INDIANAPOLIS (September 11, 2013) – An Art Selection Committee has determined six (6) finalists in a unique project to install an African American work of art on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. The topic was discussed at today’s quarterly meeting of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC).
In January 2013, GIPC formed a special Cultural Arts Committee, in partnership with the Arts Council of Indianapolis, to revive the community’s efforts to install an original African American art piece on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. The project will create a unique opportunity for the City of Indianapolis to use public art to reflect the proud history of the African American community in central Indiana. The installation will serve as an iconic symbol integral to the identity of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the neighborhood in which it resides, and downtown Indianapolis.
GIPC appointed Bill Shrewsberry, GIPC Board Member and president of local engineering firm Shrewsberry & Associates, and Arts Council President/CEO Dave Lawrence, as co-chairs of the new effort. After six public forums and months of research, the Cultural Arts Committee issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in May 2013 to secure an artist to create and install a piece of public art. The committee then assembled an Art Selection Committee whose members met in August to review initial submissions. This selection committee included visual art experts, artists, gallerists, historians and community representatives.
“Like the rest of our work to date, we were very encouraged by the participation and the level of professionalism and expertise gathered,” Lawrence said. “We can all be proud of the work of the selection committee.”
The committee reviewed 20 RFP submissions, including artist statements, previous work samples and the proposal for this initiative. Consideration was given to the relevance of the subject matter, artistic excellence of both the artist and proposed work, and the feasibility of the proposed project. The committee ultimately narrowed the field to six finalists. The list includes diverse art styles and subject matter from a broad range of artists from across the country.
The Arts Council has notified finalists, who will each receive a $1,000 stipend and begin work on the maquette (scale model) of each proposed project. These maquettes should arrive in Indianapolis by early October. The Cultural Arts Committee is developing a schedule to publicly display models and artist statements later this fall. This groundbreaking process for determining public art will solicit community comments and feedback on each of the proposals. The Art Selection Committee will reconvene by the end of the year to review maquettes, community recommendations and feasibility issues regarding proposed projects. It will then make a final recommendation to the boards of GIPC and the Arts Council.
See finalists’ proposed work and give your input by clicking here.
*One finalist has withdrawn, due to other personal commitments, so there are now five (5) finalists in this public art contest.