Call Description

Request for Qualifications The Rapid City Arts Council and Destination Rapid City Main Street Square Sculpture On-Site Commission Budget: not to exceed $2,000,000 FAQ link: http://www.thedahl.org/main-st-sq-faqs.html Project summary: The Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC), in partnership with Destination Rapid City (DRC), is requesting qualifications from sculptors interested in participating in an on-site commission project to take place at Main Street Square (MSS), downtown Rapid City’s newest community development project. The location of Rapid City, between two spectacular geologic formations, the Badlands and the Black Hills, and along the creek that flows from the Hills providing water to the adjacent prairie, makes the area truly unique. But the story of this area is not simply of landscape, climate, flora, fauna, fossils, gold mines, motorcycles, cattle, buffalo, tourists, Mt Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, the last of the wide-open plains, or even the rich history and culture of the Lakota people. It is an inspiringly complex story of closely entwined cultural and natural history with significance through the millennia and into the future. The sculpture project for Main Street Square is designed to create a significant sculptural addition to this story, to engage area residents and visitors in the artistic process, and to inspire and inform audiences for years to come. The sculpture project for Main Street Square will make use of a number of granite stones already in place on-site. The stones are arranged in symbolic reference to regional landscapes. There is a series of (10) stones along the Sixth Street side of the Square that reference the Black Hills, a series of (9) stones along the Main Street side of the Square that reference the Badlands and (2) 35’ spires at the corner of Six and Main that reference the location of Rapid City between these two astounding landscapes. One contract will be awarded for a sculptural series to be created using the available stones. All sculptures should be completed within 3-5 years. Destination Rapid City will retain copyrights to the sculptures unless other arrangements are made with the selected artist. The sculptures to be created for Main Street Square must be inspired by and ultimately contribute to an informative story…in visual form…of the Black Hills, Badlands, and Rapid City. The sculptural process may include additive, subtractive or other methods but must make use of the immovable shaped granite stones. A significant portion of the sculpting must take place on site in Rapid City and some interaction between the artist(s) and visitors to the square is expected, all while protecting the public’s safety during the sculpting process. Studio space near Main Street Square may be made available to the selected artist or team of artists. Project background: Main Street Square is the region’s only year-round active civic open space in the heart of downtown Rapid City. This project is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through providing a great place to relax and celebrate. Destination Rapid City initiated and implemented the building of Main Street Square and is working with a number of community partners to host a variety of events in this new community events plaza. • The goal of Main Street Square is to build a defining icon in Downtown Rapid City, to provide an active gathering place for the entire community, and to invite more pedestrian traffic downtown. • This outdoor events venue is a year-round attraction, containing a waterfall and fountain in the summer and a public ice-skating rink in the winter. • Typical events at Main Street Square include: o Farmers’ Markets o Lunchtime Concert Series o Art Exhibits o Weddings, Reunions & Military Events o Jazz & Wine Festival o And Many More The Main Street Square project has unique opportunities for public art built into its design and planned programming. Primary among these opportunities are the gardens along Main and Sixth Streets that separate the body of the Square from the busy traffic on the streets. These gardens currently contain large shaped stones of native granite supplied by Cold Springs Granite (see link at end of RFQ). Over the course of 3-5 years, the stones will be sculpted, with a significant portion of the artist’s work being conducted on site. Upon completion, the natural and cultural history of the Badlands (Main Street Garden) and Black Hills (6th Street Garden) will be explored and interpreted though these unique sculptures. The 35’ tall “spires” flanking the plaza at the corner of Main and Sixth streets will also be sculpted in celebration of the unique cultural history and significance of this location. There are a total of nineteen stones to be sculpted in the gardens at Main Street Square. The stones along the Main Street side of the Square represent the Badlands and the stones along Sixth Street represent the Black Hills. There are seven major stones in each garden. There are two minor stones in the Badlands garden and three minor stones in the Black Hills garden. One of the stones in each garden has the potential to incorporate a water feature to create white noise and to help reduce the sounds of surrounding street traffic. The intersection of 6th and Main Streets represents the coming together of the Badlands and the Black Hills regions; the “Badlands” spire and the “Black Hills” spire terminate each of the gardens, highlight the intersection and recognize the location of Rapid City between these two unique geologic regions. Each spire is clad with granite and is constructed to accommodate sculpting in bas-relief. The bottom pieces of both spires are 8 inches thick, then 6 inches, then 4 inches, and at the top of the Black Hills spire the stone is 3 inches thick. The top of the Badlands spire is not intended to be sculpted. Between the Badlands spire and the Black Hills spire is a cascade fountain representing the waters that flow from the Black Hills and hydrate the Great Plains’ ecosystem. This extraordinary sculpture project will ultimately create a third must-see destination for the 4 million tourists who visit the region annually to see Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. The sculpting, carving, and other art expressions in Main Street Square will provide a compelling location for events and recognize the focus on the arts, especially the history of sculpting, that is present in the Rapid City/Black Hills area. It is important to note that sculpting must be accomplished in a way that still allows Main Street Square to function, and to be enjoyable and safe while sculpting is underway. Intent and goals: The Main Street Square Sculpture program seeks to commission a work of art that advances public understanding of visual art and of the Black Hills/Badlands area, and enhances the aesthetic quality of the square. The intent for