Call Description

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Issued by the Chicago Park District and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

Artist Information Session recording available HERE

SUMMARY OF THE OPPORTUNITY

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Chicago Park District (CPkD), invites artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a significant public art commission honoring a significant figure of Italian American Heritage at Arrigo Park: Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. The budget for this permanent artwork is $500,000, inclusive of all costs and fees associated with design, engineering, fabrication, site preparation, installation, and related expenses.

BACKGROUND

This commission is part of the Chicago Monuments Project (CMP), an initiative launched in 2020 to confront inequities in the city’s collection of monuments and memorials and to ask: Who is missing from our public memory? How can we tell a fuller, more truthful story? CMP prioritizes new works that reflect the city’s diversity—particularly those representing Native peoples, Black and Brown communities, and women—and promote healing through public art.

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was selected via an extensive public engagement process led by the Chicago Park District that invited members of the public to nominate Italian American figures who met the following three criteria:

1.      Demonstrated Civic Contribution: The individual must be of Italian heritage, have been deceased for at least ten years, and have made a profound and lasting impact on society, including the Italian-American community, whether through their work in public service, social justice, arts and culture, scientific advancement, et al. Their actions should reflect a commitment to the betterment of their community, locally and/or nationally, with results that can be seen or felt today. 

2.      Historical and Cultural Significance: The person’s life and work should be of exceptional historical or cultural importance, with a clear connection to significant events, movements, or advancements in history. This includes social, philanthropic, artistic, political, or intellectual contributions that have shaped the local or national community in meaningful ways. 

3.      Integrity and Enduring Impact: The person’s life and actions must be aligned with values of justice, equity, and inclusivity, avoiding any associations with oppression, violence, or the marginalization of others. Their legacy should not only have been significant in their time but should continue to inspire and benefit society, resonating with generations beyond their own. The monument’s purpose is to celebrate a lasting influence that will be recognized and remembered for future generations. 

Out of eight eligible candidates, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini received an overwhelming plurality of votes (1,500 of the 3,900 total votes cast), and an outpouring of public enthusiasm.  Based on her strong public support and living embodiment of all three criteria, CPkD and DCASE selected Mother Cabrini as the person to be commemorated.

MOTHER FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI

Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917), known as Mother Cabrini, was a pioneering Italian-American Catholic nun whose work had a lasting impact on Chicago and its immigrant communities. Born in Italy, Cabrini emigrated to the United States in 1887, driven by a deep sense of purpose to serve Italian immigrants who were facing poverty, isolation, and limited opportunities. After arriving in Chicago in 1899, she founded Assumption School, the city's first Italian parish school, offering free education to children who otherwise had no access to schooling. Cabrini’s dedication to the immigrant community grew, and she went on to establish Columbus Hospital in Lincoln Park (1905) and Columbus Extension Hospital on the city’s west side (1910), where she creatively used surplus funds to provide free healthcare to the poor. She also acquired farmland in Park Ridge to provide fresh produce for patients and the Sisters, further demonstrating her holistic approach to care.

Mother Cabrini's work in Chicago was grounded in her Italian-American heritage and her commitment to building community. She established a sense of family and support through her institutions, which included schools, orphanages, and hospitals. This model of care would later inspire the creation of the Cabrini-Green housing project. Cabrini’s efforts extended beyond Chicago, with her founding 67 institutions worldwide, impacting immigrant populations across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Her deep connection to her Italian roots and her service to the broader American society made her a beloved figure.

In 1909, Cabrini became a naturalized U.S. citizen, cementing her place as both an Italian and American icon. After her death in 1917, her legacy was honored by the Vatican, which beatified her in 1938 and canonized her as a saint in 1946—the first time the Vatican canonized an American as a saint.  In 1950, the Vatican named her the Patron Saint of Immigrants, a title that recognized her lifelong dedication to serving marginalized immigrant communities. Today, her legacy is preserved at the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, which was rededicated in 2012. Mother Cabrini’s life and mission continue to inspire and reflect the resilience and spirit of the Italian-American immigrant experience.

Sources: https://cabrininationalshrine.org/history/mother-cabrinis-life-and-legacy/; https://www.neh.gov/article/mother-cabrini-first-american-saint-catholic-church; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Xavier_Cabrini

Please visit https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/arrigo-victor-park for links to public presentations about Mother Cabrini and more information on the candidate selection process.

ARRIGO PARK

Arrigo Park, known as Vernon Park for much of its history, dates to 1859, when real estate developer Henry D. Gilpin donated the property to the City of Chicago. The City soon created a shaded "breathing spot" with an artificial lake and a few benches.

In 1871, the modest residences surrounding Vernon Park fell to the flames of the Chicago Fire. Commercial institutions and transient rooming houses took their place. The park had deteriorated into a boggy mess as surrounding streets and structures were raised up to improve sewage removal and prevent flooding.

When the City transferred control and maintenance of Vernon Park to the West Park Commission in 1885, rehabilitation began immediately. To alleviate the drainage problem, the Commission filled the artificial lake and raised the ground level of the entire site with additional fill. In 1893, the Commission undertook extensive landscape improvements and electrified the park. In 1934, with the consolidation of the 22 park districts into one, the Chicago Park District, Vernon Park came under the control and management of the new District. In 1957, the Chicago Park District acquired title to the property pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act.  In 1972, the City of Chicago conveyed adjacent property to the Chicago Park District for expansion of the park.

In 1974, Vernon Park was officially renamed Arrigo Park in honor of Victor Arrigo (1908-1973). A vocal advocate for the Italian-American community, Arrigo served as Illinois State Representative for Chicago's near southwest side from 1966 to 1973.

SITE CONSIDERATIONS

The site for artwork comprises an existing oval granite plinth (the Plinth), offset within an oval fountain basin of matching granite, and surrounded by low shrubs and ornamental iron railings (the Fountain).

The site is roughly centered in a concrete- and brick-paved, landscaped plaza located at the northwest corner of Arrigo Park, with a frontage on the public way of S Loomis St.

The Plinth height is approximately 4’-5” above the finished floor of the Fountain. The surface of the Plinth is an irregular oval, roughly 11’-0” wide by 10’-0” deep (all dimensions are approximate, to be verified on site by the Artist). 

Fountain spray heads and recessed light fixtures are visible on the Plinth’s surface.  Finalists will be provided detailed plans.

Finalists will have an opportunity to tour the site, meet with stakeholders, review existing plans, and receive community input at a public meeting before commencing a 6-week design development phase. 

As-built drawings/schematics of the site – provided by CPkD – will be shared with the Finalists, however each finalist will be responsible for confirming all as-built dimensions on site.

Each finalist will be responsible for hiring their own licensed-in-Illinois structural engineer (SE) to consult in developing their design proposal, and to provide SE services including but not limited to review of all as-built site drawings and diagrams, in-person site inspection, review and sign-off on all design proposal drawings/schematics.

The selected Artist will be responsible for contracting their own licensed-in-Illinois SE to provide stamped and sealed engineering drawings for review by the City and CPkD.  The Artist’s SE will be expected to interact with CPkD and City engineers to ensure an accurate understanding of existing conditions and constraints.  

The Artist and/or contractor will be required to obtain a “Standard Access Permit” from the Chicago Park District.  Information about that permit may be found here: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/other-permit-types#2272436614-3361777077-1

SITE IMAGES 

Additional images are included in a PDF copy of this RFQ, available for free download at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/provdrs/public_art_program.html

BUDGET

The budget for this commission is $500,000, inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist to execute the project from design through engineering, fabrication, site preparation, and installation.

Honorarium: Finalists will each receive $1,500 to develop their proposals.

SELECTION PROCESS

Following the RFQ deadline, a selection panel composed of arts professionals, community representatives, historians, and project stakeholders will review all submissions. The panel will shortlist 3–5 finalists, each of whom will be commissioned to develop a conceptual design proposal. Finalists will present their proposals to the panel, which will recommend an artist or team for the commission.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Artistic Excellence: Quality, originality, and craftsmanship of past work.
• Relevance: Strength of connection to the project’s subject, themes and community.
• Feasibility: Ability to execute a large-scale public artwork within budget, schedule, and site conditions.

SCHEDULE*

*All dates are approximate and subject to change.

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted digitally via the CAFÉ online application system and include:

1. Letter of Interest (1 page) describing the applicant’s connection to the project, relevant experience, and conceptual approach.
2. Work Samples: 6–10 images of past large-scale public art projects.
3. Annotated Image List detailing title, media, year, dimensions, location, budget, timeline, and commissioning entity for each image.
4. Résumé or CV (1–2 pages per artist; team applications must include one résumé/CV for each team member in a single PDF).
5. Optional Video (up to 2 minutes) with accompanying 2—3 sentence description.
6. Team Roles (if applicable) outlining responsibilities of each member.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

QUESTIONS

Contact: Publicart@cityofchicago.org  All questions must be submitted via email. Responses will be shared in an FAQ if multiple applicants ask similar questions. 

No phone calls.
 

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open nationally to professional artists and artist teams. Artists of Italian-American heritage are encouraged to apply.