Public Art Project - Central Library Branch, Norman OK

The Norman Arts Council, on behalf of The City of Norman and Norman Forward Percent for Art, is seeking an artist or team of artists to create a monumental exterior public artwork for the new Norman Public Library Central Branch located at 103 West Acres Street, Norman, Oklahoma.

The artwork should be a significant exterior piece that complements the natural beauty of the site and the building's architecture while welcoming all visitors. It should express qualities inherent in libraries such as a sense of wonderment, curiosity, learning, and inclusiveness. The work should allow visitors, staff, and customers to interact with it through listening or observing it react to changes in light, seasons, or weather. The Project Team is open to any media or material appropriate to the site as long as it is durable, safe, low maintenance, and vandalism resistant. The artwork is intended to become an iconic symbol of Norman's spirit, relating to its history, current importance, and future.

The total artist's fee is $230,000.00, which must cover all associated costs including design, materials, fabrication, lighting, travel, insurance coverage, shipping, and installation. The opportunity is open to professional artists with experience working on public art projects of this scale and creating site-specific works. Submissions must include a one-page letter of interest, resume (not exceeding three pages), 10 to 15 high-resolution digital images of previous work, an annotated image list with project details, and three references from public art projects. Three finalists will be selected for a mandatory site visit (with $750.00 allowance for expenses) and will each receive a $1,250.00 honorarium for developing a site-specific design proposal. Finalists will present proposals in person, with an additional $750.00 allowance for presentation expenses. The selection panel will evaluate merit of work, past experience completing projects on time and within budget, appropriateness and maintenance requirements of the proposed concept, sensitivity to site and surroundings, and ability to work within the project timeline and collaborate with library administration. The RFQ deadline is October 27, 2017 at 11:00 p.m. CST. For more information, contact Debby Williams at 405.517.7251 or [email protected].