Dimitri Hadzi
Bronze
JFK Federal Building, at Cambridge St. and New Sudbury St.
Project Description and Context
A work of public art is planned as a tribute to the Sicilian fishermen who formed the backbone of Boston’s fishing industry during the late 19th C through the mid-20th C. The working title is the Sicilian Fisherman’s Tribute and is to be located on the north side of Long Wharf near the remnants of T Wharf, which along with Eastern Packard Pier and Commercial Wharf in Boston’s North End formed the commercial center of activity for the neighborhood.
Background
From the late 19th C through the mid 20th C immigrants from Italy, mainly from Sicily, settled in the North End bringing with them their cultural traditions and language. The main motivation was the expansion of the fishing industry in New England, founded in the early 17th C, and the economic opportunity it presented. Looked upon originally as poor and illiterate, the dealers at the wharfs soon noted these hardworking men were a critical component in the development of one of the largest fishing ports in the world. The industry flourished through the early 1960’s. At that time, signs of overfishing began to appear and the federal government began regulating the catch. By the 1970’s Canada extended its territorial claim to 200 miles and competition from the Canadian fishing fleet effectively closed a number of areas to the Americans. Combined with competition from large international factory ships, the glory days of the North End fisherman came to an end. The cultural traditions brought with them from Sicily were an integral component of life in the North End.
Please see below for conceptual designs by the four final artists. These are a sample of the artists' proposed work and short descriptions of their concepts.
Public comments are welcome and can be emailed to art@publicartboston.com.
Peter Diepenbrock
Fish or Man, A Tribute to the Sicilian Fishermen of Boston
9’h x14’w x 4’d
Silicon Bronze over a stainless steel frame, polished 316 Stainless bar
This concept finds its allegorical inspiration in a whimsical, blended interpretation of Jonah and The Whale, The Old Man and the Sea, and the Anello Piscatorio or Ring of the Fisherman, warn by the Pope.
In this sculptural version, the fisherman may have met his match, though tough minded and determined to triumph, the fish, much larger than the man, smiles good naturedly, confident that this time, at least, he need not worry.
Given the intensive family oriented tourist use of the area I have created this concept with children as the essential designated audience. Families will be waiting in line for the site seeing boats, with active children wanting to play and mess about. The sculpture’s profile is relatively low, to reduce site line interference, yet sculpturally robust enough to have a dynamic eye level presence on the wharf. The sculpture will be located on the designated site, placed diagonally across the central pier decking.
The sculpture will have a stainless steel internal armature, which is then clad in a layering of silicon bronze ‘shingles’, all collectively welded together, to form a highly tactile, yet smooth to the touch surface. The net will be fabricated in ½” solid polished 316 stainless bar.
The surface of the bronze will be patinated green, with the expectation that with ongoing human contact bright natural bronze will result in areas where people touch it the most. The fisherman’s nose a perfect example.
The face and hands of the fisherman will be in deliberate contrast to the general whimsy of the piece. The expression will be severe, serious, rough hewn, strong, and determined. The hands and face will be oversized, and powerful. In this way I want to express the incredible fortitude that these fisherman had in facing the often frigid and highly dangerous exposure to the elements. My hope is that both a fun and whimsical overtone will be supported with a profound sense of the harsh reality that these men actually faced.
In order to establish a much more personal and cultural link to/for the Sicilians, I am proposing that 30-40 Sicilian family name plates can be attached to the cladding plates that form the fisherman’s boat.
These bronze nameplates will be hand stamped in ½” tall letters, and then welded into position.
The small vessel may also have a ‘name’ or motto, that may have an over riding significance to the project as a Sicilian tribute. These real world family names, coupled with the intense expression rendered in the fisherman’s hands and face, will provide a very powerful basis underlying the suggested magical realism of the overall design.
Pablo Eduardo
After studying many images of Fisherman's memorials from around the world and living near the one here in Gloucester, it became clear that it would be hard to create a competing icon of a fisherman. Instead the design invokes a poetic allegorical sculpture of the symbiotic and intimate relationship that a fisherman has with the sea.
The allegory is wind swept and wears a head dress that symbolizes the ships that the fisherman took to sea. Her robes are of oiled cloth and she has her arms stretched out holding two buoy bells. The bells will sound the mournful moving and eternal swells that fisherman know so well. The sounds calling them home.
