TIME - Temporary Installations Made for the Environment – Las Vegas

The Art in Public Places program of New Mexico Arts and the Las Vegas community will commission up to five temporary environmentally based artworks to be exhibited in various locations in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The proposed artworks should relate to this year’s theme: “Convergence”

The strongest proposals will be for works which engage the temporary nature of this series of installations and relate strongly to the cultural and environmental histories of the area.  Site-specific and ephemeral works are encouraged. Artwork should appeal to both local residents and visitors to the area. No artwork requiring concrete pads or other environmentally damaging approaches will be considered. At the agreed upon time of removal, the artist will return the installation site to its original condition, subject to the approval of the site representative. Media must be low maintenance, safe for both children and adults, ADA compliant, and not leave a permanent mark on the environment when removed.

Site Information

Artworks will be located in exterior locations in and around Las Vegas. Specific sites for the artwork will be determined by the requirements of the selected artwork in conjunction with the TIME Project Selection Committee. Potential artwork sites include The Riverwalk, New Mexico Highlands University, Castaneda Hotel Chapel, Las Vegas Museum, South Pacific Park, Las Vegas Carnegie Library, E. Romero Fire & Acequia Museum, Don Celio Martinez Elementary, Acequia de Manteca bridge, Las Vegas Cemetary wall and various walls throughout Las Vegas. 

We will do our best to accommodate site-specific works. Access to electricity may be available at some of the sites. To prevent irreparable environmental damage, no large holes may be dug or foreign organic materials released into the environment. Artwork must also be sufficiently secured against high winds and intense weather conditions that often arise in New Mexico. The artist understands that their artwork may be subject to damage, vandalism or theft at any time. Neither the Las Vegas Community, New Mexico Arts, nor the site host, will be responsible for such occurrences.  A map of sites and photos is available here. 

Project Amount

$2,000 per project for up to 5 artist/artist teams. This amount includes all applicable expenses that the artist may incur creating the artwork, such as materials, labor, insurance, taxes, installation, and retrieval of the artwork.

• Artists will be paid in 2 phase payments. The first phase payment of $1,000 will be made after the contract is approved. The second phase payment of $1,000 will be made after the artwork is installed and all required documentation materials are received.

Eligibility

This project is open to New Mexico residents aged 18 years and older only. Artists in all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply.

Calendar

April 3, 2018                       Project Announced

May 8, 2018                       Submission Deadline

June 30, 2018                      Artwork Installed

Late August                         Removal of artwork
      to September 

This calendar is subject to change. The selection criteria used by the Selection Committee shall include, but is not limited to: Quality of project concept, thoroughness of proposal, quality of past work, and how the artwork relates to the theme of Convergence, the culture and history of Las Vegas, and the environment.

Submission Requirements

Please read the following information carefully as incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Supplemental information beyond what is requested will not be reviewed by the Selection Committee. Failure to provide any of the published requirements will result in disqualification from the competition.

• A detailed description, including dimensions, materials, installation, lifespan, interactivity, content and physical impact. Please tell us what your proposed artwork means to you and what you're trying to communicate.

• Proposed artwork image(s). 1 to 4 images. Please review and follow the image preparation guide on CaFÉ.

• A CV  or resume listing relevant experience, including temporary environmental art installations if applicable.

• Six images of previously completed work. Please review and follow the image preparation guide on CaFÉ.

• An annotated image list containing the title, media, dimensions, year of completion and if applicable, project description, budget, and commissioning agency.

• A well thought out clean-up plan. You may not leave anything behind.

References for Convergence

The convergence of cultures, convergence of communities, convergence of the railroads, convergence of water systems, the convergence of The Santa Fe Trail, the Burlington-Santa Fe Railroad (formerly the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe) and Interstate Highway I-25, the convergence of Gallinas Creek and Arroyo Pecos, the convergence of the Rocky Mountains and the Great plains, the convergence of histories, the convergence of architecture, the convergence of various educational modalities.

Definition of convergence from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convergence

: the act of converging and especially moving toward union or uniformity the convergence of the three rivers; especially : coordinated movement of the two eyes so that the image of a single point is formed on corresponding retinal areas

2 : the state or property of being convergent

3 : independent development of similar characters (as of bodily structure of unrelated organisms or cultural traits) often associated with similarity of habits or environment

4 : the merging of distinct technologies, industries, or devices into a unified whole

To then to meet in a point or line, incline towards each other.

