Orono Public Art Competition Seeks Proposals

The Maine Arts Commission is making an International call to any artist to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Stewart New Media Center/Art Complex at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA. The total project budget is $10,000 and the submission deadline is 3:00 pm, Thursday, November 15, 2012.

An independent selection committee of five members will jury submissions for the project. The committee will review the materials to determine whom to invite for a second round of evaluation. Artists selected for the second round will receive a $500 design fee for refining their proposals. Final proposals will include detailed models, drawings, renderings, samples of work and/or materials depending on the nature of the proposal. All finalists will present their final proposals to the committee in person. Please do not submit detailed models, drawings, samples, or final proposals for the first round of the selection process.

All professional artists internationally may apply for consideration to this project. Artists who are employees of the University of Maine are ineligible for Percent for Art projects at the location where they are employed, as are members of the selection committee and their immediate families. Students at any level are ineligible. The project is open to all artists age 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical disabilities. Artist teams are eligible to apply, including teams of artists from multiple disciplines.

All questions should be directed to the Maine Arts Commission through e-mail at donna.mcneil@maine.gov, or via the phone at 207/287-2726. The full prospectus is available in the Percent for Art section of MaineArts.com, or you can access it through the iFrame below:

Public Art Unveiled at USM

Mark Wethli, Painter, Sculptor and Bowdoin College professor was celebrated Friday by a standing room only crowd at the Muskie Center on the USM campus in Portland. Wethli has just unveiled his large installation Civitas in the forum of the Wishcamper Center. The sculpture is a distillation of Lorenzetti’s “the Effects of Good Government” a fresco in the city hall of Sienna, Italy. The sculpture is indeed an “effect of good government” -- one of the many pieces of public art, including Wethli’s Civitas companion piece Locus in the entry of the Glickman Library, installed throughout the state of Maine through the Percent for Art program administered by the Maine Arts Commission.
Here are Mark Wethli’s remarks at the event:

...I’m honored to be here today, and more than honored that the University of Southern Maine has commissioned me to add not one but two works of public art to its campus; the one we see here in the Nichol Forum of the Wishcamper Center, and it’s companion piece, Locus, located next door at the Osher Map Library.

Long before I moved to Maine in 1985, the name and reputation of Edmund Muskie were among my earliest impressions of the Pine Tree State. The values reflected in Ed Muskie’s character and distinguished record of public service as Maine’s Governor, a US Senator, and Secretary of State are embodied in this building and its programs. One of my chief ambitions for this piece was to make it a worthy reflection of the values he stood for and the mission of the Muskie School of Public Service. I’m honored to have my work associated with his legacy.

Likewise, the Osher Map Library is an incredible gift to the people of Maine, and the world, a treasure trove for researchers, the general public, and not least of all, map lovers such as me. It is truly one of the gems of Maine’s intellectual and cultural life. My goal for Locus was to likewise create a public artwork that would honor this extraordinary archive.
_________

When the artist Mark Rothko was asked why there weren’t any figures in his paintings--just large fields of color—he answered by saying that you’re the figure. Long before I heard it put that way, I had the same ambition for my own work. As a public artist I want my work to set the stage for the life going on around it, to create a dynamic visual field in which people can engage their own thoughts and impressions, their lives, and one another. I hope to make visitors here more aware of the space around them and their place within it, of the meaning and purpose of being here, of what brought them here, of what they hope to achieve here, and to return that experience to the world at large.

Both Civitas and Locus greet us as we arrive, and each of them is hard to miss when we walk through the door. Like the homes and storefronts we walk by on a daily basis, I designed each of them to be a part of the landscape of their environment; to provide a lively backdrop to the
activities going on around them.

My ambition for each of these pieces is to create a space that actively places every viewer in the foreground of the events and activities that happen here.
__________

Having two works of public art in such close proximity to one another also gave me a unique opportunity to relate them in some way. While each piece speaks to the unique nature and purpose of its site, they likewise share certain formal similarities that bear comparison. The basic design of Civitas also appears in Locus, but refigured from a low-relief, three-dimensional construction to lines on a two-dimensional surface.