The sculpture will sit twenty feet or so atop of a mast anchored to the deck by bronze stays. It will be seen and heard from a distance, inviting the viewer to come closer and partake in the memorial.
At the foot of the mast some cast barrels inscribed with a beautiful poem that best suits the relationship between the fisherman and the sea, and the fisherman's contribution to the city of Boston.
Morgan Faulds Pike
The Sicilian Fishermen’s Memorial
A Bronze Figure of Heroic Scale with a Link to Leslie Jones’s Historic Photographs from the Boston Public Library Collection
The photos show the 12-inch clay maquette for a free-standing 8-foot bronze figure of a Sicilian fisherman. The proud and dignified pose of the figure is contrasted by the large flounder he holds to his chest and by his apron, work shirt, and work boots. He is a friendly sentinel drawing visitors to the site. The base of the sculpture is decorated with low reliefs of codfish and stone crabs and will contain a dedication to the fishermen. A QR code that links to the Boston Public Library’s archive of 652 historic photographs of the fishing industry by photojournalist Leslie Jones (1886-1967) is part of the piece. Jones’s photographs show a lively and detailed chronicle of the industry in its heyday during the first half of the 20th century. Design development for the sculpture will continue in a 3- foot scale model. Morgan Faulds Pike is a classically trained sculptor who works in bronze, wood, and stone in many architectural contexts. She is best known for her Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Memorial on the boulevard waterfront in Gloucester, MA.
William Reimann, Sandro Carella, Elizabeth Ghiseline
Our proposal for this "Tribute" reflects the vitality of the lives, arduousness of work, and continued cultural presence of emigrated Sicilian fishermen and their families in the City of Boston. It has dual goals, the first of which is to highlight the significance of the water’s edge in a century-old, well-attended annual community event, the August processional celebration of The Blessing of the Fleet, which begins with a parade through the North End streets and Christopher Columbus Park and culminates in the tossing of the flowers into the sea by young descendants of the fishermen. This ritual, whose venue and destination our proposal enhances, is orchestrated by its founders, the Society of The Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca (Our Lady of Help of Sciacca), and is celebrated by significant numbers of North Enders as well as attended by countless others. The second goal is to realize a unique visitor attraction that speaks to the history of the Sicilian Fishermen, standing as a beacon, suggesting to visitors something of the courage, fortitude and persistence of their enterprise, while evoking their memory and cultural contribution to Boston. It catches the eye from a distance and gradually reveals itself, exciting the interest of visitors from all over the world, with several masts speaking to the sailor’s hope of a safe mooring, and shimmering nets - visible both day and night - serving as representative veils from this deserving, important (and to many whom we have interviewed, as the steel netting suggests, unforgettable and eternal) past.
137.5° by Benjamin Winters & Vaclav Sipla
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Art Commission, in collaboration with the City of Boston's Public Works Department, are pleased to announce the design selection for ArtBarrier. ArtBarrier is a new program, which will add color and vitality to the often-overlooked concrete Jersey barriers located on public roadways. Local artists will create stencils that can be used by volunteers to paint the barriers, as part of the annual Boston Shines volunteer program. The artists will be working with volunteers on Friday April 26th and Saturday at Northern Avenue and North Washington Street.
The winning design, entitled 137.5°, is by Benjamin Winters and Vaclav Sipla. The artists have engaged in a range of projects throughout the region and will bring their combined innovation and creativity to the ArtBarrier program. Benjamin Winters is a designer concerned with the potential for creating identity and space through returning decorative ornaments to the public setting. Vaclav Sipla is a classically trained stone sculptor who cofounded Sipla Newsam Studio, an art studio concerned with site specific public art whose philosophy has been described as urban Zen.
The artists describe their design as “a stylized version of a sunflower, created using mathematics and computer drafting software. The sunflower is a plant native to the area, and is often viewed as a symbol of optimism, as the faces of the mature plant face Eastward towards the rising sun. It also contains a natural expression of the golden ratio, thought by some to be relayed to beauty”.
If you are interested in volunteering Friday from 11am-3pm or Saturday from 12pm-6pm, please email karin.goodfellow@cityofboston.gov.
