Denver International Airport Emerging Artist Program Deadline: November 23, 2007
About the Program
Denver International Airport and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) seek to commission a Colorado artist, architect, landscape architect, industrial design artist or engineer, or a combined team of Colorado individuals involved in these disciplines, for a site-specific public art commission at Denver International Airport. Students currently enrolled in these disciplines are encouraged to apply. Previous experience of working in public spaces is not necessary for selection in this program. However, candidates are not allowed to have any previous public art commissions over $25,000. In its first year, Denver International Airport Emerging Public Artists program is an opportunity for emerging artists living in Colorado to create a temporary work for a public space. The program is designed to encourage innovative public art projects by emerging artists living or working in the state. Qualified artists selected through the program will then make proposals, develop their work in relation to aviation conditions, and ultimately present an artwork for public space at an airport. Artists are encouraged to investigate the physical, social, and psychological nature of the aviation environment when they develop their ideas. Successful projects do not need to have an aviation theme but they need to be mindful of an aviation environment. The successful candidates will be selected by a leading panel of artists, architects, engineers, and curators, and will be commissioned by the Denver International Airport’s Public Art Program to develop formal proposals for public art projects. From these proposals, the Public Art Program will select three candidates to realize their concepts for 2008. As many cities are investing in world-renowned architects and artists to build beautiful libraries, art museums, and convention centers, so too are they investing in art and architecture in their airports. This program is committed to train the next generation of public artists, which is an investment in our city. The Department of Aviation is pleased to offer this opportunity. What is an emerging artist? For this program, an emerging artist is an artist, architect, landscape architect, industrial design artist or engineer who has mastered the basic techniques of an art form and who is attempting to launch a professional career. Or, an emerging artist is someone who is taking his or her established career in a new direction and has not accepted previous public art commissions over $25,000. An artist is not required to have any particular degree or type of education to qualify as an emerging artist. Artists are encouraged to create a team with an architect or engineer to collaborate on this project.
How it Happens
PHASE ONE, November 2007: Mandatory Pre-Submission Meeting In November 2007, a mandatory pre-submission meeting will be mandatory for the candidates interested in submitting for the Emerging Artist Program. Candidates will be required to attend one of two pre-submission meetings that will supply candidates with all instructions for working within an airport environment and will include a site visit to the locations offered for this project. No site visits will be allowed outside this pre-submission meeting or independent of an escorted tour. The pre-submission meeting is mandatory. Any artist who submits will be disqualified if he or she does not attend. Please call (303) 342-2521 to RSVP for the presubmission meeting.
Pre-Submission Meetings are scheduled for: Friday, November 2, Noon (Please schedule three hours at DIA) Friday, November 9, 2007, Noon (Please schedule three hours at DIA) PHASE TWO: Submission Deadline: November 23, 2007, 5:00 p.m. MDT. After you have attended one of two mandatory pre-submission meetings you are eligible to submit your qualifications for this project. Artists will be selected on the basis of materials submitted. (see What to Submit). The DIA Project Evaluation Panel (PEP) will then select the candidate(s) to develop formal proposals for a public art project for DIA. PHASE THREE, Winter 2007: Project(s) Presentations In the winter of 2007, the selected candidates will present their proposals to the PEP. The PEP will choose up to three concepts. Artists selected to create projects will receive from $30,000 to $60,000 for all aspects of fabrication, delivery and installation. After investigating potential sites for their proposed projects, artists will develop working drawings, prepare a maquette, and present an accurate budget to convey their ideas to the PEP. Sample budgets will be supplied if you are short-listed for this project. The successful candidates will receive $800 to create a formal proposal. PHASE FOUR, 2008: Colorado Emerging Public Artists The selected candidates or candidate team will enter into a contract with the City & County of Denver. You will receive a sample contract at the mandatory pre-submission meeting. DIA