Texas A&M University Announces Competition to Commission Public Art Installations for The Instructional Laboratory + Innovative Learning Building (ILSQ)

Texas A&M University announces an open competition for professional artists or artist teams to commission three site-specific public art installations in and around The Instructional Laboratory + Innovative Learning Building.

The Instructional Laboratory + Innovative Learning Building (ILSQ) uniquely fosters the university’s mission to discover, develop, communicate, and apply knowledge.
Redefining the center of campus and welcoming everyone, this collaborative multidisciplinary environment is seeking three art installations to represent the “convergence of chemistry and architecture” that supports desired student learning outcomes.

The three categories for submission are: 1. Suspended 2. Outside 3. Interior Wall

Installation for all three projects is projected for October 2022.

Interested artists and artist teams can enter the competition for any or all of the categories. Artists and artists teams are asked to submit their entries with a résumé and their concepts by the DATE deadline.

Goals:

  • Represent the journey of discovery
  • Be dynamic and have a ‘wow” factor
  • Showcase how chemistry influences all materiality
  • Create a conversation
  • Demonstrate how life is a series of chemical reactions
  • Draw people into the building
  • Have layers of depth
  • Not be literal but provide recognizable elements

    •  

    COMPETITION TIMELINE

    Accepting Entries: Deadline DATE

    Artists or artist teams will submit résumés that reflect their ability to handle a project of this size, in addition to images of three previous public art projects they have completed. Deadline DATE.

    Jury Selection: Week of DATE

    The jury will narrow down the artist pool and contact the semi-finalists. Those not making it to the next round will not be contacted.

    Finalist Presentations: Week of DATE

    Three semi-finalists will each be awarded a $5,000 stipend to develop their concepts and will either present their concepts online or travel to College Station, Texas, to present their concepts to the jury (pending pandemic status). Semi-finalists will create a concept proposal package to include drawings and/or maquettes for their art piece, an artist statement, materials list, fabrication timeline, and budget breakdown.

    Winner Selected: DATE

    The jury will select one winning artist or artist team for each installation. The winning artist or artist team will work with representatives from the university to finalize the concept.

    Installation: DATE

    After concepts are approved and contracts are signed, the winning artist/s or artist team/s will install the art. A $AMOUNT commission will be awarded; commission awards are intended to cover all artist costs including, but not limited to, artist travel, fabrication, shipping, installation, engineering review (if necessary), etc. The university will provide lighting, signage, personnel lift, ladders, or scaffolding, if needed for installation.