Rosie's Place founder Kip Tiernan was a relentless advocate for economic and social justice in Boston and the Commonwealth.
With Kip’s passing in 2011, the world mourned the loss of an irrepressible, indomitable, loving spirit, and pioneer for social justice.
Rosie’s Place, in coordination with the Boston Art Commission, has initiated a public competition for a permanent commemorative installation honoring Kip Tiernan and her legacy of addressing social justice issues for poor and homeless people.
In December 2012, four competition finalists were selected by a panel comprised of representatives from the Boston Art Commission, the Boston Public Library, the City of Boston Public Works Department, Community Works, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, and Old South Church.
The artists presented their proposals to the public at the Boston Public Library on April 8.
Public comments are welcome through May 7 and can be emailed to jmineo@rosiesplace.org. An announcement of a final design is expected in May 2013.
These are a sample of the artists' proposed work.
Laura Baring-Gould:
Cheryl Foster:
Mags Harries and Lajos Héder:
Deedee Morrison:
For more information visit: http://www.rosiesplace.org/kiptiernanmemorial
ORDINANCE 5-2 Art Commission
An Act to Further Regulate the Boston Art Commission
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and The Boston Art Commission are pleased to announce ordinance 5-2 Art Commission, an Act relative to the nominating process for candidates to the Boston Art Commission, was passed by signature of Governor Patrick on December 20, 2012. In addition, the Mayor and the Commission would also like to announce the appointment of two new members to the Boston Arts Commission. Ekua Holmes, local artist, designer, and curator and Mark Pasnik, AIA, LEED AP will join the Commission this spring.
Founded in 1890, the Boston Art Commission (BAC) is the oldest municipal art commission in the country. The role of the Boston Art Commission is to oversee all public art projects on City property. These artworks, both permanent and temporary, range from traditional and new media public art pieces to municipal design elements, such as way-finding systems and artistic lighting. The BAC guides and monitors the design development process through reviews at various stages to ensure artistic and design quality, integration with the site, and relevance to the community, and approves the final design prior to fabrication, the installation procedures, and maintenance plan prior to installation.
The Boston Art Commission enabling legislation has not been updated since 1986, therefore these ordinance updates enable the Art Commission to operate more effectively and efficiently by appointing a board that reflects the current arts community. These changes will allow the City to utilize the expertise found in this community, promote itself as a world-class center for innovative and creative culture, and, most importantly, ensure that the board of the Boston Art Commission reflects the diversity found throughout the neighborhoods of Boston and that Boston’s public art will be representative of today’s Boston, an internationally connected and technologically innovative place.
“These ordinance changes ensure the board of the Boston Art Commission reflects the diversity of our great city,” Mayor Menino said. “The new appointees are both prominent Bostonians in the art and design community, and I look forward to seeing the cultural landscape and public art projects expand, reflect, and celebrate the diversity of our neighborhoods.”
Visit BOSTON CODE - ORDINANCES, 5-2 ART COMMISSION to view ordinance updates.
“Public art acts as tangible evidence of past and current culture, an affirmation of communal beliefs, and a declaration of place. The public art of one hundred years ago tells us the story of our history writers. As the culture of the City of Boston changes, with shifts in population and industry, the artworks produced for public space also change,” said Karin Goodfellow, Director of the Boston Art Commission. “Ultimately, the intention of updating the Ordinance is to ensure that our art program reflects the contemporary public dialogue by engaging diverse arts leaders who believe in the importance of artwork in the everyday lives of all people in Boston.”
Learn more about the City's arts programming here.
Two new calls for public art!
Mayor Thomas M. Menino Announces Opportunities for Artists: PaintBox, ArtBarrier will add color to the City
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Art Commission announced two artist calls on Monday, March 11, 2013. ArtBarrier is a new program, which will add color and vitality to the often-overlooked concrete Jersey barriers located on public roadways throughout the City. One Boston designer will be chosen to work with Boston Shines volunteers on Saturday, April 27, 2013 to galvanize the change of Boston's urban landscape. The 11th annual Boston Shines is a two-day citywide clean up event. More than 5,000 volunteers come together in each of the neighborhoods of Boston to plant flowers, sweep, rake, and pick up trash. ArtBarrier will be a fantastic addition to this year’s citywide clean up.