Locus’s abstract language—a network of lines reminiscent of roadways, air and sea routes, lines of latitude and longitude, and GPS satellite connections, superimposed on the silhouette of Buckminster Fuller’s innovative Dymaxion map (which also appears on the façade of the
Osher Library building)—is meant to pay homage to the history and language of cartography.

The formal language of Civitas—a dance of architecturally inspired forms that are meant to suggest both conflict and harmony—is meant to evoke the ideal process of civic life, community building, and the common good.

Just as map-making renders the three-dimensional world in two dimensions and public policy projects abstract principles into real life, so do Locus and Civitas represent and symbolize these processes through their structure and design.

Percent for Art Competition for University of Maine Fort Kent

The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in Maine, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at Powell Hall, University of Maine Fort Kent. The total project budget is approximately $10,000 and the submission deadline is February 15, 2012.

The university is a small rural campus that offers baccalaureate and associate degrees in professional and liberal arts programs. The university takes great pride as an experiential campus that provides students with the opportunity to participate in a variety of hands on educational experiences. These can be as simple as community service, to endeavors that are as challenging as conducting original research and participating in internships. The university maintains a goal of providing students with the discovery and exploration of knowledge that in turn allows them to make larger connections to world experiences.

The Percent for Art selection committee for Powell Hall are suggesting a focus on “Greening and Sustainability” and “Experiential Learning.” Although the history of the Franco American/Acadian culture is a valued aspect of the university’s identity, the selection committee is looking for a contemporary concept that also references the nature of the direction of progressive learning and sustainable building practices.

If you have questions about the architectural elements, the architect representative for this project is John Charette, Port City Architects who can be contacted via e-mail at: john@portcityarch.com Architectural renderings and site plans of the proposed locations of all the listed sites can be found using the links provided below.

All other questions should be directed to Greg Parker, Public Art Contractor at the Maine Arts Commission through e-mail at mainepfa@gmail.com, or via the phone at 207/557-2563.

There are several proposed locations for the installation of artwork and these can be seen in photos, or through site plans.

The full prospectus can be found on MaineArts.com.

Dover-Foxcroft Percent for Art Competition

The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in Maine to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Piscataquis County Courthouse in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The total project budget is $13,890 and the submission deadline is 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

The Percent for Art law in Maine reserves one percent of the construction funds for all state-funded building projects to provide artwork for the public areas of these buildings and /or their exterior renovations and additions.

Dover-Foxcroft is the shire town, or county seat, of Piscataquis County, as well as its largest town. Originally separated by the Piscataquis River, the two towns of Dover and Foxcroft were merged in 1922 to form Dover-Foxcroft.

Within Dover-Foxcroft are the District Court and Superior Court of Piscataquis County; they are located in adjacent buildings. The original building, site of the Superior Court, is undergoing renovations. The area under consideration for artwork is part of an addition and complete renovation of the court’s space.

The Percent for Art selection committee is seeking artists to submit proposals that are appropriate both for the court and the people it serves in the community. Although you are invited to do so, no specific theme or narrative of the town or region's history, geography or other references is necessary.

A Percent for Art selection committee of three members will jury submissions for the project. They will review the materials to determine whom to invite for a second round of evaluation. Artists selected for the second round will receive a $1,000 design fee for refining their proposals. Final proposals will include detailed models, drawings, renderings, samples of work and/or materials depending on the nature of the proposal. All finalists will present their final proposals to the committee in person. Artists are asked not to submit detailed models, drawings, samples, or final proposals for the first round of the selection process.

