New Mexico COVID Memorial

The Bernalillo County Arts Board issues a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists for a site-specific, outdoor public art project integrated into the New Mexico COVID Memorial located at the Dr. E. A. Swede Scholar Regional Recreation Complex, 5601 University Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Six artists will be commissioned to each create a unique 2D concept/"blueprint" for a decorative, four-foot by eight-foot fabricated, perforated metal panel. Six different panels will be installed along the memorial's "pilgrimage path" and are intended to create a calming experience as patterns of light and shadow interact with the viewer along the ground. Bernalillo County will contract directly with a local fabrication company to produce the panels, which will work closely with each selected artist to translate the original artwork into a digital design compatible with fabrication.

Regional artists residing in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas are eligible to participate. Each artist will be paid $11,000 from 1.5% for the Arts, from voter-approved general obligation bonds. This budgeted amount is all-inclusive and includes the creation of the original artwork and collaboration with the fabricator. Construction on the New Mexico COVID Memorial is scheduled to start in the fall of 2025. The project will be the first publicly funded COVID Memorial in the United States. The site is located on a mesa that overlooks the Rio Grande Valley and several mountain ranges.

Selected artists will submit responses to a questionnaire regarding the project theme and scope, an artist's statement, at least 3 but no more than 10 digital images of past work, an optional video of past work, an annotated image key clearly labeled with full name and numerical listing for each image (including title, media, dimensions, and year of completion), and a current resume. Any original concept renderings or drawings produced by the artists may be added to the county's permanent public art collection and displayed in a publicly accessible area of a county facility.