Art in Public Places Commission - New Mexico School for the Deaf Connor Hall

New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee at New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) seek an artist or artist team to create a site-specific commission project in Connor Hall on the school's historic campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The LSC is interested in commissioning artwork that is highly visual, colorful, timeless and representative of the deaf experience and American Sign Language. The 2nd floor lobby of Connor Hall has been identified for artwork placement. The high and narrow space would be ideal for suspended artwork but the LSC is also open to commissioning wall-based artwork. As floor to ceiling eastern windows dominate one wall of the space, the artwork will be visible from the exterior of the facility. Dimensions of the space are 21'4" height x 21'1" width x 19'6" depth. Due to diverse use of the space, freestanding artwork will not be considered.

Media must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, suitable for exterior display, safe for both children and adults and be ADA compliant. At the selected artist's expense the artwork may require certification by an electrical, civil and/or structural engineer licensed to practice in the State of New Mexico and review by a professional fine art conservator. $65,500 is available for this project. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, including materials, equipment, labor, permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, identification plaque, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

This request for qualifications is open to all artists or artist teams who are legal residents of the United States. Deaf artists are encouraged to apply. Qualifications submitted by faculty and staff of New Mexico School for the Deaf will not be considered. Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal. Finalists will receive a $1000 honorarium for a written proposal and a maquette of the proposed artwork, plus a travel stipend based on distance ($250 for 50-300 miles one-way, $450 for 301-800 miles one-way, $900 for over 800 miles one-way). Submission deadline is June 21, 2012. Finalists will be notified in July 2012, with finalist presentations in October 2012 and artwork completion and installation by November 2013.