the sculptures is to: 1) communicate/inform about the flora, fauna, geology, cultural and natural history of the South Dakota Badlands, Black Hills and Rapid City; 2) to engage Main Street Square visitors in the artistic process; 3) to create a third must-see destination for the 4 million tourists who visit the region annually to see Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, and 4) showcase works of contemporary art/artists. The goals of this specific project are to select an artist who will design with the following priorities in mind: • engage in an on-site sculptural process • consider the use of the site by the community; and • create artwork that is easily maintained and safe Budget: The total budget for the selected sculptor for the entire project is not to exceed $2,000,000. The budget must be inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: artist’s fee, housing, travel, materials, contracted services and documentation. In the case of multiple year projects, yearly goals and partial payment of commission will be negotiated with the artist’s contract. Funding is in place for this work. The artist is required to provide detailed maintenance instructions and recommendations specific to the work. Of the total award to the artist or team of artists, five percent (5%) will be retained for one year after the entire project is completed and accepted to cover any unanticipated repairs due to flaws in construction. After the one year period, the work will be evaluated and the remaining funds released to the artist as long as any unfinished items are satisfactorily completed. Selection process: As set forth in the timeline, the selection process will occur in three (3) phases: Phase 1, Callforentry.org Submittals: based on the responses to the RFQ and reference checks the sculpture committee will recommend semifinalist artist(s) who will present preliminary proposals. Phase 2, Semi-Finalist Submittals: based on preliminary conceptual proposals and telephone interviews, the committee will recommend finalist artist(s)who will be asked to submit full detailed proposals. Artists applying as a team must designate one team member as the lead artist responsible for all formal communications and contracts with DRC. Phase 3, Finalist Submittals: based on full detailed proposals, interviews and on-site presentations, the committee will recommend an artist or team of artists to be awarded a contract for the on-site commission. Finalists will be required to attend pre-submittal and submittal conferences in Rapid City. The steps in each phase are set forth in the timeline. Each artist or team of artists that is a finalist, regardless of the number of members of the team, will be provided a single ($10,000 plus travel) honorarium upon the timely submittal of the artist’s or team’s complete proposal, including the three-dimensional model or maquette, work plan, and a fully detailed project budget. Evaluation Criteria for Callforentry.org submittals: Artist’s submissions will be evaluated and finalists will be selected on the following criteria: • Artist’s qualifications as demonstrated by past works, references and statement of interest • Quality, strength and artistic merit of past artworks • Evidence of the artists’ willingness to learn in-depth about the area and have a dialogue with interested community members. This dialogue and the understandings that come from it will be integral to the development of the artwork • Experience with work in a public setting • Willingness to work on-site in Rapid City, South Dakota • Demonstrated experience in fabricating and installing permanent artwork of the type requested • References Evaluation Criteria for Semi-Finalist submittals: Semi-finalist submissions will be evaluated and finalists will be selected on all of the above criteria, plus: • Ability to inspire/inform the public about the area • Create a unique work of art for the public • Create a work which communicates/informs about the flora, fauna, geology, cultural and natural history of the South Dakota Badlands, Black Hills and Rapid City Finalists Proposals will be additionally evaluated on the following criteria: Finalist submissions will be evaluated and a recommendation made based upon all of the above criteria, plus • Originality: independent thought and constructive imagination • Artistic merit: imaginative skill in arrangement and artistic expression • Appropriate to site and its environment • Feasibility: capable of being carried out successfully • Durability, maintenance, and appropriateness to the location • Consideration of the high amount of pedestrian and automobile traffic within the area, light (both natural and electric), and the climate when designing the artwork • Although DRC does not endorse a particular style nor does it place restrictions on the artistic content, the project's Artist Selection Panel will consider that the artwork is intended to be viewed and enjoyed by people of all ages and persuasions • Sculpting considerations that allow Main Street Square to function, and to be enjoyable and safe while sculpting is underway • Consideration of Public Safety • Ability to complete the sculpture work within the prescribed budget • Ability to complete the work within artist's recommended schedule How to apply: Online application is required. Please visit: www.callforentry.org for on-line application to this project. Any Questions? Please e-mail project manager Patrick Wyss at Wyss Associates, Inc.: email: admin@wyssassociates.com Timeline: January 11, 2012: Release and advertise RFQ April 17, 2012: Postmark deadline: RFQ Letter of interest May 18, 2012: Semi-finalists announced July 15, 2012: Semi-finalist RFP deadline August 1, 2012: Finalist announced August 22-23, 2012: Pre-submittal conference in Rapid City: required for all project finalists October 31 and November 1, 2012: Project submittal conference in Rapid City: required for all project finalists November 15, 2012: Artist recommendation announced December 15, 2012: Negotiate/execute contract with selected artist. January-April 2013: Project work to begin on site no later than April 1, 2013 Artists are encouraged to research the area. Here are a few suggested links: For information about Main Street Square Rapid City www.mainstreetsquarerc.com www.facebook.com/pages/Main-Street-Square For site plan and detail drawings of the stone and photographs of the stones on site www.thedahl.org/mainstreetsquare.html For Badlands www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm For Black Hills www.blackhillsbadlands.com/ www.travelsd.com/Attractions/Black-Hills-National-Forest For insight on Lakota culture www.lakotajewelry.com/web-docs/theLand.htm www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=53 For Rapid City www.visitrapidcity.com/ For information pertaining to granite supplier: www.coldspringgranite.com

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria