Las Cruces Public Art Mission Statement 

Las Cruces Public Art (LCPA) commissions and cares for a collection of contemporary public artworks, promotes the community’s access to and engagement with public art, and supports the growth of public art practice in Las Cruces 

 Project Intent 

General:

Las Cruces Public Art (LCPA) seeks an artist or artist team to create a site-specific outdoor art piece to be designed and installed at the new East Mesa Public Recreation Complex (EMPRC). LCPA wishes to commission an art piece that will be installed in the new 10-acre park located in East Las Cruces. (see attached site plan).

Eligibility:

This commission is open to all artists/artist teams, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion, or affiliation, or mental or physical handicap. Artists are not required to have previous experience in public art but should demonstrate a level of expertise and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget.

Las Cruces EMPRC Site Information 

EMPRC is a new public recreation complex located off Sonoma Springs Ave. on the eastside of Las Cruces. The recreation complex will tentatively open to the public in Summer 2024. The recreation complex’s first phase is almost completed with two baseball fields, two soccer fields, eight pickleball courts, and a 10-acre park. The next phase will include sand volleyball courts and basketball courts. Plans include a skatepark and amphitheater in future phases.

EMPRC is in a Sonoma Ranch neighborhood against a backdrop of the Organ Mountains. The surrounding desert landscape remains untouched and is home to a variety of indigenous wildlife. Archeological evidence of the property shows it was once covered by prehistoric water that provided a habitat for the amphibious animals, such as giant jellyfish, that made their home there.

Proposed site for the artwork is in the 10-acre park near the intersection of Sonoma Springs Ave., the main access point to the recreation complex, and Camino Coyote Lane.

Artists may visit the site to better understand its layout and context.

Project Amount 

$100,000.00 is available to the artist or artist team for the completed and installed project. Project amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the design, fabrication and installation of the project, including but not limited to: the completed work of art, ladders, scissor-lift, scaffolding, materials, equipment, labor, cement pad, lighting, certifications and permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, shipping, identification plaque, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.  There is no other funding. Refer to Artist’s Scope of Work for additional information.

Design Considerations 

Aesthetically and thematically, the art piece can:

• Include activity, vitality, energy, kinetic, movement, sound, light, and shadow, cooperation, teamwork, playfulness, whimsy, youthfulness
• Enhance or support the view of the Organ Mountains
• Include historical/archeological aspects – i.e. area is rich with fossils including prehistoric horseshoe crabs and giant jellyfish
• Include sustainable themes
• Convey abstract or realism styles

Other considerations:

• Artwork should not be sports specific
• Functional artwork is not a priority
• Should add identity to the recreation complex
• Serves as a focal point and is visible from several vantage points
• Possibly provides a photo opportunity for visitors, preferably with Organ Mountains as backdrop

Physical Attributes of the art piece:

• May be conceptual or representational
• Shall be freestanding
• May be composed of more than one stand-alone piece
• Shall be 3-dimensional and of single or varied durable mediums and finishes
• Must be safe, low maintenance, and expected to be a permanent fixture
• Shall meet the following environmental criteria: UV/sun resistant, non-glare, no blinking lights, no distracting sounds, and no use of water
• Shall be large enough in scale and scope to be visible from multiple vantage points
• No solely painted mural concepts will be accepted

 Artist’s Scope of Work

General:

The selected artist or artist team shall collaborate with the City of Las Cruces LCPA Public Art Coordinator in the specification, execution, and completion of this project. 

The artist or artist team ultimately awarded the commission project will be required to enter into a Professional Services Contract with the City of Las Cruces.

Project Specifications:

