Ramapo College of New Jersey Learning Commons Public Art Commission

Ramapo College of New Jersey is soliciting expressions of interest from prospective artists to design, fabricate, and install artwork for the Learning Commons at its Mahwah, New Jersey campus. The proposed artwork is part of the New Jersey Arts Inclusion Program, coordinated by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Ramapo College. Since the passage of the New Jersey Arts Inclusion Act of 1978, the program has led to the commissioning and installation of hundreds of public artworks in state-financed construction projects throughout New Jersey. The Act requires that up to 1.5% of the state-financed construction budget is set aside for the inclusion of publicly accessible art.

Ramapo College seeks innovative and permanent artwork for one or both of two outdoor spaces north of the new Learning Commons. The Learning Commons addition will add 18,000 square feet of space to the existing 62,000 square feet of the George T. Potter Library, with an anticipated completion date of mid-year 2021. The two main spaces for artwork are in front of the Learning Commons building at the crest of a large hill. The public artwork should be highly visible and could range from dramatic landscape re-arrangement to seating to sculpture installation. This area contains high pedestrian traffic and occasional utility vehicle traffic. The artwork should welcome constituents and inspire enthusiasm about knowledge and learning, help define the character of the area, and encourage its use as a gathering space.

The committee is seeking proposals for permanent sculpture, hard-scaping, creative landscaping, or seating. Materials present on the exterior of the Learning Commons include slate, blackened steel, and glass. The building opposite is curved orange brick with purple tile accents. The Learning Commons sits atop a hill among a backdrop of dark pines, with the campus generally leafy and bucolic with dry stone walls lining many pathways. Materials used must be durable, graffiti-resistant, appropriate for a public setting, and environmentally friendly. The proposed budget for the artwork is $160,000.00, all inclusive, covering all costs incurred by the artist relating to design, fabrication, and installation.

Three finalists will be selected from those who submit expressions of interest. Selected finalist artists will be contacted and requested to prepare a project-specific proposal to be presented in person at Ramapo College. Each of the three finalists will receive a $2,000 stipend to cover costs associated with presentation preparation and travel expenses. Artists should submit letters (no more than 3 pages) summarizing their interest and experience in creating public artworks, including a list of at least 3 references, resume, photographs/images (minimum 4, maximum 6) of examples of public art installations, and website links through CallForEntry.org. Jury/Panel Review begins August 10, 2020 and ends August 17, 2020. Notification of finalists is August 24, 2020, with finalist presentations to take place in September.