All professional artists who work in Maine may apply for consideration to this project. Artists who are employees of the Maine courts are ineligible for Percent for Art projects at the location where they are employed, as are members of the selection committee and their immediate families. Students at any level are ineligible. The project is open to all artists age 18 and over, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical disabilities. Artist teams are eligible to apply, including teams of artists from multiple disciplines. Contact Greg Parker, Public Art Contractor, with questions through e-mail at mainepfa@gmail.com, or via the phone at 207/557-2563.

The full prospectus is on MaineArts.com.

Percent for Art Informational Session at River Arts

Joe Kievitt
Untitled (detail), 2009
The Collins Center, University of Maine-Orono

If you have ever wondered what the Percent for Art program is, or how you can apply for these public art calls, then you should join Greg Parker, Public Art Coordinator for the Maine Arts Commission, as he provides an informational session on the process at River Arts, in Damariscotta, on February 9.

This event, which begins at 6:00pm, is free and open to the public, but organizers at River Arts ask that you call and make a reservation to allow them to prepare.

Several projects around the state require the hiring of artists to design, create and install art such as new school buildings. This informational session is open to all artists or groups of artists who would like to learn first-hand about these interesting and high profile projects.

Maine’s Percent for Art program sponsors public art for state buildings. The artwork commissioned through this program has taken many forms. Traditional representative sculpture, abstract wall-mounted works, projects that integrate artwork throughout the building in a holistic manner, mobiles, earthwork and new media are just a few of the categories that have been commissioned. An archive of the collection can be viewed through the Percent for Art Directory and current calls to artists can be accessed through the Opportunities Directory.

At this time, the Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, with a preference given to Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the New Jefferson Village School. The total project budget is $50,000 and the submission deadline is Wednesday, February 16, 2011; click here for details.

Please make reservations for this presentation by email: info@riverartsme.org
or phone 207-563-1507 . This presentation is free and open to the public.

Jefferson Village School Percent for Art Offers $43,500

The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, with a preference given to Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the New Jefferson Village School. The total project budget is $50,000 and the submission deadline is Wednesday, February 16, 2011.

Jefferson Village School is a K-8 grade facility that is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011.

Jefferson is a rural town in Lincoln County, incorporated on February 24, 1807, when Thomas Jefferson was President. It is located in central Maine about half way between the state capital of Augusta and the Midcoast area. The region is steeped in natural beauty with rolling hills, verdant forests, streams, rivers, ponds and open ridges. One of the most striking features is that it sits on the north shore of Damariscotta Lake. It is a 14-mile lake that enjoys a broad range of recreational activities.

It is the opinion of the selection committee that the artwork for the new school should be consistent with the setting, but it is not looking for work that necessarily reflects a narrative about the area’s natural features or history. The committee believes the school will lead the community into the future and would like submissions to be completely open in content to reflect that vision.

Listed below are all possible locations for artwork. Artists may address any or all of these areas in their proposals.

Interior Spaces:
In the main lobby:
West wall above borrowed light in main office; north wall below balcony, or the two-story area that is available for suspension of work.

In the library: East wall above circulation desk, or the two-story area that is available for suspension of work.
Exterior Spaces
Green spaces on either side of the main entry or the covered area under the front entry.
Project Budget
There is approximately $43,500 in Percent for Art funds available for this project. These funds will be used to commission work(s) from a single artist, more than one artist or an artist team. An artist budget proposal must cover all design, fabrication, transportation, documentation and installation expenses, including any building or site modifications associated with the artwork.
Full details can be found in the Percent for Art Section of MaineArts.com.

Percent for Art at Hampden Academy Offers $43,500

The commissioning of public art brings a community together in a unique way. The selection process for the artwork fosters discussions that explore the collective visions of what a given community represents. Often, when in a school setting, this vision remains in the form of permanent artwork that becomes the focal point of discussions for students who interact with it throughout their time at any given school.

With this in mind, the Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York, with a preference for Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the new Hampden Academy, a 9-12 high school located in Hampden, Maine. The total project budget is $43,500 and the submission deadline is January 19, 2011.

