Request for Proposals: Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge

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Last week, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced their commitment to invest up to $1 million in three cities in support of innovative, temporary public art projects that enhance quality of life.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts is now accepting proposals to represent Baltimore City in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.

As Baltimore City’s designated Arts Council, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts strives to make Baltimore a more creative and vibrant city.  The Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge represents a remarkable opportunity for the City of Baltimore.  Each city may enter only one application, which must be submitted by the Mayor and represent a collaboration between the City and an artist and/or arts organization. At least three cities will receive up to $1 million each over two years to support temporary art projects that:

  • Celebrate creativity
  • Enhance urban identity
  • Encourage public/private partnerships
  • Drive economic development

Submissions are encouraged from all artistic disciplines including multi-media, visual and performing arts.  Projects may be new ideas, or in development and have not yet been realized.

Successful applicants will:

  • Bring people together to experience public places in dynamic and transformative ways
  • Demonstrate close collaboration between artists, arts organizations and cities
  • Establish robust public/private partnerships between local government and other funders

Selection criteria include:

  • Excellent, innovative public art project
  • Potential for positive impact on Baltimore City
  • Evidence of technical feasibility of the project idea and its implementation (i.e. staff, consultants, fabricators, engineers, strategy for regulatory approvals, etc.)
  • Appropriate budget and capacity to leverage other sources of support
  • Strong marketing and audience engagement strategy
  • Commitment to evaluating outcomes

Up to five proposals will be selected by a representative of the Mayor’s office and two additional jurors to be designated by the Mayor.  The finalists will be notified by Friday, November 14 and asked to prepare additional information. These proposals will then be presented to the public at a date, time and location to be announced.  The jurors will make a recommendation to the Mayor as to the project to be submitted.  The Mayor will make the final decision.

DEADLINE: Monday, November 3, 2014 – 9:00am

NOTIFICATION: Friday, November 14

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HERE

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE

Applications must be submitted via email to: Krista Green, Assistant Cultural Affairs Director at kgreen@promotionandarts.org

 

Around Town: Art-In-Transit Meet the Artists

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Art-In-Transit Meet the Artists

The Maryland Transit Administration aims to enhance the stations and the environment along the corridor, making the Baltimore Red Line welcoming to riders and reflective of communities’ unique characteristics and histories. Communities’ input will be an important component of the artwork created for specific station and location with the corridor.

Phase I of the Program launched in November 2012 and resulted in the creation of a master plan of art opportunities at the stations and structural elements such as the Red Line bridges and portals.

Phase 2 of the Art in Transit Program began in June 2014 and focused on identifying the art for the stations and structural elements. Community comments will be collected in a series of three meetings, including a meeting with the artists, and used in conjunction with other criteria to select artists and final works. Learn more about the mission and goals for the Art in Transit Program and the opportunities for art at the station in your community in the Art in Transit Meeting 1 presentation.

  • Learn about opportunities for art at stations
  • Meet the artist candidates
  • Share your ideas
Monday, September 22, 20145:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
217 N. Charles Street, #100, Baltimore, MD 21201
Stations: Howard Street/University Center, and Inner Harbor

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Whitman, Requardt & Associates
801 South Caroline Street, 1st Floor Training Room Baltimore, MD 21231
Stations: Harbor East and Fell’s Point

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Mutry Auditorium (Poe Homes)
206 N. Fremont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202
Stations: Poppleton

BMORE BIRDS – a York Road Mural Initiative

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Riley's Beauty Salon Mural

As part of Baltimore’s 1% for Public Art Program, BOPA is working with the York Road Partnership and the Govanstowne Business Association to create a mural series depicting native birds along the York Road corridor between 43rd Street and Glenwood Avenue. Artist Iandry Randriamandoso, a former MICA Community Arts student, chose local birds as the subjects for the series because of their universality, inclusiveness, and connection to the local environment.

“Birds play an important role in maintaining balances in our ecosystem and add enjoyments to our lives with their beauty—both in plumage colors and distinct songs. In ever changing urban landscapes, they represent adaptation, resilience and the continuation of life. When Changes occur in a neighborhood, it will change the dynamic make-up of the population—new inhabitants come; some leave; some stay and adapt with the new changes. Eventually, they represent us and our neighbors.”
–Iandry Randriamandroso

Three murals have been completed to date–keep your eyes out for more.

Academy Cleaners Mural Progress
Academy Cleaners Mural

 

Call for Artists: Public Art Project, Philadelphia Airport

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The City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) announce a competition to commission three site-specific artworks by three different artists or artist teams at PHL Terminals D, E, and F. The commissions will take place as part of PHL’s continued restroom renovation project, with each of the projects occupying a pre-designated wall space its respective concourse outside of the restrooms. Project budgets range from $25,000-$44,000 per project.

In order to best meet the needs and expectations of the Airport’s 30 million annual passengers, PHL is continuing its restroom renovation project that will greatly enhance its ability to efficiently connect travelers to their destinations as well as provide innovative and world-class amenities. A major feature of this project is the overall sense of aesthetic including the architecture, interior design, and fine art—all components that will enrich the public’s Airport experience and continue to make PHL a choice destination for travelers. PHL and the City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program encourage artists to propose works that respond directly to the characteristics of the specified site and will enrich the public’s experience at the Airport.

ELIGIBILITY
This competition is open to artists and teams who reside in the United States. The City of Philadelphia reserves the right to determine additional artist eligibility requirements.

The application deadline for submissions is October 1, 2014.

Click here for complete application details.

Call for Artists: Public Art Project (College Park, MD)

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DUE: Sept 5, 2014

The Barrie School and Winter Growth, an adult day and assisted living facility, are teaming up with The Art Gallery of University of Maryland to offer this exciting teaching artist opportunity. This Artist in Residence position is ideal for someone committed to engaging the community in an experiential art installation project. Applicants should have an interest in educating learners of all age levels, community outreach, and generational diversity. The intent of this residency is to strengthen the ties between three educational facilities for different age groups through art. The artist will have the opportunity to work with students from Barrie School (pre-k through 12th grade), University of Maryland (undergraduate and graduate program), and Winter Growth (adult care facility) to create a public art installation. Applications are due 9/5.

Application and information HERE.

Public Field Art Trip: Tenchi Nage

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Tenchi Nage (Heaven and Earth Throw), 1996 by Rodney Carroll

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Illustration by Precious Blake

Fifteen sculptors from across the country who were alumni of the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) were invited to create new works of art for an Artscpae exhibition planned by the city for the summer of 1996 to mark the centennial of the founding of that graduate program. This  sculpture by Rodney Carroll(’83) was one of the pieces commissioned for that exhibition, Celebrating Rinehart, and is one of five that has remained on site.

Carroll’s choice of this site determined the scale of this piece. Most of Carroll’s sculptures of the time had a verticality that would not have worked in front of MICA’s Main Building on Mount Royal Avenue. So, Carroll began a new series of sculptures that would deal with the dynamic relationship between teo people and two elements. For inspiration he turned to Aikido, a Japancese martial art that focuses on using one’s own energy to gain control of an opponent in order to throw that opponent away from oneself, but to never permaently harm him or her. Tenchi Nage is one such throw. Literally translated as ” Heaven and Earth Throw.” It was so named because during the throw, one hand travels upward toward the heavens while the other hand travels downward toward the earth.

Here the  arcing element in the front represents the figure that is lifting and throwing his opponent, who is represented by the figure behind it. The energy exerted between the two elements, or opponents, is represented by the central curving tubular form. The three elements are bolted together and mounted on a circular concrete base. When the piece was first installed, the uncoated steel had a silver color, which today has weathered to a rich reddish brown.

To see more of Carroll’s work, visit his website at www.rodneycarroll.com

Want to know more about Baltimore Public Art? Pick up the book Outdoor Sculpture in Baltimore: A Historical Guide to Public Art in the Monumental City by Cindy Kelly.

 

Public Art Field Trip: Nut and Bolt

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Nut and Bolt by J. Arthur Benson, 1982

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Illustration by Precious Blake

Art Benson lives in Baltimore where he was on the faculty of the Maryland Institute College of Art for three decades, from 1972 to 2002, serving as the head of the undergraduate sculpture department. He recieved this commission in 1981 from James Pettit, the project architect for Ayers Saint (today Ayers Saint Gross), who designed the new addition to the Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School.

The artwork was to be developed as part of an elevated two story pedestrian bridge connecting the new building to the older one. The walkway is clad in metal panels that were painted yellow, white, and red arranged to emphasize the mechanical nature of the bridge. The bridge functions as a visual anchor but also hides structural colomns that turned out to be needed to support the bridge above the plaza area. Two large L brackets, one designed for each side of the elevated passagway, appear to have been fixed in place by four nuts and bolts.

The architect and artist collaborated to produce a work of art that would be fun, colorful, and visually related to a tinker toy. After all, this was a school for young children and Nut and Bolt would be installed near where these students would play every day.

See more of Art Benson’s work at www.arthurbenson.com

Want to know more about Baltimore Public Art? Pick up the book Outdoor Sculpture in Baltimore: A Historical Guide to Public Art in the Monumental City by Cindy Kelly.