When to or more thing come together to form a new whole.
 

About Las Vegas, NM

Situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is Las Vegas, full of unique cultures and beautiful landscapes. Las Vegas was once the largest town in the entire southwest and nowhouses a population a little over 10,000. Until the 1970s, Las Vegas had two seperate municipalities, West Las Vegas and East Las Vegas. Although the two towns have been combined, separate school districts have been maintained and also maintain the East and West division and cultures. 

In 1835, Las Vegas was officially founded as Senora de “Los Dolores de Las Vegas” or “Our Lady of Sorrows of the Meadows.” Although Las Vegas was considered part of New Mexico following the Mexican war, it had a rich and vast history with the Paleo-Indians and the Anasazi and Mogollon cultures. The town was a thriving farming town which celebrated an annual fiesta honoring saints James and Ann for providing the water needed to feed the community. This celebration became known as the Fourth of July Fiestas in 1888. The fiestas are celebrated every year with food, entertainment, parades and outdoor activities. 

During the Mexican-American war in 1846, Stephen W. Kearny delivered an address at the Plaza of Las Vegas claiming New Mexico for the United States. In 1877 Las Vegas College, the precursor to Regis University, was founded in Las Vegas by a group of exiled Italian Jesuits.

Upon becoming part of the United States, Las Vegas also became the largest community in the Southwest and housed well known outlaws and rebels, including Billy the Kid. In later years, the Santa Fe Railroad ran tracks through the town, attracting various cultures and making Las Vegas the central location for ice distribution along the Gallinas River in the Montezuma Pond. As well as a hub for those acting under Manifest Destiny. Turn-of-the-century Las Vegas featured all the modern amenities, including an electric street railway, the "Duncan Opera House" at the northeast corner of 6th Street and Douglas Avenue, a Carnegie library, the Hotel Castaneda (a major Harvey House), and the New Mexico Normal School (now New Mexico Highlands University).  Las Vegas has over 900 historic buildings on the Historic Registry. Las Vegas is also home to the only United World College in the U.S.

Las Vegas was the historic home of many economic and cultural endeavors such as film-making, theater performance, ice distribution, railroad travels, Harvey houses, gold & silver mining, cowboy parades and so much more. 

Las Vegas has a rich history of acequia systems and years of water right discussions. With new residents moving in and center sections of the acequias positioned on the Land Grants the ritual and culture of the acequis is becoming more and more distant. Although, the current government seeks to mend the issues and revive the acequias, bringing the communities together. 

Useful Links

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/travel/escapes/16american.html

http://www.lvcchp.org/ Grants-Cibola Chamber of Commerce

https://www.nado.org/las-vegas_nm_vibrant_rural_communities/

http://www.lasvegasoptic.com/content/city-las-vegas-decades-long-acequia-feud-might-have-resolution

http://www.k-state.edu/geography/JSSmith/Acequia_Culture.pdf

http://online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/people-places-and-politics/water/history-water.html

http://mainstreetlvnm.org/

http://lasvegasartscouncil.org/

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-lasvegas/

Past T.I.M.E. projects
 

Questions/Follow Up

Please contact Naomi Gibbons if you are interested in applying to TIME 2018 or have general questions regarding TIME, email: naomi.gibbons@state.nm.us. A State of New Mexico W-9 is required with submission. Below you will find a link for the State W9 form. Please fill out the form and email to naomi.gibbons@state.nm.us. An actual signature is required on the W9 form. If you would like to sign up for direct deposit a copy of a voided check will be required.

http://nmarts.org/assets/files/grants/fy19_cycle/SoNM_SUBSTITUTE_W_9_Form___Secured__1.pdf

Finalists selected for this project and the artist ultimately selected for the commission will be required to enter into a professional services agreement with Art in Public Places of New Mexico Arts. Sample copies of the agreements are available upon request. It is unlawful for artists to solicit opinions or viewings from individual members of the Selection Committee prior to set committee reviews and will result in disqualification from the competition. We reserve the right to refuse submissions, to refuse any finalist, to waive formal procedures, or to withhold the award of a purchase or commission should it be determined that submissions are not acceptable. Application to this project constitutes agreement to abide by all applicable program guidelines.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria