Prospectus #228: Dona Ana Community College Public Art Commission

The Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico Arts and the Local Selection Committee for Dona Ana Community College seek an artist or artist team to create a site-specific commission project for the center of the campus quad area, surrounded by the Academic Resources Building, the Student Resources Building, the Auditorium, and the Digital Media & Main Building. The committee is interested in commissioning artwork that will engage students, faculty, staff, administrators, and visitors in a way that speaks to ideas of education, community, sustainability, and regional diversity. Artists are encouraged to explore designs inspired by the local natural and built environments, considering the concepts of "transformation" and "journeying." The LSC seeks a work that is large in scale/scope that provides a focal point, or multiple elements with unifying features.

Media must be durable, low maintenance, permanent, safe for both children and adults, and ADA compliant. At the selected artist's expense, the artwork may require certification by an electrical, civil, and/or structural engineer licensed to practice in New Mexico, and review by a professional fine art conservator. This request for qualifications is open to all artists or artist teams working in the United States. Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate a level of experience and professionalism commensurate with the project scope and budget. Current employees or family members of current employees of NMSU will not be considered.

The project budget is $183,500, which includes all fees and expenses associated with the project (materials, equipment, labor, permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, travel, installation, shipping, identification plaque, and documentation). Up to five finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal and will receive a $1,000 honorarium for a written proposal and maquette. Finalists will be required to make one site visit including a personal presentation to the Local Selection Committee and a public presentation at the college. Travel stipends will be provided based on distance: $250 for 50-300 miles one-way, $450 for 301-800 miles one-way, and $900 for 801+ miles one-way. Submission deadline is September 11, 2015. Finalists will be notified in November 2015, with finalist presentations scheduled for April 2016 and artwork completion and installation by June 2017.