Kenny Sailors Statue

The University of Wyoming Athletics Department is seeking artists to create a statue of Kenny Sailors, a Wyoming basketball legend, as part of the second phase of a $30 million renovation to the Arena-Auditorium. The renovation will focus on the exterior of the building, including aesthetic improvements to the facade and entrances, upgrades to the concourse area, and construction of a permanent Hall of Fame.

Kenny Sailors is the only basketball player in Wyoming history to earn All-America honors three times (1942, 1943, and 1946). He was the unanimous selection for College Basketball Player of the Year in 1943 and the Most Valuable Player of the 1943 NCAA Tournament. After serving in World War II, he returned for his final season and earned All-American and Player of the Year honors in 1946. Sailors guided Wyoming to the NCAA Championship in 1943 and later played several seasons in the NBA. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Sailors is recognized as the inventor of the present-day jump shot. The statue is recommended to portray Kenny Sailors in a jump shot position and should be larger than life, visually striking, and timeless, serving as a focal point at the main entrance of the venue.

The project budget is $250,000, which includes all labor, materials, and final delivery. University of Wyoming Athletics will pay for all site preparation and installation. The selection process will be conducted in two phases. Artists must submit applications by December 12, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of artists, art professionals, university representatives, and community members. Finalists will be invited to develop a proposal and present their concepts to the selection committee. Each finalist will receive a $500 stipend for proposal development, and UW will cover and coordinate travel and lodging for finalist presentations in Laramie. Work sample requirements: minimum 3 images, maximum 15 images; minimum 0 videos, maximum 2 videos; total samples minimum 3, maximum 17.