The City of Aurora Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) and the On Havana Business Improvement District (Havana BID) announce a call for artists for Art 2C on Havana. Outdoor sculpture will be considered for an exhibition on Havana Street in Aurora, CO, for two years. The exhibit is scheduled to open in October, 2020. Selected artists should anticipate installing their artwork in the first week of October, 2020 and de-installing it in mid-September, 2022.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 29 Mar 2020
On Havana Street and the City of Aurora’s Art in Public Places program are proud to partner to bring the Tenth Annual Art 2C on Havana. This highly successful and anticipated exhibition brings twelve temporary sculptures bi-annually to the business district. The exhibition provides residents and visitors with a unique way to experience the Business District. Public art such as this provides sculptors with opportunities to share their work, gain recognition for the quality of their work, and compete for cash awards.
Eligibility
- Artists must reside in one of the following states: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, or Nebraska
- Exhibit for the full length of the exhibition, approximately two years
- Ready for exhibition
- Fulfill the design and selection criteria
Design and Selection Criteria
- Quality of workmanship
- Three dimensional, freestanding sculpture of any medium suitable for outdoor exhibition
- Artwork must be made from a material appropriate for outdoor exhibition. It must be able to withstand the changing weather conditions of Colorado. These include high summer temperatures (above 100F), low winter temperatures (below 0F), temperatures that can vary more than 40 degrees in a few hours, high winds, hail and significant snowfall.
- Size: minimum 4’ and maximum 14’ in height
- Weight: minimum 100 lbs and maximum 4,000 lbs in weight
- Artwork should not contain sharp objects or edges
- Artwork must be durable, require little to no maintenance, be graffiti resistant, and be prepared for installation
Installation Criteria
- Selected artists should expect to install their artwork by the first week of October, 2020
- Artists must transport, install, and de-install their own artwork. (Assistance and equipment can be provided if requested at the time of acceptance.)
- All sculptures must be attached to a steel plate that will be bolted to a concrete base. Alternative methods must be approved by AIPP and Havana BID staff at the time of acceptance
- AIPP staff must be present when the artwork is installed and de-installed (removed) from the site
Detailed Installation Plan Description
- Title of artwork
- Artist name and contact information for day of installation
- Dimensions of artwork
- Weight of artwork
- Dimensions of connecting plate
- Type and size of bolt required to connect to concrete base
- Equipment required for installation (e.g. crane, drill, hammer)
- Number of people required to install the artwork
Art 2C On Havana Artist Benefits
Exhibiting artists will be paid a $2,500 stipend for the transportation, installation, and de-installation of their artwork.
The Havana BID is providing funds for cash awards in the following amounts:
- 1st Place: $1,250
- 2nd Place: $750
- 3rd Place: $500
Sculptures may be purchased from the Art 2C on Havana exhibition and will be advertised as such. Aurora AIPP may purchase sculpture from the exhibit to be added to the City’s public art collection.
About City of Aurora Art in Public Places
The City of Aurora Art in Public Places program has made it possible for locally and nationally renowned artists to enhance the city’s public spaces with works of art ranging from indoor wall hangings to monumental outdoor sculptures and architecturally integrated works. The collection includes about 300 pieces valued at approximately $4 million, creating cultural landmarks that serve as a cornerstone of the city’s identity.
The Art in Public Places program is governed by a nine-member, Aurora City Council-appointed commission. The mission of the Art in Public Places Commission is to create great places that contribute to neighborhood development, economic vitality, and enrich and engage the community of Aurora.
For more information, contact publicart@auroragov.org.
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The City of Aurora Art In Public Places Program selection panel is seeking to commission an artist for the Iliff Station Roundabout Sculpture. Create a sculptural environment composed of multiple components within this roundabout which is about 70’ in diameter. There is no public access to the roundabout, so the artwork should be designed to be viewed by car or from the various streets surrounding the site. Benches, interactive art, or highly detailed artwork would not be appropriate for this project.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 21 Oct 2019
The artwork should have physical presence and be scaled appropriately for this site. Due to the size of the roundabout, multiple elements working together to create a singular composition would be ideal. It must be designed to be appreciated from all sides. The artwork could be colorful and kinetic. The artwork should not be too shiny or reflective, or in any way create a distraction for drivers.
