Application Closed
Images | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 8
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 8
Eligibility: Regional
State: Colorado
ABOUT WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
Western Colorado University (WCU) delivers career preparation, engineering, computer science and a liberal arts curriculum to 2,900 intellectually adventurous students in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The university’s small size, unique setting and low-cost ensure students receive personalized attention, gain hands-on experience and graduate without taking on excessive debt. WCU is proud to serve our state and country by preparing our students to contribute meaningful work in communities across Colorado and beyond. From cybersecurity experts to social workers and teachers, Western Colorado University graduates play major roles in their fields.
Western's campus is situated in the City of Gunnison, affectionately known as the “base camp” of the Rocky Mountains. With an elevation of 7,700 feet, Gunnison is home to an ideal backyard laboratory for a variety of sciences. The Rocky Mountains provide a rich and varied geologic environment, while the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, founded by early Western professor John Johnson, Ph.D., provides a high-altitude biological field station on the remains of an abandoned mining town. Nearly 80 percent of Gunnison County’s 3,239 square miles is federally owned land, making it an ideal environment for field work.
In addition to its scientific opportunities, the Gunnison Valley also provides an abundance of recreational ones—including mountain biking, rafting, fishing and climbing. The Town of Crested Butte is located just 28 miles north of Western’s campus, and offers world-class skiing during the winter and spectacular wildflowers and festivals throughout the summer. The Gunnison Valley also provides a wealth of culture and entertainment. From downtown art galleries, to the four-day Crested Butte Film Festival and Cattlemen’s Days, (the “Granddaddy of Colorado Rodeos,” which began in the 1800s) there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION – ABOUT THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE GARAGE
This project is a new build that will serve to replace the current facility used to maintain WCU’s fleet vehicles. The new building will be on the northwest side of campus, near the university’s Facilities office. The main function of this facility will be to provide service and repairs for various vehicles and equipment used by the campus community. This includes various pieces of grounds equipment, such as lawn mowers, tractors, other turf maintenance equipment, snow removal equipment and various pieces of construction and building maintenance equipment. In addition, WCU’s fleet maintenance staff performs service and repairs for other state agencies' vehicles under the supervision of Colorado State Management, as well as a fleet of passenger vans which are available for use by the University's Academic and Athletic departments as well as Administration and Staff, for University-related functions and official state business.
The new maintenance garage facility is LEED certified v. 4.1, and currently slated to be the first project completed with that rating. The building will have four service bays, one drive through bay, and office space for fleet staff. The main public-facing space is the reception area at the front of the building. Users of the garage will include fleet staff, WCU staff, students, and other employees from state agencies that also use the facility and vehicles.
BUDGET: $22,000
All costs associated with the public art project including, but not limited to, artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, building or site modifications, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the project are covered by this budget.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ART
The Art Selection Committee is looking to commission an artwork to be located on the floor of the reception area for the maintenance garage. The space is 270 square feet and the artwork must cover the entire area, though the design can be more centralized in the center of the reception area, which has an approximate area of 135 square feet. Artwork can be any material that is durable and does not impede movement or usage of the space. Mosaic or designed flooring in tile, terrazzo and concrete, etc. are all feasible options. In terms of design, the committee is looking for artworks or designs that serve WCU’s mission. Creative interpretations of the school’s seal (see here), the Colorado state logo, or designs that embrace WCU’s mascot – a mountaineer – and/or its mountain location are all options. The artwork may also extend to the north and/or west walls of the reception area, should the artist so desire to activate those spaces. The approximate sizes of those walls are:
West Wall: 170 square feet
North Wall (west of corridor): 160 square feet.
The committee is highly interested in artists who might use recycled and/or sustainable materials for the artwork and flooring material, to fit in with general campus goals and the building’s LEED certification.
The Selection Committee will consider the following:
- Artistic excellence
- Technical competence
- Scale, material, form and content
- Appropriate relationship to the function of the site
- Resistance to general wear, vandalism, or theft
- Ease of maintenance, minimal and low cost maintenance
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications for this project are being accepted through the online platform, CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org ). No hard copy or emailed submissions will be accepted. The applicant will be asked to submit digital images of art (see below for more information), a resume, and a brief statement of interest. There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303-629-1166, 1-888-562-7232 or email cafe@westaf.org.
Digital Images. In order to be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit, via the CaFÉ™ system, no less than six (6) and no more than eight (8) digital images of previously completed artworks. Instructions on how to use CaFÉ™ and format images can be found at www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml.
Resume: Submit a current résumé, via CaFÉ™, that outlines professional accomplishments as an artist.
Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 250 words or less must be submitted via CaFÉ™. It should briefly outline the interest in the specific opportunity and applicable experience.
COLORADO ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM
In 1977, the Colorado General Assembly passed the Art in Public Places Act requiring that 1% of the construction costs of new or renovated state-owned buildings be used to acquire works of art for permanent installation at the project site. Colorado Creative Industries is responsible for implementation of the law. All works of art commissioned pursuant to this request are owned by the State of Colorado via Western Colorado University. De-accession of the public art, if necessary, will follow the policies and procedures established by Colorado Creative Industries.
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must be residents of the state of Colorado. Any applications submitted with addresses outside of Colorado will be disqualified and not reviewed. The Program is open to all artists regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical handicap.
SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The Art Selection Committee will review all complete submittals. A short list of semifinalists will be invited to prepare and present a final proposal in person and be paid an honorarium of $1,000. Final selection(s) will be made from the semifinalists’ proposals. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, August 18th, 11:59 pm MST - Deadline for receipt of submittal via CaFÉ™ system
August 2019 – Selection committee meets to select Semi-Finalists
August/September 2019 - Notification of Semi-Finalist selection
September 2019 – Artist presentations to the Art Selection Committee at FRCC
September 2019 – Artist selected
December 2019 - Building scheduled for completion and artwork installation will be arranged in correlation with WCU
QUESTIONS
If you require more information or clarification, please contact Ruth Bruno, Public Art Program Manager, at 303-892-3813 or ruth.bruno@state.co.us.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
https://www.western.edu/about/history
https://www.western.edu/about/about-valley
https://www.western.edu/facilities-services/transportation