ART IN STATE BUILDINGS PROGRAM
Forensic Lab & Department of Public Safety | Waterbury, Vermont
Introduction
The Vermont Arts Council (Council) in association with the Vermont Department of Buildings & General Services (BGS) announces a search for a Vermont artist or artist team to oversee design, fabrication, and installation of aesthetic enhancements to the Forensics Lab and the Department of Public Safety Facility in Waterbury, Vermont as part of renovations and an addition to the existing building. The individual(s) must be able to engage with the community and work in partnership with the Vermont Department of Buildings & General Services, the architects for the project and representatives from the departments occupying the facility. The artist(s) will conceptualize and identify appropriate aesthetic treatments for proposed project elements. The “Lead Artist” will be responsible for the overall design, planning, and implementation.
Location
The State of Vermont has created a new addition to the existing Vermont Public Safety building. The new 34,000 square foot addition consisting of a 2 story, state of the art, forensics crime lab.
The Department of Public Safety is Vermont’s largest law enforcement agency. The Department’s statutory purpose is to promote the detection and prevention of crime, to participate in searches for lost and missing persons, and to assist in cases of statewide or local disasters or emergencies. In order to carry out this purpose the Department is organized into four divisions, the Vermont State Police, Vermont Emergency Management, Criminal Justice Services, and Fire Safety. The Vermont Forensic Laboratory is part of the Criminal Justice Services division and offers Vermonters many of the evidentiary examinations required for the administration of justice. More information about the history of the Forensics lab can be found at http://www.dps.state.vt.us/cjs/vfl/history.htm
Waterbury, VT is located in the northwest corner of Washington County. The Winooski River valley, Green Mountains, and rolling hills offer spectacular year round views. Waterbury Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district and contains an impressive collection of historically and architecturally distinctive structures. Waterbury is home to over 1,700 residents. More information about Waterbury can be found at http://www.waterburyvt.com/history/index.php
The Council, in consultation with BGS has identified a Project Review Committee (Committee) which consists of representation from BGS, the Architect, the building occupants and the local community. (The Vermont Arts Council will participate as a non-voting facilitator.) The Committee will be responsible for overseeing the selection of artists in a multi-step process:
- Step 1: Artists submit their qualifications for consideration. The Committee meets to review the submissions and selects 3-5 Artist Finalists for consideration.
- Step 2: Artist Finalists will have a project orientation and site visit. They will then be asked to begin to develop ideas for possible aesthetic treatments.
- Step 3: The Committee will conduct interviews with the 3-5 Artist Finalists and will select one to be the Lead Artist for the project.
- Step 4: Once the Lead Artist is selected he/she will be asked to present preliminary design ideas to the Committee and the community for their input. The Lead Artist will work to create a fully developed proposal with specific designs, materials, and costs (budget) to be presented to the Committee for revisions and approval. The Committee will then forward the final design proposal to a Legislative Advisory Committee for their approval before fabrication can begin.
The Architecture firm for the project is Scott & Partners, Inc. of Essex Junction, Vermont. There is an anticipated completion date of September, 2010 for the Forensics Lab. However, constructions and renovations to the Public Safety facility will continue through the fall of 2011. There are a variety of locations, both in the interior and exterior spaces that provide opportunities for artwork to be installed.
The Committee has reviewed the site and identified the following public areas as especially suitable for public art: (Listed in order of most visible to general public.)
- Exterior grounds near to or leading up to the new main entrance to the building.
- Entrance Lobby – Open to the public. Possibility for small wall hung pieces.
- Interior Lobby – Visible from the Entrance Lobby. Restricted access. Possibility for large wall hung piece.
- Conference Room – Restricted Access. One very large wall.
- Training Room – Restricted Access
Other public spaces will also be given consideration by the Committee.
When considering artistic enhancements to the building, the Committee hopes that the proposed artwork will address one or more of the following qualities & characteristics:
Reflecting a spirit of community and cooperation.
- Bring the community together by connecting those working on campus with those living in the community.
- A place where people can feel a sense of calm in a sometimes stressful environment.
- Honors the history of the four divisions that occupy the building (State Police, Emergency Management, Criminal Justice Services and Fire Safety).
- Connects to possible themes related to the use of the building - i.e. science, public safety, etc.
- Creates a positive image of and engaging respect for law enforcement services.
The selected “Lead Artist” will be awarded a $5,000 planning and design contract. Under a planning and design contract, the lead artist will be responsible for working with the Architect, the Committee and the community to identify specific areas that would be appropriate for aesthetic treatments and to design artistic enhancements for those sites. $42,000 will be available for the fabrication and installation of identified aesthetic treatments.
The Committee will make its selection of the Vermont artist based upon the following criteria:
- High Artistic Quality of past work;
- Experience and ability to work and collaborate with design professionals, engineers, community leaders, and artists;
- Ability to communicate effectively;
- Ability to attend frequent project meetings;
- Ability to collaborate and work within a team context;
- Willingness to become familiar with the community;
- Ability to access appropriate resources when necessary.
- Ability to research client need and propose an appropriate design
Once selected, the Artist must design & create artwork that :
- is of high artistic quality;
- is appropriate to the project site;
- is of durable design and uses durable materials;
- requires minimal maintenance
- provides maximum resistance to vandalism;
- reflects one or more of the qualities and characteristics identified by the Committee
Visual artists, crafts or design artists, (or artist teams) in all media, including landscape architects and interior designers, who are at least 18 years of age and legal residents of Vermont are eligible to apply. Arts Council Staff and Trustees, Department of Buildings & General Services Staff, Project Review Committee members and their family members are not eligible to apply. The Council does not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, place of birth, age, disability, sexual orientation, HIV test results, or marital status. (If selected as a Finalist, proof of Vermont residency may be required. In addition, artists must be in good standing with regard to taxes and child support payments, as well as have appropriate auto and business insurance.)
(The following is an estimated timeline)
- September 17, 2010: Deadline for Artist Online Submissions
- October 2010: Committee meets to review submissions - Artist Finalists selected and given project orientation/site visit.
- February 2011: Artist Finalist Interviews conducted
- February 2011 “Lead Artist” identified and under contract.
- May 2011: Community presentation of artist design ideas.
- June/July 2011: Designs finalized and approved by The Project Review Committee & Legislative Advisory Committee
- August: Fabrication of Artwork begins
All materials must be submitted electronically. There is no submission fee. You will be asked to submit the following:
9 Digital Images – You must submit a minimum of 9 images of completed work to be considered for this project. You may also submit video to illustrate, for example, movement in kinetic sculpture.
Statement of Interest – You will be asked to respond to the following statement in your application: Describe your interest in the Waterbury Public Safety and Forensic Lab project and your qualifications for undertaking such a project. Be sure to address the selection criteria. (maximum 5000 characters)
Résumé – Submit a current résumé of no more than two pages that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist.
To submit your qualifications please go to vac.slideroom.com.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 17th, 2010.
If you have questions about the program or would like more information on the project and the selection process please contact:
Sonia Rae, Artist and Community Services Manager
802-828-5425
srae@vermontartscouncil.org