Hampden Academy will be moving into its new facility in the fall of 2012. The existing National Historic Landmark building, the original Academy built in 1843, will be preserved for future use. Hampden, Winterport, and Newburgh, the three towns that comprise the school district, have been enormously supportive of the new school project. They have generously supported a referendum to provide $6.2 million in local funds for a state of the art performing arts center and a larger gymnasium. Citizens are also raising private funds to commission a life-size bronze sculpture of the school mascot, "the Bronco," by sculptor Forest Hart.
There are several areas that have been identified as potential sites for artwork. All areas of the main lobby and dining room floors may be addressed. The plans for this area are to have ceramic tile, but artists would be able to incorporate flush tile or other material elements into the existing plans. Other internal areas include the library skylight, exterior windows, grand stairs and wall spaces.

Exterior spaces include the 3-story brick wall facing the sports field, to the left of the windows of the multi-purpose room; the metal wall facing the sports field end of the fly tower, and two stair towers on the southern elevation.

The full prospectus, including all images and floor plans, can be found on the Maine Arts Commission’s Website, MaineArts.com.

Percent for Art Competition at Chelsea Elementary School Offers $43,500

Public Art has an incredible impact within a community and none more so than within a school setting; here it becomes a part of the educational experience of every student who interacts with it daily throughout their time at any given school.

With this in mind, the Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in New England, with a preference for Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Chelsea Elementary School Percent for Art site in Chelsea, Maine. The total project budget is $43,500 and the submission deadline is January 10, 2011.

The Town of Chelsea is located in central Maine near the state capital of Augusta. It is a rural community steeped in a history of farming and agriculture with a traditional Maine ambiance centered on its natural surroundings. The new school is envisioned as a central point of its aspirations for the future. As well as being an elementary school, it will also serve as a community center and gathering place to serve the region as a multi-purpose facility.

There are several areas within the school that artists may address in their proposals. The interior offers the front hallway/entrance/atrium, the cafeteria, the Second floor entrance over the gymnasium, or the library's central soffit along the ceiling, side soffits and windows.

Proposals for the exterior could include three grassy areas near the front entrance, the library side area, or the cafeteria area in front of the exterior windows.
There is approximately $43,500 in Percent for Art funds available for this project. These funds will be used to commission work(s) from a single artist more than one or an artist team. An artist budget proposal must cover all design, fabrication, transportation, documentation and installation expenses, including any building or site modifications associated with the artwork.

The full prospectus, including all images and floor plans, can be found on the Maine Arts Commission's website, MaineArts.com.

Wade Kavanaugh Artist Talk Invitation

The Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Department of Conservation invite you to an artist talk by Wade Kavanaugh on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts in Dover-Foxcroft.

The event is free and open to the public.

Wade Kavanaugh is currently creating site specific sculptures at Peaks Kenny State Park in Dover Foxcroft. His commission was administered through the Percent for Art program for the Department of Conservation. The Maine voters authorized a Maine State Park capital investment program through a ballot in November 2007, resulting in showers, group shelters, playgrounds, and other investments at Peaks Kenny and other Maine State Parks.

Center Theatre for the Performing Arts
20 Maine Street
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426
207-564-8943
www.centertheatre.org

For more information please contact Alison Ferris, assistant director at the Maine Arts Commission at 207/287-2710 or alison.ferris@maine.gov.

Submissions Sought for $50,000 Ridgeview Percent for Art Competition in Dexter

The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in the United States, with a preference for Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Ridge View Community School-Percent for Art site in Dexter. The project has an approximate budget of $50,000 and a deadline for submissions of June 14, 2010.

Areas that are under consideration for this competition are a corridor from the school’s main entrance to the music,art and gym area; the Media Room/Library; and a grassy area to the right of the entryway that follows the same length of the interior corridor area.

Full details are available on MaineArts.com.

