Norman Forward Percent for Art: J. A. Andrews Park
INFO SESSION: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday 29, 2020 through Zoom
DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 14, 2020
VIEW GUIDELINES & SUBMIT
Norman Arts Council, on behalf of The City of Norman and Norman Forward Percent for Art, is seeking an Oklahoma artist — or team of Oklahoma artists — to create a permanent outdoor work of art for historic J. A. Andrews Park located in the heart of downtown Norman at 201 W. Daws, Norman.
For well over a century, Andrews Park has been a vital community gathering space in Norman. It is a physical link between the generations of Normanites that have lived or studied here to the present and those who will enjoy it in the future.
In 1926, the City hired a young man named J. A. Abe Andrews to maintain and supervise the city parks, which he did for 30 years. When he retired in 1956, the park was renamed J.A. Andrews Park to honor his leadership and dedication to creating the beloved community gathering space.
The activities available at Andrews Park might have changed over the years, but it remains a central hub of recreation, entertainment, and community gathering. Today there is a wide variety of features and activities available in the park, including pavilions, a large playground, a splash pad, picnic shelters, jogging/walking courses, lighted basketball courts, an impressive newly constructed skate park, and a large grassy area for lounging or picnicking. There are practice fields with backstops in the northern half of Andrews Park.
The artwork for Andrews Park must be designed and placed to invite visitors to explore and play in the park as well as to stimulate their curiosity, imagination, and sense of discovery. The artwork can be one piece to mark the place of the community’s heart, a continuous work of art winding through the park, or a series of pieces leading visitors throughout the park. A successful work of public art would tie the whole park and all of the different features and activities together, literally or figuratively, as well as enticing visitors to investigate less familiar areas.
The total artist's fee for the project is $12,000.00. This amount must cover all associated costs, including design, materials, fabrication, travel, insurance coverage, shipping, and installation.
An information session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2020 through Zoom. At the meeting, we will review the timeline and process for submitting to the J.A. Andrews Park public art project. Attendance at this meeting is not required of artists who want to submit for the project, but it is strongly recommended. This will be an opportunity to learn more about applying for public art projects and to ask any questions you may have.
If you want to join the information session, email Public Art Manager Debby Williams at debby@normanarts.org and we will forward you the Zoom link. Debby is also available to answer any questions you might have over the project.
Timeline:
Information Session: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6:30 pm
RFQ Deadline: Friday, August 14, 2020 at 11:59 pm (midnight, CST)
The following dates are subject to change:
Notify Artists: Tuesday, September 11, 2020
Finalists’ Site Visit: Week of September 21, 2020
Finalists’ Presentation of Proposals: Week of November 2, 2020
Notify Artists of Selection: By November 16, 2020
Installation of Art: Spring, 2021
More about Norman Forward
The citizens of Norman initiated NORMAN FORWARD, a proposal to renovate, expand, construct and fund Quality of Life projects, such as multiple recreational facilities, libraries, parks, athletic venues, public art, trails, swim complexes and other quality of life projects throughout Norman. The initiative went to the City Council from community groups, stakeholders, and Norman residents, who prepared an initial package using analysis and information from recreational planning professionals and research firms. In 2015, the City Council placed NORMAN FORWARD on a ballot that was overwhelmingly supported by Norman voters.
By the fall of 2020, four significant works of public art will have been created under the Norman Forward initiative.
