Fire Station #21 Public Art Commission

The City of Albuquerque Public Art Program is conducting an open competition for artists residing in the United States to commission a work of art for Fire Station #21, located at 10400 Cibola Loop Road NW at the intersection of Ellison Drive NW and Cibola Loop Road NW. The fire station is situated in Albuquerque's West Side area, characterized by ongoing commercial and residential development and heavy traffic volumes. A three-dimensional artwork in brilliant color with lighting is envisioned for the site along Ellison Drive, and may include interactive elements. The artwork should express the Fire Department's commitment to being a good neighbor and reflect the overall theme of firefighting.

The work of art must be fabricated in durable, permanent, outdoor media that is safe and easily maintained. The scale should be appropriate to the site and the architectural integrity of the fire station. The artist must ensure that vision is not impeded for firefighters driving vehicles into and away from the facility, or for traffic on Ellison Drive. The Committee suggests the artwork be located on the southwest corner of the Fire Department site. Equipment to support and contain lighting requirements will be the artist's responsibility, though the Public Art Program is willing to assist in researching information about existing electrical or structural constraints.

$40,000 is available for this commission, funded through General Obligation Bonds - 1% for Art. These funds cover artist design and fabrication, transport, installation including all needed equipment, and supervision of installation. The City will provide engineering, materials, and installation for foundations. The commission requires a shared copyright between the City of Albuquerque and the artist. Artists must submit a statement of intent, resume (no more than 2 pages), digital images of five past projects, a basic budget outline, and contact information for two references. The Selection Committee will review all proposals and select five finalists, each receiving a $500 stipend to create a model artwork for presentation. The project will be awarded to one artist from the five finalists. Submissions must be posted by midnight, Monday, February 18, 2008. Questions may be directed to Makita Hill at (505) 768-3804 or [email protected].