would like to install by summer of 2008. Projects will be exhibited for at least one year. Curricula for this program will include learning how to read both architectural and engineering drawings and developing an accurate budget. All successful applicants will work closely with a member of the public art, architecture and engineering team at DIA. Public Artists Included in the Collection at Denver International Airport Are: Betty Woodman, Michael Singer, Patty Ortiz, Douglas Hollis, William Maxwell, Antoinette Rosato, Anna Murch, Alex Sweetman, Gary Sweeney, Alice Adams, Carolyn Braaksma, Mark Villareal, David Griggs, Darrell Anderson, Leni Schwendinger, Barb McKee, the Western American Indian Chamber, George Lundeen, Ed Dwight, Leo Tanguma, Judith Baca, Marcus Akinlana, Terry Allen, Juane Quick-to-see Smith, Ken Iwamasa, Buster Simpson, and Sherry Wiggins. To reference outstanding examples of art in the City & County of Denver please visit: www.denvergov.org/artculturefilm. To view excellent examples of other airport public art please visit Web sites for: San Francisco http://www.sfoarts.org/ Philadelphia http://www.phl.org/art.html Dallas/Ft. Worth http://www.dfwairport.com Toronto Pearson http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/airport_information/art__exhibits/ Phoenix Sky Harbor http://phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/about/historymuseum.html Vancouver http://www.yvr.ca/guide/todo/art/index.asp Indianapolis http://www.indianapolisairport.com/ Seattle-Tacoma http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/amenities/artexhibits/index.shtml
What to Submit
All application materials must be submitted digitally through CaFE at www.callforentry.org. No exceptions. All submissions must include the following: 1) A brief letter of interest (no more than 300 typewritten words). This should generally describe your work and your interest in this project, and will be used by the panel when viewing images. This statement will be considered by the PEP as an indication of the direction your work might take should you be selected. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT A PROPOSAL. 2) Submit the following image format: Submit eight digital images in the format required by CaFE. The quality of images is an important component in a candidate’s packet. You must submit materials documenting projects that you have completed in the last three years. Do not submit original work. (language to be supplied by Westaf.) The WESTAF CaFE Web site is www.callforentry.org. 3) Current resume, including name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
When to submit
After you’ve attended the pre-submission meeting, you may submit your materials by November 23, 2007, 5 p.m., and all materials must be submitted to www.Callforentry.org. If you have technical questions please contact Raquel Vasquez at WESTAF, (303) 623-1166. Successful candidates will be notified by letter in January, 2008. Please do not call before this time. All questions should be in writing and submitted to mary.valdez@denvergov.org or kendall.peterson@denvergov.org. Denver International Airport Emerging Public Artists is supported by the City & County of Denver’s Department of Aviation, Office of Cultural Affairs, and The Commission on Cultural Affairs. The following are questions to be posted to the Call for Entry CaFE site as a component of all entries. These questions must be answered by the candidates:
1. Applicant Information:
Name: Address: City, State, Zip: County of Residence: Phone:(day) (evening) E-mail address:
2. Have you been a resident of the above county for at least one year?
[ ] yes [ ] no
3. Category in which this application should be judged (please check only one):
[ ] engineering [ ] film/video [ ] industrial design [ ] installation [ ] landscape architecture [ ] literature [ ] painting/drawing [ ] photography [ ] sculpture
4. Past Public Art commissions (if any): describe title, location, and commission amount. 5. Summarize your project in 50 words or less in the space provided (please print clearly). 6. Explain briefly why you consider yourself an emerging artist.
(See guidelines for a definition of emerging artists.)
7. Briefly describe your career goals. 8. Date for project completion: _________________________
If completion date is later than June 31, 2007, please explain:
9. Have you attended one of the mandatory pre-submission meetings offered at noon on Friday, November 2, 2007, or on Friday, November 9, 2007? [ ] yes [ ] no 10. Attachments to Application Form:
Letter of interest Resume (2 pages) Answer questions 1-9 Check the box if you have attended one of the pre-submission meetings Eight images of existing work. You must submit materials documenting art that you have completed in the last three years. (This work does not need to be in a public space) References (OPTIONAL): your application may be supported by up to three letters of recommendation. Please list the anticipated references in your application.