Call Detail
Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado - RFQ
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Contact Email: ruth.wilson@state.co.us

Entry Deadline: 5/10/21
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 8
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 6, Maximum:Max. 8
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: Local
State: Colorado

Qualifications are requested from artists interested in creating an exterior public artwork for the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction, Colorado. The budget for this opportunity is $12,500 and the deadline for submission is May 10, 2021. Full RFQ, along with images, can be viewed here.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – ABOUT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF WESTERN COLORADO
In 1862, President Lincoln signed into law legislation authorizing the establishment of national cemeteries. After the Civil War, search and recovery teams visited hundreds of battlefields, churchyards, plantations and other locations seeking wartime interments that were made in haste. By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Civil War dead were re-interred in 73 national cemeteries.

In 1873, Congress extended the right of burial in a national cemetery to all honorably discharged Union veterans of the Civil War. By a 1933 Executive Order, certain national cemeteries were transferred from the War Department (now the Department of the Army) to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior. In June 1973, Public Law 93-43 authorized the transfer of 82 national cemeteries from the Department of the Army to the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This action combined the 82 army cemeteries with 21 cemeteries already under the VA.

In 1978, Congress established the State Cemetery Grants Program (Public Law 95-476). Administered by the National Cemetery Administration to aid States and U.S. territories in the establishment, expansion and improvement of veterans cemeteries, the State Cemetery Grants Program complements the National Cemetery Administration by providing gravesites for veterans in those areas not adequately served by national cemeteries.
 
The Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado was authorized by the Colorado Legislature in 1999 to honor Colorado veterans.
The Cemetery’s design was inspired by the architecture and site plans of the historic Fort Snelling in Minnesota and Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Construction began in June, 2001 and was completed on September 4, 2002. The Cemetery officially opened on September 5, 2002.
The Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado is located on ~ 22.5 acres in Grand Junctio
n, Colorado and currently has 6662 interment spaces. Included are; 3957 spaces for casketed burials, 1736 spaces for cremation burial, 1869 columbarium wall niches, also for cremated remains. In addition, there are 775 memorial garden plots available for veterans whose remains were not recovered, or scattered. 

The Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado is intended to be a dignified final resting place for Colorado. There are memorial walks on either side of the creek running northeast to southwest through the Cemetery. These walks pass by numerous columbaria in front of which are benches for visitors. There are landscaped areas for in-ground interments that are characterized by thoughtful placement of trees, shrubs, and other plantings. These areas provide additional places for individual reflection. The Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado conveys the appreciation of the people of Colorado to its veterans for answering the call of duty and faithfully and honorably serving the United States of America and the State of Colorado.

BUDGET: $12,500
All costs associated with the public art project including, but not limited to, artist 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. Semifinalist artists will be provided with an honorarium of $1,000 for the preparation of their proposed design. A site visit will be required.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ART
The Art Selection Committee is looking for an artwork that takes into consideration the goals of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado as outlined in the description above. The committee would like an artwork that matches the Cemetery’s design aesthetic and honors military service and/or military history. Historic focus should be on veterans’ service from WWII to current. The Cemetery seeks to be inclusive of all six military branches.

The Cemetery grounds create a peaceful and contemplative environment for visitors. The site embraces the natural landscape of Grand Junction and the Western Slope of Colorado through natural and traditional building materials and landscaping.  The artwork should add to the peaceful environment for veterans, their families, and the general public on their visit and should consider a tone of contemplation, reverence, respect and appreciation for the veteran and their families’ service.
As appropriateness for the site and landscape is essential for this artwork, a site visit is required for all semifinalists, prior to the proposal presentations, so that they can get a feel for the grounds and the experience. Artists from the Western Slope and/or artists who are veterans or military service members are highly encouraged to apply.

The Selection Committee will consider the following:

  •  Artistic excellence
  • Thematic appropriateness
  • Appropriateness to the aesthetic of the facility and to the natural landscape
  • Resistance to general wear, vandalism, or theft & ease of 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. All applications must be submitted via CaFÉ™ - no materials submitted outside this online application system will be reviewed.
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 that outlines professional accomplishments as an artist.

Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 250 words or less must be submitted. 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 the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado. 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 for a site visit and to present a final proposal. Semifinalists shall receive a design honorarium of $1,000. Final selection will be made from these proposals.

The schedule is as follows:
Monday, May 10, 11:59 pm MST - Deadline for receipt of submittal via CaFÉ™ system
May/June 2021– Selection committee meets to select Semifinalists
May/June 2021 - Notification of Semifinalist selection
June/July 2021 – Semifinalist Site Visits (required)
July 2021 – Semifinalist presentations to the Art Selection Committee & Artist Selected

QUESTIONS
If you require more information or clarification, please contact Ruth Wilson, Public Art Program Manager, at 303-880-6671 or ruth.wilson@state.co.us.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Full RFQ (with images)
Colorado Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado             
Fort Snelling
Fort D.A. Russell

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria