The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists or artist's teams for a permanent site-specific mosaic art project for the recently renovated South Valley Pool and Splash Pad located at 3912 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM  87105. This is a local call open to New Mexico based artists. The established budget for this project is $35,000. The winning artist or team will create the concept and design of the mosaic, engage in community outreach, and implement installation. The mosaic will be culturally relevant and reflect the landscapes, heritage and cultures of the South Valley.

Site Details:

This recently renovated facility is home to one of New Mexico's largest spray parks and is located at 3912 Isleta Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM  87105. The facility features an outdoor pool, shade and picnic structures, areas of grass and landscaping, a newly renovated parking lot, a new bathhouse, water slides, and interactive sprays and water cannons.

The locations identified by the Selection Committee for the mosaic include but are not limited to the exterior façade of the main entrance and the seating wall between the splash pad and the swimming pool.  A portion of the mosaic may also be placed on the walls of the pool itself, but the overall work must not affect the integrity of the pool or the safety of the public. 

Location/Context/History 

The South Valley Pool is located adjacent to several public facilities including the South Valley Little League, the Rio Bravo Park, the Rio Bravo Skate Park, the South Valley Library, and the Rio Bravo Senior Meal Site. Additionally, Harrison Middle School and Adobe Acres Elementary School are located in the area. The wealth of nearby public facilities creates an opportunity for a broad sector of the public to view the artwork. Additionally, the proximity to local schools creates an opportunity for the artist to engage with local students in the design and implementation of the mosaic.

The Bernalillo County Public Art funded mural “La Corriente del Valle,” located at 4022 Isleta Blvd. SW is within view of the South Valley Pool and Splash Pad. The mural represents the Rio Grande as the South Valley's life force traveling through the past, present and future identities of the South Valley. The artist or artist's team should consider the color scheme of the spray park features as well as the design and content of the nearby mural “La Corriente del Valle” in the design of the mosaic.

About the Bernalillo County Arts Board: The Arts Board is guided by the following mission:  Public art has the power to inspire curiosity, encourage contemplation, facilitate dialogue, foster community engagement, and create a sense of place.  Located throughout the county, the Bernalillo County public art collection enhances quality of life through the acquisition of exceptional works of art by artists at various career stages. 

Project Intent/Theme

The intent of the project is to enhance the facility and create a welcoming environment for the public. The South Valley Pool mosaic will reflect the culture, traditions, and lands of the South Valley.

Media/ Style

The project is a permanent mosaic installation to be created for the South Valley Pool and Splash Pad facility. The artwork shall be designed to have a structural lifetime of at least 25 years and be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the high-altitude ultraviolet rays of the sun and being in contact with water. The mosaic will be integrated into the architecture of the facility and the artwork should not affect the integrity of the walls of the building or the safety of the public.

 Project Funds

$35,000 is available to commission the mural from 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

Submission Requirements

Please review and follow the printable image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website. Digital media on-line submissions must follow the CaFÉ image uploading requirements. Submit from two (2) to seven (7) images of previous work. Digital images should include the artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, date of creation, and cost, in addition to any in-kind consideration. Submit from one (1) to three (3) digital images of an initial conceptual design for the mosaic.

Artist name and address must be on every page of any documents that are submitted. All word and quantity limits must be followed for submission materials. 

• Artist Statement
• Artist Résumé
• Questionnaire
• A correspondingly numbered image key of each image must also be submitted including artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, and date of creation.
• References

Timeframe and Timeline

The call is open until August 20, 2021. From the submissions, three finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee to prepare their final designs and present to the Selection Committee and the community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The Arts Board will select the finalist for the project after the presentations.

(Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments):

• RFQ open: 6/25/2021
• RFQ closes: 8/20/2021
• Selection committee review: September-November 2021
• Three finalists announced: January 2022
• Finalists’ presentations: March/April 2022
• Final selection awarded: May/June 2022
• Project completion by Winter 2021-22

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

Please review and follow the printable image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website. Digital media on-line submissions must follow the CaFÉ image uploading requirements. Submit from two (2) to seven (7) images of previous work. Digital images should include the artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, date of creation, and cost, in addition to any in-kind consideration. Submit from one (1) to three (3) digital images of an initial conceptual design for the mosaic.

Artist name and address must be on every page of any documents that are submitted. All word and quantity limits must be followed for submission materials. 

• Artist Statement
• Artist Résumé
• Questionnaire
• A correspondingly numbered image key of each image must also be submitted including artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, and date of creation.
• References

Eligibility Criteria

This is a local call open to New Mexico based artists.