Colorado Creative Industries seeks to acquire public art through direct purchase of an existing artwork – an original artwork that has already been completed – for Lamar Community College’s renovated Bowman Library. Funding for this project is provided by the state of Colorado’s Art in Public Places Program. This opportunity is open to Colorado artists only. 

ABOUT LAMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Founded in 1937, Lamar Community College (LCC) is a learner-centered, open enrollment, two-year post-secondary institution. Located on the golden plains of southeastern Colorado, Lamar Community College is focused on the educational needs of Prowers, Baca, Kiowa, and Cheyenne Counties as well as students who come to LCC from across the state, the country, and the world. LCC is committed to providing its more than 1,000 students with academic programs that qualify students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, educational offerings that meet the occupational needs of students in career and technical fields, instructional and support strategies that enable students to begin classes at any stage of academic preparation, opportunities for perpetual learning and lifelong development.

ABOUT THE BOWMAN LIBRARY & RENOVATION PROJECT

The Bowman Library is the academic hub of Lamar Community College’s campus. The project will renovate approximately 7,400 square feet of the building. In addition to the improvements to the library, several underutilized classroom spaces will be modified to serve as flexible classroom/study hall spaces and a tutoring lab and lounge; these spaces will be used heavily by the college’s student athlete population. The building’s corridors will be widened, and high windows will be added to bring natural light from the exterior to the interior spaces. The project will add forward-thinking technology and flexibility to the space, allowing various rooms to be adaptable to shifting needs in schedules and activities.  These renovations will support the academic and social needs of the student population, while creating a sense of inclusivity for the larger Lamar community. The renovation will also add transparency and a sense of welcoming to the library space, opening it up with a larger entrance and glass at the entryway.

 The building backs up to the Willow Creek Trail and this natural landscape is visible from the windows in the library. This trail’s treed landscape provides home to many birds and is used for recreation and birdwatching.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ART

Lamar Community College is looking to acquire a ceiling-hung artwork for display in the newly renovated Bowman Library. The location that has been selected for an artwork is a centrally located niche in the ceiling of the library. This location will allow the artwork to be visible through all areas of the library, as well as from the hallways outside the library as visitors or building users approach the entrance. The committee is open to artworks of various media, as long as the artwork can be hung from the ceiling and hang down from the niche.

 The committee would like to see an artwork that embraces the building’s location next to Willow Creek and emphasizes the building’s goal to “bring the outside in.” Artists should submit artwork with nature as a subject matter, whether that be flora, fauna, or other natural elements, such as water, etc; the thematic connection can be realistic or abstract.

 Submitted artworks should consider the spatial requirements of the ceiling location. It is anticipated that the planned ceiling niche is approximately an area of 7’-0” x 7’0” with a height of 10’-10” above finished floor; these dimensions will be finalized as the construction project progresses. Artists should provide the weight of submitted artwork.

The full RFI with images of the existing and proposed library space, as well as the artwork location, can be viewed here.

 The Art Selection Committee will consider the following when reviewing the artwork submissions:

• Thematic relevance
• Artistic excellence
• Size and weight, material, form and content
• Appropriateness of scale
• Ease of maintenance, minimal and low-cost maintenance

COLORADO ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM

All works of art purchased pursuant to this request are owned by the State of Colorado via Lamar Community College. De-accession of the public art, if necessary, will follow the policies and procedures established by the Colorado Creative Industries.

BUDGET

The budget for this purchase is $11,250. Artworks below, or up to, the budget of $11,250 will be considered for purchase.  Any artworks with a listed price of more than $11,250 will be ineligible and will not be considered by the selection committee. Artist is required to deliver the artwork to the campus in Lamar, Colorado – please account for this delivery requirement when listing the cost of the artwork in the application. Price should also account for required hardware or anything necessary to hang the piece.

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The Art Selection Committee will review all complete and eligible submittals of artworks in consideration for acquisition of artwork for the building.  The projected schedule is as follows:

 January 18, 2023, 11:59 pm - Deadline for receipt of applications via CaFÉ™ system

February – Selection panel meets to select artwork for purchase

February or March - Notification of purchase selections

 QUESTIONS

For more information or clarification, please contact Ruth Wilson, Public Art Program Manager, Colorado Creative Industries at 303.880.6671 or ruth.wilson@state.co.us .

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

https://lamarcc.edu/about-lcc/

https://lamarcc.edu/academics/library/about-the-library/

https://thegreathighprairie.com/the-willow-creek-nature-trail/

The full RFI, with images for reference, is available here.

Application Requirements

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications for this project are being accepted through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org). No hard copy submissions will be accepted. The applicant will be asked to submit digital images of available artwork (see below for more information), a resume, and a statement of interest. There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system.

Digital Images. To be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit digital images of available artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists may submit multiple images of the same artwork within the same application, to show various details. A minimum of 1 image and a maximum of 3 of the same artwork is required per application; if possible, please include images that show the artwork in context, as well as relevant detail images or those that demonstrate how it can be hung.

 Artists may submit up to 3 available artworks for consideration. Each artwork must be submitted as its own application and artists will be limited to a maximum of three applications.

Instructions on how to use CaFÉ™ and format images can be found at www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303­629­1166, 1­888­562­7232 or e­mail cafe@westaf.org.

 Resume: Submit a current résumé that outlines professional accomplishments as an artist.

 Statement of Interest: A statement of interest in 250 words or less must be submitted via CaFÉ™.  It should briefly outline the artist’s interest and/or information on the available artwork if explanation is relevant. Statement can also address how submitted artwork relate to the thematic specifications of this opportunity.

Eligibility Criteria

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.