Two New Percent for Art Competitions Offer $50,000 Each

The Maine Arts Commission is seeking applications for two new Percent for Art competitions; one is in Ellsworth and the other Falmouth.

For the Ellsworth competition, the agency is making a call to all artists living in Maine or those who have strong personal and professional ties to the state. Artists are invited to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School. The total project budget is $50,000 and the submission deadline is May 20, 2010.
The art selection committee for the Ellsworth site is looking for art that focuses more on the future of the school, both in terms of the changing city, and the dynamic and modern architectural features that the new school provides. Areas that are under consideration for this call are the main entrance corridor, the library and the main entrance itself. Full details of this call are available in the Percent for Art section of MaineArts.com.

For the Falmouth competition, the Maine Arts Commission is making a call to all artists living in North America to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Falmouth Elementary School Percent for Art site. The total project budget is $50,000 and the submission deadline is June 1, 2010.
The Committee is looking for art proposals that are appropriate for Pre-K-5th grade students but also challenges them by providing another educational experience as they progress through their development at the school. The piece(s) should also have relevance to staff, parents and the community at large. Although the community is proud of its historic past, the selection committee requests artists to propose projects that look toward to its future and reflects the modern design of the new building, addressing the unique architectural features of the building.
Areas that are being considered for this call are the entry atrium, which has two large walls on either side, or the green roof feature between an outdoor botanical classroom and large windows that look into the atrium. Full details of this call are available in the Percent for Art section of MaineArts.com.

Two New Percent for Art Competitions Offer $44,000

The Maine Arts Commission is currently making a call to artists living in the United States, with a preference given to Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at both the Durham Community School, Percent for Art site, and the Gorham Elementary School, Percent for Art site.

Both of these new school projects have a budget of $44,000. The Durham school deadline for submission is April 16, 2010, while the deadline for the Gorham Elementary School competition is April 23, 2010.

Full details of these competitions, with floor plans and images, can be found in the Percent for Art Directory on MaineArts.com.

Janet Redfield’s Percent for Art Project Makes News

The Percent for Art program made news this week in Belfast as Lincolnville artist Janet Redfield had her work installed at the Hutchinson Center.

Both Channel 2 and Channel 5 covered this story this week and featured interviews with both Janet and Hutchinson Center Director Sue McCullough.

Click the station names above to see these interviews.

Artwork depicted is from a previous Percent for Art project by Janet Redfield titled The Wave.

Maine Arts Commission Seeks Proposals for Peaks-Kenny State Park $20,000 Art Competition

The Maine Arts Commission is seeking proposals for a Percent for Art project at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The project, which gives preference to Maine artists, has a budget of $20,000 and a submissions deadline of January 29, 2010.

The art selection committee overseeing the process is interested in commissioning art that deeply responds to, rather than competes with, the park’s natural environment. In addition, the committee would like the art to enhance or heighten visitors’ experience of the park’s natural surroundings.

The committee is open to all art forms and all media with the exception of two-dimensional work; there is no facility at the park in which this artwork can be installed or exhibited. The art can be sited anywhere in the park, as long as it is sensitive to the environment and to the manner in which visitors use the park.



Visit MaineArts.com for full details of this competition, or contact Alison Ferris at Alison.Ferris@maine.gov,207/287-2710.

Those interested in all Percent for Art competitions available through the Maine Arts Commission should visit and bookmark the Percent for Art section of MaineArts.com.

Photos courtesy of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands who are celebrating 75 years of Maine State Parks in 2010.

Art Competition at USM in Portland Offers $50,000

The Maine Arts Commission is making an open call to all artists to submit proposals to design, create, and install artwork at the University Commons, University of Southern Maine, Portland. Total project budget is $50,000; submissions deadline is January 4, 2010.

The Percent for Art University Commons competition asks applicants to consider addressing one of three opportunities for the placement of art: The first option is the possibility of an exterior sculpture situated between the two buildings addressed in this call: the Osher Map Library / Glickman Library and the Muskie School/Wishcamper Center.

