Municipality of Anchorage: Bartlett High School Renovation 2013

The Municipality of Anchorage is announcing a call for qualifications for artwork to be designed for Bartlett High School, which is being remodeled in Anchorage, Alaska. Project construction began in May 2012 and will be completed by summer 2016. The art selection jury intends to commission artwork to be permanently installed at one to two locations in the remodeled high school located at 1101 Golden Bear Drive.

Five potential sites have been discussed for artwork placement: a three-story window on the east side of the building (46 feet high by 9 feet 5 inches wide); a large area above Main Place suspended from skylight supports (30 feet wide and 88 feet long); the west wall adjacent to the main entry (18 feet tall by 20 feet wide); the building façade on the east side opposite the new football field (106 feet long and two stories high); and the stairs located in Main Place. The school is located in a heavily wooded area between Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Themes discussed by the jury include the wooded environment and the diversity of the student body (35% Caucasian, 20% African-American, 19% Asian or Pacific Islander, 15% Multi-Ethnic, 10% Alaskan Native or American Indian, and 9% Hispanic).

The total budget for artwork is $62,000. The jury may offer two commissions of $31,000 each, which includes all costs of design, fabrication, installation, photographic documentation, catalog documentation, and an identifying plaque. Artists will be selected based on artistic merit, appropriateness of medium and style, experience with similar projects, communication skills, and diversity of artists and mediums. Artists are required to submit six digital images of past work, a 1-2 page resume, and a one-page narrative with site specified and overall approach to concept. Entry deadline is December 6, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. For additional information, contact the Curator of Public Art at (907) 343-6473 or (907) 249-7567 (FAX).