• At the artist’s expense, a licensed practitioner in the State of New Mexico, whether electrical, civil, or structural, must provide any necessary documents as required for certifications and/or permits for installation of the artwork.  If necessary, the artwork shall be reviewed by a professional fine art conservator.
• EMPRC artwork may be constructed of any medium but must be of structural and surface soundness and materials that can withstand outside and uncovered weather conditions (desert climate: high winds, extreme temperatures) as well as inherent resistance to theft, vandalism, and excessive maintenance and repair costs. The artwork shall meet the following environmentally safe criteria with consideration of vicinity to roadways and animals:  UV/sun resistant, limited off-gassing, non-toxic, non-glare, no blinking lights, no distracting sounds, and no water features.
• Artwork must be installed in a manner with sufficient anchoring to prevent being removed, tipped, broken, or overturned due to high wind.  The City reserves the right to review and approve the artist’s proposed installation plan and may request additional information from a New Mexico licensed engineer (hired by the artist) to address safety concerns the City may have.
• The structural base to support the art piece is entirely the artist’s responsibility. This includes design, structural review, necessary City approvals/permits, construction, and all associated costs.
• Lighting is required. Electrical service will be negotiated/stipulated by the artist in the contract phase.
• Delivered art, which has possible content or construction quality issues identified during inspection, shall be reviewed by a professional fine art conservator or engineer at the artist’s expense if required.
• Delivered art that differs significantly from approved design will be disqualified.
• An area on or near the artwork will be specified for a plaque that indicates the name of the artist, title, materials, and the year installed.  The City Public Art listing shall include: the name of the artist, title, materials, year installed, 100-word narrative about the artwork and artist.

Selection Process

General:

Artists may research the project using any resource with the exception of discussion with individual members of the Las Cruces City Staff, the Las Cruces City Art Board or Art Selection Committee. The Art Selection Committee may only discuss rankings among themselves when they meet to determine the semi-finalists.

An Art Selection Committee will comprise at least five members representing the City Art Board, City of Las Cruces and the community.  Under the guidance of LCPA, the Art Selection Committee will be responsible for submission review, and selection of the semi-finalists.  Said committee is also responsible to recommend the ultimate selection of the artist/artist team to be awarded the commissioned project to City Council.

The selection criteria shall include, but are not limited to:

• The professional qualifications of the artist(s) as evidenced by the supporting materials.
• Proven ability to undertake projects of the described scope, scale and budget.
• Artistic merit and superior caliber craftsmanship as evidenced by the images.
• Suitability of submission to project intent and site conditions.

Up to three semi-finalists will be invited to submit a formal proposal for the project.  Artists will have 60 days from notification to prepare their proposals for an in-person presentation to the selection committee in a public forum.  Semi-finalists will receive a $750.00 honorarium for their proposal, which shall include:

• Maquette, at 1/8 scale.
• Renderings, 2-D and/or 3-D representations.
• Schedule/timeline for fabrication and installation.
• Budget outline.
• Suggested maintenance schedule.
• Documented experience working with the proposed media as well as durability of the materials.
• At least one visit will be required of each semi-finalist to include an in-person presentation of the artwork proposal to the Art Selection Committee and the public.

Project Schedule

• June 4 -  CaFÉ submission deadline
• Approximately 60 days from notification of semi-finalists to in-person presentation of proposals, maquettes, renderings, schedules and budgets.
• Approximately 60 days from presentations to announcement and award of finalist/commission.
• Time from award to contract signing will be determined by internal processes.
• 12 months from contract signing to artwork installation completion.

Application Requirements

All materials must be submitted online, via the CaFÉ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ online application system. 

Please read the following information carefully.  Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.  The Art Selection Committee will not review supplemental information beyond what is requested, including proposals specific to this project.  Failure to provide any of the published requirements will result in disqualification from the competition.  Duplicate submissions will not be accepted.  All materials must be submitted via CaFÉ, according to the specifications outlined below. 

• Succinct letter of interest no longer than one page written specifically to address the needs of the project.  Please explain what excites you about the opportunity, and how you may approach the project if selected as a finalist.  Outline your professional qualifications.
• A current chronological resume or curriculum vitae demonstrating relevant work experience particularly public art or privately funded commission projects.  A biography or an autobiography will not fulfill the resume requirement.
• Up to ten images of previously completed work, which may include multiple views.  Complete image citations will be required.  Documentation should include artwork title, medium, height, width and depth, price or value, year of completion, and project description, including budget and commissioning agency.  Please review and adhere to the image and media preparation page on CaFÉ when formatting your images or videos.  By default, CaFÉ will organize the images in our submission alphabetically.  If you wish to present the images to the Selection Committee in a different order, you must prioritize the images before submitting an application.

Eligibility Criteria

This commission is open to all artists/artist teams, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion, or affiliation, or mental or physical handicap. 

Artists submitting qualifications should demonstrate a level of expertise and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget.  No member of the current City Art Board, Art Selection Committee, or employee of the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico, may apply for this project.