2010 Hawaii State Art Museum Sculpture Garden RFQ

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is requesting qualifications from individual artists for artwork to be commissioned or acquired for the Hawaii State Art Museum Sculpture Garden located in Honolulu, Hawaii at the No. 1 Capitol District Building. Through this RFQ, the foundation intends to establish a qualified pool of professional artists for consideration for various sites on the No. 1 Capitol District Building grounds.

Sites for art include opportunities for three-dimensional freestanding sculpture and two-dimensional images translated into durable materials. The Sculpture Garden features a revitalized pool being transformed into an educational and recreational space designed as an urban oasis with sculpture placement and spatial layout. The courtyard will include a café patio, sunken garden, and bleachers surrounded by landscaping elements, with ADA accessibility through ramps and pathways. A new canopy constructed of art glass with photovoltaic panels will be built on top of the bleachers. The Front Lawn will feature a new pathway along the perimeter with circular nodes for commissioned works of art. Existing artworks may also be presented for consideration for acquisition. Acceptable mediums include metal, stone, ceramic, or other durable materials that can withstand outdoor display; wood will not be accepted. Works with sharp pieces or designs creating public safety hazards will not be considered.

Eligibility is limited to Hawaii artists: those born and/or educated in Hawaii regardless of current residence; those who obtained major artistic training and development in Hawaii; Hawaii residents; or those who have made significant impact in Hawaii through exhibitions, installations, and/or commissions. Interested artists should submit a resume, artist's written statement of design philosophy, and up to ten slides of completed work. Selection criteria include artistic merit as evidenced by digital representation of past work and appropriateness of the artist's medium, style, and professional experience as they relate to the project goals. Up to five semi-finalists may be selected for each location and asked to develop detailed design proposals. Artists selected for commissioned artworks are required to obtain a General Excise License and Tax Clearance status from the Hawaii State Tax Office before contract award. Tentative schedule: Application deadline May 31, 2010; Adjudication June/July 2010; Limited Design Competition July-September 2010; Award Contract October 2010; Installation of Two Dimensional Projects August 2011.