PaintBox, originally launched in 2008, has already led to the painting of more than 80 utility boxes throughout the City. The PaintBox program is geared toward the recognition and celebration of the local arts community and asks artists to paint colorful images on large utility boxes located on public sidewalks.
"Our neighborhoods are more vibrant and exciting places to live, visit and explore thanks to the PaintBox program,” Mayor Menino said. “I’m thrilled we’re extending the spirit of the PaintBox program to the Jersey barriers, making those less of an eyesore and more of an asset.”
Unlike PaintBox, in which the artist paints the design directly onto the utility box, ArtBarrier will ask artists to create stencils that can be used by volunteers to paint the barriers, as part of the annual Boston Shines volunteer program.
“This is a great new way that Boston is engaging the artist community,” said Karin Goodfellow, Director of the Boston Arts Commission. “PaintBox gets artists out into the community, but ArtBarrier gets them engaged directly with the public. This should be a fun addition to the great programs that make up Boston Shines.”
Submit your design ideas!
Get the calls here:
Learn more about the City's arts programming here.
CALL TO ARTISTS: Request for Qualifications
Symphony Park Public Art
The Boston Art Commission, in collaboration with the Friends of Symphony Park, the City of Boston Parks Department, the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund, and landscape architectural firm Warner Larson, Inc., seeks qualifications from artists to create permanent public art for Symphony Park in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood to be implemented in conjunction with a park improvement project.
Release: Wednesday - February 13, 2013
Deadline: Friday - March 8, 2013
Eligibility: This public art commission is open to all professional artists, artisans, architects, landscape architects, or a team thereof, in New England.
Design Intent: The artist (or team) is requested to develop the artwork in collaboration with the project landscape architect, Warner Larson, Inc, in order to ensure that the art is fully integrated into the site design. For this project, music has been selected as the theme by the community and should be highlighted in creative ways throughout the park.
Design Budget: $15,000
In total, artist’s awards are allotted as follows, with more detail below.
$1,500 – awarded to three shortlisted finalists for initial concept development and presentation
$15,000 – awarded to selected artist for design development and final administrative approvals
2.5% of final artwork budget – awarded to selected artist for construction administration
Anticipated Art Fabrication and Installation Budget (funding not in place, but being solicited): $100,000
Project Summary: The “Improvements to Symphony Park Project” has been a community-led initiative since 2006. What began as a targeted effort to address safety concerns within this passive open-space in the East Fenway, has gained momentum and supporters and is now envisioned as a comprehensive and collaborative park improvement and art installation project.
Symphony Park’s restoration planning and design has been informed by community and contextual framework. Located in a dense, vibrant, and growing neighborhood, the park abuts a senior housing facility and is close to a number of cultural and educational institutions, including Symphony Hall, Christian Science Plaza, and Berklee College of Music. Projects that reflect and support the physical and cultural environs of the Fenway are encouraged, as are inspirations that incorporate music or community themes.
Warner Larson, Inc., a Boston landscape architectural firm, has been retained to develop the park renovation design and the documents to guide the park reconstruction. The selected artist (or team) will collaborate with Warner Larson and the community to develop a conceptual and then detailed design for integrating art elements into the park. A public community process conducted by the landscape architects has led to a conceptual design for the park improvements. A copy of the conceptual design will be made available to the shortlisted artists.
Construction funding for this collaborative renovation is being sought through the City of Boston Capital Improvement Program and by community led grant applications. All design and construction will be coordinated through the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, the property owner. Final artwork approval must be granted by the Boston Art Commission through a series of presentations.
Conceptual Objectives: Community goals include integrated art/park elements that may be musically themed consistent with the Symphony Park’s name. Creating a sense of place that speaks to the culturally rich neighborhood is important, especially because of the proximity to Symphony Hall and Berklee College of Music. Art must be integrated into the park design, and not a stand-alone piece. In particular, there are preferences for interactive, illustrative, and interpretive art. As in every permanent public art project, the art work needs to be durable, vandal resistant, and easily maintained.
