Kent County Courthouse Public Art Commission

The new Kent County Courthouse, located on Route 2 and Quaker Lane in Warwick, Rhode Island, is under construction with a projected completion date of spring 2006. The state-of-the-art facility will house the Rhode Island Judiciary and contain 6 superior courtrooms, 5 family courtrooms, and 5 district courtrooms. The ground floor will house regional offices of the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender, Adult and Juvenile Probation offices, and the Capital Police.

Artwork for the Courthouse will be commissioned through Rhode Island's Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to the purchase and maintenance of public art. A budget of $370,000 is available to acquire art, covering all costs including artist fees, fabrication, installation, and transportation. The building was designed by H.O.K. Architects and features an asymmetrical design with a transparent façade, a 96-foot glass stairwell, and interior spaces emphasizing light and air circulation. The grounds include restored wetlands with a covered walkway providing access from the parking garage.

A five-member art selection panel has identified sites appropriate for public art installation, considering the nature of judicial work, the Judiciary's mission to build "a legacy of justice for future generations," and the building's architectural features. Artists are encouraged to consider large installations, smaller works, and digital or multi-media works. This is the first stage of the selection process. Selected finalists (3-5) will be invited to submit specific proposals and will receive an honorarium of $1,500 upon submission. Submissions must include six digital images of relevant work completed within the past five years, a current resume, and a written statement not exceeding 2000 characters addressing the artist's preliminary concept or approach. All materials must be submitted in digital format through CaFE. The deadline for submissions is November 10, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. MST.