Public Art Sought for Eastern Virginia Medical School

Public Art Sought for Eastern Virginia Medical School

Website: https://norfolkcommission.submittable.com

 Norfolk, VA, Unknown

Eastern Virginia Medical School and the City of Norfolk, Virginia Public Art Program seek to commission an artist to design and create artwork for the new Waitzer Hall at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Budget: $350,000
Eligibility: Professional artists
Deadline: 09/03/2019 1:00 PM Central Time

Site History
The vision of Eastern Virginia Medical School is to be recognized as the most community-oriented school of medicine and health professions in the nation. Founded in 1973 by community leaders to address the region’s serious shortage of physicians, EVMS enjoys a unique relationship with the people of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. It is a school created by the local community, for the community. Students choose the school because they want to be engaged in the community as a part of their learning. Researchers seek innovative treatments for the health problems that hit Hampton Roads the hardest. Doctors and surgeons provide high-quality primary and specialty care to those most in need.

The school’s educational programs have grown with the region and become so much more than health care training. The school also supports focused research in many specialty areas and an active not-for-profit physicians’ group. Promoting a lifelong commitment to service, EVMS is unquestionably one of the region’s foremost community partners and economic engines.

Waitzer Hall, a 284,000 square foot $79M investment is now under construction. It will continue medical innovation and excellence, bring the best faculty to Hampton Roads, and expand community engagement and outreach.

Artwork Location Description
The new building is located adjacent to downtown Norfolk, VA along one of the busiest thoroughfares near the Elizabeth River waterfront. It takes up an entire corner of the medical complex that includes Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The Red Cross, Public Health, and other important medical facilities are nearby. A prime location for the artwork is at the front of Waitzer Hall at the corner of Brambleton and Colley Avenues. This corner is an epicenter for the region and a gateway to the campus with good site lines down Children’s Lane all the way though the medical campus. Brambleton Avenue is a major artery not just for Norfolk but for the entire Hampton Roads region. An average of 31,000 cars drive past this corner every day. Thousands come to the campus and the building every day. The artwork will be viewed by pedestrians, vehicular traffic, as well as from the inside of the building by students seeking momentary relief from the hectic classroom. The artwork will be located in front of the 11-story tower of Waiter Hall.

Artwork Goals
EVMS is a campus of scientists, researchers, educators, learners and healers, the aesthetic is modern, clean, collegial and authoritative. The artwork should resonate with this brand, showing creativity, innovation and imagination. The work should be fresh, forward-thinking, expansive and airy, clean, approachable and welcoming, clear and purposeful. We hope the artwork will become an icon for the city as well as for the whole campus creating a notable sense of place.

The artwork should make a bold statement and be at a scale to complement the building. It must be constructed of durable, permanent materials that are safe and easily maintained. Artwork should be constructed and operate to the highest level of sustainability.

Project Description
Artists may want to work with light and reflection capitalizing on all the glass in the building and showcasing the sculpture at night.

The artist must hire a Virginia licensed contractor to install the artwork(s). The selected artist may be asked to present an educational workshop or presentation to the community.

Timeline

  • September 3, 2019, 2:00 p.m. EST time: Submittal due date and time
  • Fall 2019: Selection announced
  • Summer 2020: Completion of art

This timeline is subject to change.

Selection Process
Finalists will be selected to be interviewed via Skype by the Public Art Planning Committee. The finalists are not expected to complete a design at this stage but will be interviewed about past work and their creative process. There will also be a preliminary discussion of the site. The committee reserves the right to select the final artist without a finalist process.

Selection Criteria
The commission will be awarded based on many factors such as the aesthetic value, creativity and contemporary relevance of the proposed piece. The city will consider the diversity of beliefs and values and general standards of decency of the citizens who fund the commission and purchase public art for the City of Norfolk.

The following criteria will be used in the proposal evaluation process:

  • Artistic merit (excellence, originality, creativity and innovative approaches) as evidenced by submitted materials
  • Professional artistic experience to fulfill the requirements of this project either in studio, educational, community, employment and/or art projects and the ability to undertake the design, creation and installation of the artwork
  • Appropriateness of materials, style and concepts in relation to this prospectus

What to Submit

The following materials are required:

  1. Statement of Understanding, online agreement of compliance to all State of Virginia codes.
  2. Letter of Interest that outlines your interest in this project and how you will approach the artwork design and creation, 500 word max;
  3. Resume, maximum of 2 pages, outlining your professional accomplishments. If submitting as a team, please include resumes for each team member, with each resume not exceeding 2 pages;
  4. Artwork Images, selection of up to 10 images representing artworks most relevant to the scope of this opportunity. You may submit up to 2 video files if relevant to showing the artwork;
  5. 3 professional references, including name, affiliated organization (if appropriate), email address, phone number, and relationship to each reference.

How to Submit

  • Submissions must be must be delivered by 2:00 PM EST on September 3, 2019.
  • Artists are highly encouraged to apply through Submittable. There is no application fee to apply or use the Submittable online application system. Before submitting proposals, please review the website http://www.norfolk.gov/bids.aspx for possible updates and addendums.
  • Artists may also submit by mail to 810 Union Street, Suite 303, City Hall Building, Norfolk, VA  23510

QUESTIONS?  Contact Abigail Parrott, abigail.parrott@norfolk.gov