Ela's Forest Outdoor Sculpture

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College invites proposals for artists to create a new work of outdoor sculpture honoring the memory of Ela Friedman, a radiant little girl whose life was cut short by an act of domestic violence. Ela's love of nature inspired a global community to plant Ela's Forest, a living tribute of trees and rocks that inspired The AGB's 2019-2020 exhibit of the same name. Ela's Forest serves as a testament to the power of love, shared grief, and mutual support by symbolizing the resilience and beauty of Ela and her community.

This call for proposals invites artists to create a new work of sculpture that embodies playfulness and wonder while acknowledging the profound loss that inspired the planting of Ela's Forest. The project seeks to expand possibility by centering imagination and childlike delight as a generative force, exploring how curiosity and playfulness might illuminate the tensions and relationships between darkness and light. The sculpture should honor Ela's memory while sparking discovery and engagement among those who encounter it, inspiring reflection and connection. The Ela's Forest Outdoor Sculpture will be part of the permanent collection of The AGB at Florida Southern College and may be placed on loan in other locations.

Artists of all ages are welcome to apply. All proposed work must be a new, original work of outdoor sculpture suitable for display outdoors in any number of potential venues and weather resistant for Central Florida's climate year-round. The sculpture must be appropriate for all audiences and take the safety of all audiences into account, and must be able to be constructed and transported by the artist or artist's representatives. Artists should submit one proposal (PDF) including a detailed budget, artist's statement addressing the guiding vision, media specifications, and renderings. Sample artwork from a portfolio can be submitted as JPEG or JPG format with a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side and file size under 5MB. Submissions must include 1-5 images. There are no fees associated with submission. The artist selected to produce the outdoor sculpture will receive a fixed $18,000 stipend that must cover all materials, construction, transport, and installation costs, as well as all incidental expenses. Any additional costs are the responsibility of the artist and/or artist's representatives.