The elements can be large and massive enough to block direct views across the roundabout. This enables drivers to focus on what is ahead of them, not across or through the roundabout. Thematically, the artwork could embrace a transportation related theme, such as people using various transportation modes literally or abstractly. Transportation modes might represent the diversity of abilities. It could include elements such as walkers, wheelchairs, strollers, canes, bicycles, cars, trains, feet, scooters, motorcycles, skis, sleds, canoes, kayaks, rafts, and airplanes as well as innovative and futuristic options.
The artwork must be constructed from materials that are sufficiently durable to withstand the Colorado climate and altitude. These conditions include extreme temperature changes (over 40 degrees) in just a few hours and subzero temperatures as well as temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, high winds, intense sun, low humidity, and precipitation in the form of rain, hail, sleet, and snow.
Budget: $215,158 (There is a separate budget that the city will use for site preparation and minimal landscaping appropriate to the nature of the sculpture.)
About the City of Aurora
The Iliff Station Roundabout Sculpture will be located in Aurora, CO. Aurora is Colorado’s third largest city, and the safest large city in Colorado, spanning three counties in the eastern Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. The city embraces a highly diverse population of over 350,000 residents who enjoy access to quality education, Colorado’s natural beauty and active lifestyle, and an array of cultural amenities within the context of a vibrant and growing community. Aurora is home to top national employers in aerospace and defense, bioscience, healthcare, and alternative energy.
Situated on prairie grasslands, rolling hills and the northern tip of the Black Forest, Aurora offers a unique quality of life that blends a traditional sense of community with a range of outdoor and leisure activities. Residents enjoy a wealth of opportunities and are proud to call Aurora home.
Aurora Regional Transportation District
Aurora welcomed the light rail in early 2017 with the opening of R-Line as a branch of the public transportation network provided by the Regional Transportation District (RTD.) The R-Line is known for the strong public art at each station which resulted from a robust partnership between the city of Aurora (COA) and RTD. The New York Times magazine listed Aurora as one of the top places to see public art in 2017. Two sculptures adorn the Iliff Station environment, one located at the station, and the other located outside the Iliff Station Parking Garage. In this area, the R-Line follows the path of 1-225, a major highway providing access to Denver International Airport
Opportunities abound for transit-oriented development (TOD) along the R- line, especially around each station. The area around the Iliff Station has seen rapid transformation with the addition of contemporary high-density apartment living and mixed-use development in an area better known for single family housing on good sized lots and age-restricted retirement communities. These three and four-story apartment complexes in a pedestrian friendly environment are designed to meet the needs of the young professionals attracted to the employment opportunities and active life-style of this growing community.
In addition to the city’s 1% for Art Ordinance, Aurora has an ordinance requiring art within transit-oriented-development districts. New apartments just north of the station are already home to a highly visible ceramic mural entitled “Double Dip.” The Iliff Station Roundabout Sculpture will be located just south of the parking garage. The addition of sculpture on this roundabout will help to establish this area as a new public art hub within a community where the arts are thriving.
About the Art In Public Places Program
Aurora’s Art in Public Places Program enhances the quality of life in Aurora as high-quality neighborhoods and public spaces are developed and maintained. Locally and nationally renowned artists have created 240 individual pieces to enhance the city’s public spaces with works of art ranging from outdoor sculptures and murals to functional works integrated into the architecture. The program is funded from a city ordinance requiring the dedication of 1 percent of the funds used to build city of Aurora construction and remodeling projects with budgets of $100,000 or more. Grants and fundraising efforts also fund city public art projects.
The Art in Public Places Program is governed by the nine-member Aurora City Council-appointed Art in Public Places Commission. The commission is responsible for making recommendations to the city council regarding the public art program, including project budget allocation, strategic planning, development of policies and procedures,and approval of artwork to be commissioned or purchased.
For more information, contact rbloom@auroragov.org.