Rhode Island College Public Art Commission

Rhode Island College is seeking artwork for a new residence hall currently under construction at the corner of Fruit Hill Ave and College Rd in Providence. The building, designed by Robinson Green Beretta Corp., is the largest on the 180-acre RIC campus and may become the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building in Rhode Island. The residence hall will house 367 students and features sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, local and sustainable materials, and improved indoor environmental quality. The building includes shared and single rooms with bathrooms, kitchenettes, closet space, and large windows. LEED certified materials such as naturally pigmented concrete floors and low VOC and recycled content materials have been used throughout.

A five-member public art selection panel appointed by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has identified three potential sites for artwork installation: the large courtyard in front of the residence hall, directional and unifying elements tying the residence hall to the campus, and interior stairwell locations. The panel expressed a preference for exterior public art due to the prominence of the front courtyard and the opportunity to enhance the environment of the RIC campus as a whole. Artists are encouraged to consider enhancement of campus life, adherence to LEED principles, and unification of visual elements on campus. Artists must fabricate artwork and source all materials from within 500 miles of Rhode Island College, including all of New England and parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and parts of Quebec, Canada.

A budget of $75,000 is available for the acquisition of artwork, covering all costs including artist fees, fabrication, installation, transportation, and site work. Submissions require 6 images. The entry deadline is October 29, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. MST. Artist notification of selection panel results will occur in late November 2007, with finalists site visits in December 2007 and finalists presentations in January/February 2008. Final selection of artwork will be made by the Public Art Selection Panel, subject to final approval by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.