Courage to Rebuild

Courage to Rebuild and VACA (The Vietnamese American Cultural Alliance) are accepting proposals for a site-specific sculpture celebrating 40 years of Vietnamese emigration to the United States. This public artwork will be a beacon and gathering place for the community in celebration of their hopes, strengths, and perseverance. Regional, national, and international artists are invited to submit proposals for this permanently installed sculpture. The selected artist will receive a $40,000 honorarium and additional funding in support of the creation of this original site-specific work of art and public area.

The sculpture will be prominently located at Asian Garden Mall in Little Saigon, Westminster, California. 980 square feet of space has been allotted for the design, with a 14-foot high maximum preferred. A seating area and handicap accessibility should be considered. The selections committee is interested in themes where the human body and the landscape are used as inspiration. An interactive piece that engages the body and community members of all ages is welcome. Artwork must be suitable for outdoor installation, capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions, fabricated with durable non-hazardous materials such as concrete, bronze, stone, or metals, and must be low or maintenance-free.

Submissions must include 10-20 images and up to 2 videos. Artists should submit an artistic statement, CV, 6-10 examples of previous projects with dimensions, and three professional references on no more than one typed page. Selection occurs in two phases: first, the selections committee will narrow submissions to five semi-finalist artists, each receiving a $1,000 honorarium for completed final submissions. Semi-finalists will submit digital renderings or photographs of maquettes (minimum three views, no more than 9 images total), a narrative description of the proposed artwork including title, imagery, materials, finishes, size, techniques, and installation methods, and will present their project to the selections committee in a 30-minute or less presentation. The final artist will be awarded the commission in May 2015, with public unveiling and reception in May 2016.