Lamar Community College Vocational Trades Building Public Art Commission

Lamar Community College seeks qualifications from Colorado artists interested in creating a site-specific exterior public artwork for the new Vocational Trades Building in Lamar, Colorado. The budget for this opportunity is $13,000, which covers all costs including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, building or site modifications, travel, per diem expenses, project documentation, and contingency.

The Art Selection Committee is commissioning an artwork to be located on the exterior of the building near the main entrance. The artwork should be mounted to or integrated into the building's surface and can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The exterior will likely include a variety of materials including metal roof, metal siding, glass, wood, and board form concrete. The committee seeks artwork that addresses the synergy and collaboration between the three academic programs housed in the building—Precision Agriculture, Construction Trades, and Renewable Energy—while remaining relevant as the college's programming evolves. The artwork should have imagery that illustrates the history (past, present, and future) or tells a story about the three programs' importance in Southeast Colorado and their interconnectedness.

Applicants must be Colorado residents. Submit 6-8 digital images of previously completed artworks, a current résumé, and a statement of interest (250 words or less) via the CaFÉ online platform. Semifinalists will be invited to prepare and present a final proposal in person and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. The selection committee will meet in November 2019, with semifinalist notifications in November 2019, artist presentations in January 2020, and final selection in January 2020. The building is scheduled to break ground in early 2020 and be completed by the end of 2020.