The second option is an interior piece within the “Forum” at the Muskie School/Wishcamper Center. The third option is also an interior placement within the “Library Arcade.”

One or two artists or artist teams will be selected for the commission. The selection committee is interested in proposals that relate to the University’s interaction with the Portland community at large and its role in the state university system. Applicants should also consider that the work should be welcoming to the neighborhood, visitors, student population and community at large. Works of art that are too literal or predictable will not be favored.

The full prospectus is available on the webpages of MaineArts.com, where you will find two more similar competitions open to Maine artists. Interested parties with questions should contact Alison Ferris by email at alison.ferris@maine.gov.

Full plans are available by clicking the image below:

Two new Percent for Art Competitions Offer $77,000

There are two new Percent for Art Competitions now open to artists in Maine. These two competitions, at Aubert Hall, University of Maine, Orono, and Brewer Elementary/Middle School, share a December 18 deadline.

Artists who are interested in applying should review the competition details on MaineArts.com. You can download the entire Brewer prospectus with floor plans and images from the Maine Arts Commission’s Box.net account.

Those with questions about these, or any of the Maine Arts Commission's Percent for Arts competitions, should contact Alison Ferris at alison.ferris@maine.gov, or 207/287-2710.

Percent for Art Calls Offer $147,500 to Maine Artists

The Maine Arts Commission currently has five Percent for Art competitions open to Maine artists. These five competitions offer a combined total of $147,500 to commission work for various sites around the state.
For full details of these competitions, visit MaineArts.com and click on the links for each site.
Please share these opportunities with your friends.

WABI TV 5 News Highlights Maine Public Artist

Through Maine's Percent for Art program, overseen by the Maine Arts Commission, Portland artist Joe Kievitt was selected to install his vision at the Collins Center in Orono.


Images: Examples of work by Joe Keivitt.

You can watch a brief video that highlights the installation process on Channel 5's Website. It also includes a discussion with the director of the Collins Center, John Patches.

Art Competition Offers $44,000 for Westbrook Middle School Project

The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to artists from the international community, with a preference for Maine artists, to submit proposals to design, create and install art work at the Westbrook Middle School. The project has a budget of $44,000 and a submission deadline of September 7, 2009.

The new school is located on the site of a former 18th century house where an archeological dig was conducted. The historical nature of the site is of great importance and will be incorporated into the school curriculum.

In direct contrast to this history the new school incorporates very modern geo-thermal heating and cooling systems; it also boasts light harvesting features and innovative green technology. Furthermore, the school has invested in sophisticated computer technology including a large flat screen monitor installed in the atrium.

The Percent for Art committee is seeking a single artist or artist team to create artwork that reflects the historical, social, and environmental values of the project. The available locations for the work(s) are a two-story atrium that is the central corridor of the building and the exterior/interior areas of both the auditorium and main entrances. The atrium space is the area where all students and visitor pass to reach all areas of the building. There is abundant natural light that could be an active element in the artwork. Suspended artworks will be considered. A large, flat screen monitor in this space may be used by the artist(s) for multi-media art.
Full details of this competition, including application guideline, are available on MaineArts.com.

Grant Writing Workshop At the Center for Maine Contemporary Art

Continuing the theme of education, CMCA are continuing their series of workshops for artists by offering a grant writing workshop in their Main Gallery, 7 - 8:30 pm on July 23.
Kathy Ann Shaw, who oversees the Maine Arts Commission’s grant programs, will be on a panel that includes Kathleen Mundell, director of Cultural Resources, and artist Barbara Sullivan, who has received grants from the Maine Arts Commission, the Gottlieb Foundation, and the Pollack-Krasner Foundation

Topics include grant-writing for artists, Individual grants, the Maine Arts Commission’s Percent for Art program, writing grant narratives, budgets, resources, and more. For details of this workshop and the rest of the series, visit the CMCA website.