University of Colorado Boulder Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building E-Wing Public Art Commission

The University of Colorado Boulder is seeking artists to commission outdoor artwork for the Northwest courtyard of the Jennie Smoly Caruthers (JSC) Biotechnology Building E-Wing addition. The courtyard was designed as an art garden and will feature seat walls, exterior study spaces, and access to a main connector space between the E-Wing and current building. The space includes three large pine trees (8'-10' at planting, eventually 30-40') for shade and wind protection.

The Art Selection Committee is interested in kinetic or environmentally responsive artwork that engages with the courtyard's environmental factors—sun, wind, and exposure—rather than resisting them. Artists should consider the building's goals of cross-collaboration, hybrid/interdisciplinary approaches, sustainability, and technology. Artworks should showcase nature and the interconnectedness of art and nature, as the courtyard will serve as a place of study and relaxation for students. Selection criteria include artistic excellence, technical competence, conceptual compatibility, scale, material, form and content, appropriate relationship to site function, contribution to diversity of the State's public art collection, structural and surface integrity, resistance to wear and vandalism, ease of maintenance, and compliance with public safety codes.

The public art budget is $110,000, covering all costs including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and project documentation. Semi-finalists will be invited to propose artwork and will receive an honorarium: $1,500 for out-of-state artists and $1,000 for in-state artists. All applicants must be legal residents of the United States with skills and experience commensurate with completing a major public art installation. Applications must include six digital images of art, a resume, and a brief statement of interest, submitted through the CaFÉ online system by April 18, 2016. Semi-finalists will be notified in May 2016 and invited to present final proposals in person. All commissioned artwork will be owned by the State of Colorado via the University of Colorado Boulder.