Call for Artists: Clarke Science at Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College is seeking artists for a public art commission at the Clarke Science Building through Rhode Island's Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to public art. The budget is $229,000 all-inclusive and the call is open to all professional artists nationally. Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.

The recently renovated Clarke Science Building houses the physical sciences departments of chemistry and physics, featuring 10 teaching labs, four research labs, two lecture halls, and faculty offices. The selection panel has identified opportunities for artwork on the exterior of the building outside the east side entrances and interior spaces with an eye to suspended artwork. The panel would like to consider both interior and exterior artwork and states that an artwork for Clarke should consider the intersection of art with physics and chemistry, either thematically or through use of materials. Durability of materials in this high-traffic setting is of high importance.

This is a two-stage selection process. Initial applications require six images representing work completed within the past 10 years, a written statement or bio describing qualifications, and a description of how the artist anticipates interacting with the student body if commissioned. Three finalists will be selected and invited to visit the site, then craft detailed proposals for which they will each receive a $3,500 stipend covering all travel expenses. Artists will be asked to define how they anticipate making their creative process visible to students and alumni through workshops, guest critiques, interviews, lectures, or other engagement methods.