalist, or to terminate the selection process for any project without prior notice.

Timeline

Submission deadline: Friday, March 1, 2019 at 11:59 P.M. CST. We cannot accept late, hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed submissions.

Notifications will be issued by the end of May 2019.

What to Submit
Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following (called the “submission”):

1. Résumé/CV: Chronological résumé demonstrating a minimum of five (5) years of professional visual art experience (NOT STUDENT WORK). If submitting as a team, a current résumé should be submitted for each team member. (Total resume may be up to 5 pages.) UPLOAD File should be no larger than 2mb, and txt, pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, or jpg format only.
2. Artist Statement: A general, written introduction to your work. This will provide the committee understanding of or insight into your work. It can be descriptive, or reflective in nature. (1000 character limit)
3. Letter of Interest: Describe your interest in the LSU Human Development Center public art project by responding to the following questions:  What interests you about this project? What themes/concepts might you explore if your proposal advances? What factors would you consider when selecting materials, fabrication techniques, and installation methods for a public art project at the LSU HDC? What is your experience collaborating with architects, design professionals, and community groups? Which of your work samples illustrate that you have successfully completed at least one publicly-funded commission project with a budget to or greater than $50,000? (2000 character limit)
4. References: Include the names and current contact information for three individuals with whom you have worked, collaborated, or who have commissioned your work in the past. References will be contacted for artists invited to develop a proposal for the commission. UPLOAD File should be no larger than 2mb, and txt, pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, or jpg format only.
5. Work Samples: Upload six (6) images of your original completed commissions, not proposals, which demonstrate your qualifications for the project. 3-D models, sketches, or drawings will not be accepted. Images must be JPEG file format with a minimum of 620px width and a maximum file size of 5MB. Horizontal images are recommended.
   You must include the title, location, year completed, medium, dimensions, and value of the work/commission amount on each image. The value must be indicated in US dollars. Teams may submit a total of six (6) images with at least one image from every team member. Each image must contain only one view of the work. Slides, emailed images, prints, or any physical submissions will NOT be accepted. Multiple views per image or unexecuted conceptual projects will not be considered, and may disqualify your submission. You have the option to provide more images and information for your complete artwork by publishing a CODAworx “project.” With a CODAworx “project” you can include additional images and more information about your project or artwork. When complete, include the link to the “project” with the main image. Follow the link below to publish the additional images and information for your application: https://www.codaworx.com/account/project

How to Submit

Submit information ONLY through the CodaWORX system.

QUESTIONS?  Direct questions to Scott Finch, Director, Percent for Art Program, 225-342-8176 or email: sfinch@crt.la.gov OR April Baham, Project Manager, Percent for Art Program, 225-342-6083 or email: abaham@crt.la.gov  Visit the website:  http://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/arts/