The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, administrator of the City of Chicago’s Percent for Art Program, invites professional Chicago-based artists to submit their interest in creating wall mounted work for the Edgewater Branch Library. Located at 6000 N. Broadway, the new library opened to the public on June 22, 2013. The 18,665 square-foot, two-story full service branch library replaces the former Edgewater Branch Library on the same block. It was designed to achieve LEED Silver level certification and includes a 50% green roof.
Percent For Art
The purpose of Percent for Art programs is to enhance public environments for citizens and visitors with quality works by professional artists. In 1978, Chicago City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that requires 1.33 percent of municipal construction or renovation costs to be allocated to the commissioning or purchase of on-site artworks.
Process
Working in consultation with Alderman Osterman’s office, Edgewater Library staff, and local arts professionals, DCASE’s Public Art Program staff will oversee the artist selection process. An initial community forum was held in December 2012 for public input. After applicants’ letters of interest and images are reviewed, a short list of artists will be identified to whom honoraria will be paid to develop proposals for site-responsive wall mounted work. Community members are encouraged to share this opportunity with artists they hope will apply.
There are several potential locations in the library where art may be placed. Preference will be given to a few primary sites – the entry wall in the foyer, the wall behind the circulation desk and the wall on the second floor outside the community room. Applicants are welcome to suggest alternate sites in their letter of interest, but that is not required. Exact locations for artworks, the total number of pieces commissioned, their scale, and budgets will be determined after proposals are reviewed and a master plan for art at Edgewater Branch Library is created.
Short-listed artists will be notified in early September 2013. Proposals will be due in early December 2013. We anticipate commissioning finalists in early January 2014. A second community forum will be held to present the designs to the public. Artwork is slated to be installed prior to June 22, 2014, to celebrate the one year anniversary of Edgewater Branch Library opening to the public.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be short listed based on competitive review of the following:
Artistic excellence – demonstrated skill and quality craftsmanship in examples of past work; strength and originality of concept conveyed in the letter of interest.
Meaningful relationship of the artwork with the site of Edgewater Library and/or the surrounding lakefront neighborhood. The community has expressed that diversity, unity, harmony, and the
cultural history and energy of Ward 48, as well as its imagined future, are desirable themes for this site.
To Apply
Postmark deadline = July 31, 2013
DCASE Public Art
Attn: Edgewater Branch Library Artists Registry
78 E. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Applicant’s resume (up to 3 pages)
A letter of interest (no more than 1 page) that indicates why the specific site of Edgewater Branch Library is meaningful and appropriate for the applicant’s work Applicants are strongly
encouraged to visit the site before they apply.
A disc with up to 6 jpgs of applicant’s past work that is relevant to this call (72 dpi, no more than 1MB per image)
An annotated image list that includes the title, media, year completed, dimensions, and retail price for each corresponding jpg
Please note: If you have previously submitted materials to DCASE’s Artist Registry, you still need to apply to this call in order to be considered for the opportunity at Edgewater Branch Library. DCASE’s Public Art Program reserves the right to commission artists who do not apply.
DEADLINE: July 31, 2013