Ideas from community meetings held to date that might become part of the art/park design include:
- Moveable tables and chairs
- Artistic signage or elements, like granite piers, engraved musical quotes or words interpreting significant features in the park
- Water sculptures or features (mechanically operated, no electronics)
- Extra illumination (in addition to traditional night lighting)
- Artistic fencing
Project Site: Symphony Park is a half-acre passive park in the Fenway neighborhood owned by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. The park is bounded by Edgerly Road, Norway Street, Burbank Street, as well as Morville House and the Burbank Gardens Apartments. It was created in the early 1970’s during Boston’s Urban Renewal efforts and has not been comprehensively renovated since its construction. The park is primarily maintained by Morville House, Burbank Gardens, and the Friends of Symphony Community Park.
Artwork Design Budget and Scope of Work (including Fabrication and Installation Drawings)
The selected artist (or team) will have $15,000 from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund for design development of this collaborative work. Upon award of the contract, the chosen artist or artist team will be required to submit an itemized fee proposal including but is not limited to the following scope of work:
- Community meetings (up to 3) with drawings and other media presentation techniques to communicate and document proposed art installation alternatives
- Final schematic design drawings and documentation of the proposed art installation, including a cost estimate, approved through presentations (up to 3) to the Boston Art Commission
- Design development with visual and written documentation that leads to construction drawings and specifications, including an updated cost estimate
- Construction drawings, specifications and detailed cost estimate to coincide and/or be incorporated with the site improvement bid documents
- Coordination meetings as required with project team
This budget includes all expenses associated with the labor, materials, contracted services, meetings and travel required to complete the design of the artwork through the construction drawing phase in preparation for the “Fabrication/Installation” phase of the project. Any expense that exceeds this amount will be the artist’s responsibility. The artist is responsible for design coordination with the City of Boston Parks Department, the Friends of Symphony Park, the Boston Art Commission, and relevant City department representatives regarding all aspects of the design of the art installation. Any sub-consultants required by the artist to complete the art design documents must be compensated out of the artist design budget.
Fabrication and Installation Funding: Solicitation of funding for this project is currently under way. Neither the Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund nor the Boston Parks & Recreation Department has committed funds for the implementation/construction of the project at this time. However, it is anticipated that the artwork fabrication and installation budget will be approximately $100,000 and the other site improvements budget will be approximately $450,000.
Artist’s Fee and Scope of Work for Fabrication and Installation - The anticipated $100,000 budget will include all expenses associated with, but not limited to the artist fee, all work and materials related to fabricating and installing the artwork and the required documentation of the completed project.
Artist’s Construction Administration Fee - For this stage of the project it is anticipated that the artist fee will reflect the “scope of work” and fees typically allocated to the construction administration phase of a park renovation project and shall be about 2.5% of the anticipated art budget. This includes coordination with the landscape architect, the city’s representative and the general contractor, clarification or supplementary drawings required for construction, review of shop drawings for conformance with design intent, written progress reports during installation.
Fabrication and Installation Budget - For this stage of the project it is anticipated that the remainder of the budget will be used to review and select materials, cost of materials, site visits during installation to install and/or supervise installation, tools, contracted services (such as additional structural engineering consulting), footings, lighting, operations, meetings and travel required to complete the artwork fabrication and installation. This will also include all related permits, insurance, transportation and delivery charges related to the fabrication and installation of the artwork and the Boston Art Commission’s required documentation of the installed artwork.
Anticipated Timeline
- RFQ responses due by March 8, 2013
- Three artists will be shortlisted and will be notified by March 22, 2013
- Proposals from the shortlisted artists will be due May 22, 2013
- Proposal presentation/artist interviews will take place soon after in early June, 2013 – date to be determined
- Announcement of the chosen artist (or team) will be made by early July, 2013
- Timeline for the final design/fabrication to be determined in early September
Application Requirements - Interested artists may email entries to: art@publicartboston.com
RFQ Submission Checklist:
- Résumé with current contact information, including:
- Name
- Address
- Phone
- Fax
- Email address
- Website
- Artist Statement (1 page maximum)
- Up to 10 clearly labeled JPEG images of relevant past work. Artists must provide images formatted as follows:
- Pixel dimensions per image: approximately 600x800
- Image resolution: 72-300 ppi (pixels per inch)
- Maximum file size per image: 1MB
- Name each image: lastnamefirstnameimagenumber.jpg
- A corresponding, numbered, annotated image list with title, media, dimensions, location, brief description, date of the work, project budget, and project partners, if applicable
- Optional: Additional support material, including press clippings or other relevant information on past projects (1 PDF file maximum)
Please Note:
- Electronic submissions only
- Do not send proposals at this stage
- Submissions may be made publicly available for viewing
Selection Process
The Artist Selection Committee, which will review all RFQ responses, is comprised of representatives from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund, Boston Parks Department, the Boston Art Commission, the Friends of Symphony Park (community group), a local artist, and the consulting landscape architect.
Following the RFQ review, three (3) artists/teams will be shortlisted. The shortlisted artists / teams will be paid an honorarium in the amount of $1,500 to develop and present site specific proposals to the Artist Selection Committee. Artists invited to present should review the Boston Art Commission’s permanent public art guidelines posted at www.publicartboston.com. Shortlisted artists will be invited to participate in a site walk-through with members of the Art Committee before they prepare and submit their site-specific proposals. Additional information about the project area and site will be available at this time.
The Shortlisted Artist Interview and Proposal Presentation - A date will be established soon after the proposal deadline for shortlisted artist interviews, which will include the presentation of each proposal to the selection committee. The interview and presentation will last one hour. As panel members are already familiar with the finalists’ past work, the session should focus on the proposal and allow for questions and answers. A final decision will be made as soon after the interviews as possible.
Legal Agreement
The City of Boston will not be liable for degradation of the artwork caused by normal wear and tear and weathering. In the event the installation is bronze work, the Artist should cold wax the artwork prior to, or immediately following, installation. While the artwork should be relatively maintenance-free, the City or its designee assumes responsibility for minor maintenance.
By submitting an application, the applicant assures that all copyright holders have consented to the submission and use of images for use by the Boston Art Commission. This includes the use of the images in the following forms: multimedia, print or digital publications, presentations, or an online archive.
The Committee reserves the right to alter any aspect of the selection process or overall project in any way for its own convenience at any time. This Request for Qualifications does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract and these provisions are subject to change.
For submission questions contact: Karin Goodfellow, Director of the Boston Art Commission at karin.goodfellow@cityofboston.gov.
For park site related questions contact: Liza Meyer, Chief Landscape Architect at the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at Liza.Meyer@cityofboston.gov
Call for entries, updates, and invitations to project events will be posted at www.publicartboston.com and http://www.cityofboston.gov/Parks/design_con/bidsandproposals.asp
Local Artist Takes Lead on the Bill Russell Legacy Project
Ann Hirsch Announced as Artist for the
Bill Russell Legacy Project
Boston, MA – Local artist Ann Hirsch, working with Pressley Associates, has been named the new artist for The Bill Russell Legacy Project. Watch an animation of the proposed installation here.
“Mr. Russell’s legacy is important to the story of this city in sports and also in terms of human rights,” Artist Ann Hirsch said. “I am proud and humbled to be chosen to create this artwork and look forward to its unveiling in the near future. I am especially thrilled that I will be able to work as a mentor myself by involving local children in my process through the Shamrock Foundation.”
A Somerville resident, Ann Hirsch integrates figurative and architectural components by drawing on time-honored approaches, integrating historical modalities with contemporary practices and perspectives. Hirsch’s work is grounded in the body, movement and traditional sculpture technique. Her work is driven by a strong interest in 'theater' as public presentation and the meaningful organization of symbol, figure and space.
Hirsch earned a B.A. in Art History at Columbia University and Master's degrees from N.Y.U. and the New York Academy of Art. She has completed many commissions, teaches undergraduate sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design and Lesley University, and shows in New York and Massachusetts.
Working with Hirsch, Bill Pressley, FASLA, LEED, AP, of Pressley Associates, is a locally based landscape architect who has twice received National Landscape Awards at the White House. The first was for his work at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the second was for his work at Northeastern University over a period of 28 years.
“I am pleased that Ann Hirsch has joined our 'team' as the artist for the Bill Russell tribute. Ann’s concept for the site, together with the mentoring program established in Bill’s name, will ensure that we’re creating something special, as a champion such as Bill Russell deserves,” Mayor Menino said.
“Congratulations to Ann Hirsch for being selected for the project. We are excited about Ann’s design. The statue will serve to commemorate Bill Russell forever as a Celtic and a mentor for all future generations. We are honored to be part of his legacy.” Boston Celtics Managing Partner/Co-owner and President of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Stephen Pagliuca said.
Russell’s statue will be completed in two phases. The sculpture will represent Bill Russell the whole man, honoring him as an athlete, coach, human rights activist, ground breaker and mentor. The sculpture will be slightly larger than life size. Russell will be on a low plinth in game action about to make a pass. Ten other plinths will surround Russell, for a total of 11 objects representing Mr. Russell’s 11 championships with the Boston Celtics. Each plinth will feature a key word and a corresponding quotation to illuminate the myriad of accomplishments spanning Mr. Russell’s entire career both on and off the court.
“I am happy to see the Celtics embrace mentoring and create this program that benefits children.” Bill Russell said. “My lifelong passion is to help the mentoring of children and the biggest honor of my career was to be Captain of the Boston Celtics.”
In addition to erecting the statue of Russell, the Bill Russell Legacy Project, along with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation developed a Mentoring Grant program in Russell’s name to ensure his passion for mentoring children is carried on. The grant’s main objective is to expand the resources for mentoring programs in the city of Boston. In the grant’s inaugural year, over $50k in grants were awarded to the following programs: Adoption and Foster Care Mentoring, Generations, Inc. and The DREAM Program, Inc. Applications for the 2013 Bill Russell Grants are now being accepted through Mass Mentoring Partnership at www.massmentors.org. The deadline to apply is February 12, 2013, Mr. Russell’s birthday.
Co-chaired by Boston Celtics Managing Partner/Co-owner and President of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Stephen Pagliuca and Boston Philanthropist and Founder of the Bobby Sager Traveling Foundation and Roadshow Bobby Sager, the Bill Russell Legacy Committee consists of Karen Russell, Russell’s former teammate Tommy Heinsohn as well as Boston Mayor Tom Menino and his Administration. The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation has established the Bill Russell Legacy Fund to act as the major funding vehicle for the project.
For more information about the artists and public art in Boston visit http://www.publicartboston.com/.
To learn more about the Bill Russell Legacy Project and to donate to the Legacy Fund, please visit www.billrusselllegacy.org.
Request for Qualifications, Design Competition
Kip Tiernan Commemorative Installation (Boston, MA)
Informational Meeting
Oct. 15, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA
Deadline: Wed. Oct. 31, 2012, 5 pm
Full Text of Request for Qualifications is posted at: http://www.RosiesPlace.org/RFQ
SUMMARY RFQ
INTRODUCTION
The non-profit organization Rosie’s Place, in coordination with the Boston Art Commission, announces a competition for a permanent commemorative installation at Dartmouth street, between Newbury street and public alley 440 in Boston, MA. The winning proposal will feature a site-specific, permanent work that commemorates Rosie’s Place founder and activist Kip Tiernan, and her legacy of addressing social justice issues for poor and homeless people.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Kip Tiernan was a relentless activist at the center of the fight for economic and social justice in Boston and the Commonwealth since the 1970s. Kip advocated, protested and lobbied for affordable and accessible housing, health care and education as well as jobs, civil rights, and peace. Kip and her “urban sister” Fran Froehlich, have been called the “conscience of Boston” after nearly 40 years of continued social activism during which time the pair worked to produce an infrastructure of social change. More…
COMPETITION THEME
While the overall objective of this competition is to commemorate Kip Tiernan, the winning proposal will also successfully address the theme of engagement. In her book Urban Meditations, written with Froehlich, Kip repeatedly states that we are accountable to, and for, each other and that only in unity and solidarity, based on respect for the individual and the common good, will it be possible to achieve the solutions that are needed. Kip’s goal was to transform society, together.
This project should therefore create a compelling call to act, to “endeavor to act justly” in Kip’s words. In this way, a memorial to Kip may inspire reflection, critical awareness, compassion, or personal responsibility, continuing her bold work for justice. Kip often quoted Melnea Cass, “If we can not do great things, perhaps we can do small things in a great way.” The installation may inspire a small act of kindness or a more sustained response. More…
ELIGIBILITY
All experienced, practicing Artists and/or Designers are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
PROCESS
Stage 1 Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Applicants are asked to submit:
1. Cover Letter
2. Portfolio of up to 15 images and descriptive text
3. Resume / CV
4. Artist Statement
Stage 2 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Up to 3 Artists/Designers will be invited to develop proposals to include a written statement, schedule, and budget, followed by a 45-minute in-person interview and presentation. After reviewing materials and interviewing candidates, the Selection Panel will determine the winning Artist/Designer.
BUDGET: $80,000 inclusive of artist fees, fabrication, installation, insurance, etc.
In Stage 2, up to three Artist/Designer/Teams will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 each to develop and present site-specific proposals.
About Rosie’s Place
Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women, offers emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn. Rosie's Place has evolved from providing meals and shelter to creating permanent solutions through advocacy, education and affordable housing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Full Text of the Request for Qualifications is posted at: http://www.rosiesplace.org/RFQ
Contact: Jean Mineo, Project Manager
E-mail: jeanmineo@aol.com
Tel: 508-242-9991
Request for Qualifications, Design Competition
Kip Tiernan Commemorative Installation (Boston, MA)
Informational Meeting
Oct. 15, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA
Deadline: Wed. Oct. 31, 2012, 5 pm
Full Text of Request for Qualifications is posted at: http://www.RosiesPlace.org/RFQ
SUMMARY RFQ
INTRODUCTION
The non-profit organization Rosie’s Place, in coordination with the Boston Art Commission, announces a competition for a permanent commemorative installation at Dartmouth street, between Newbury street and public alley 440 in Boston, MA. The winning proposal will feature a site-specific, permanent work that commemorates Rosie’s Place founder and activist Kip Tiernan, and her legacy of addressing social justice issues for poor and homeless people.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Kip Tiernan was a relentless activist at the center of the fight for economic and social justice in Boston and the Commonwealth since the 1970s. Kip advocated, protested and lobbied for affordable and accessible housing, health care and education as well as jobs, civil rights, and peace. Kip and her “urban sister” Fran Froehlich, have been called the “conscience of Boston” after nearly 40 years of continued social activism during which time the pair worked to produce an infrastructure of social change. More…
COMPETITION THEME
While the overall objective of this competition is to commemorate Kip Tiernan, the winning proposal will also successfully address the theme of engagement. In her book Urban Meditations, written with Froehlich, Kip repeatedly states that we are accountable to, and for, each other and that only in unity and solidarity, based on respect for the individual and the common good, will it be possible to achieve the solutions that are needed. Kip’s goal was to transform society, together.
This project should therefore create a compelling call to act, to “endeavor to act justly” in Kip’s words. In this way, a memorial to Kip may inspire reflection, critical awareness, compassion, or personal responsibility, continuing her bold work for justice. Kip often quoted Melnea Cass, “If we can not do great things, perhaps we can do small things in a great way.” The installation may inspire a small act of kindness or a more sustained response. More…
ELIGIBILITY
All experienced, practicing Artists and/or Designers are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
PROCESS
Stage 1 Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Applicants are asked to submit:
1. Cover Letter
2. Portfolio of up to 15 images and descriptive text
3. Resume / CV
4. Artist Statement
Stage 2 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Up to 3 Artists/Designers will be invited to develop proposals to include a written statement, schedule, and budget, followed by a 45-minute in-person interview and presentation. After reviewing materials and interviewing candidates, the Selection Panel will determine the winning Artist/Designer.
BUDGET: $80,000 inclusive of artist fees, fabrication, installation, insurance, etc.
In Stage 2, up to three Artist/Designer/Teams will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 each to develop and present site-specific proposals.
About Rosie’s Place
Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women, offers emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn. Rosie's Place has evolved from providing meals and shelter to creating permanent solutions through advocacy, education and affordable housing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Full Text of the Request for Qualifications is posted at: http://www.rosiesplace.org/RFQ
Contact: Jean Mineo, Project Manager
E-mail: jeanmineo@aol.com
Tel: 508-242-9991
SICILIAN FISHERMAN’S TRIBUTE in BOSTON, MA
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for Public Art Project
Deadline: Friday, September 28, 2012 at 5:00 pm (received)
Project Description and Context
A work of public art is planned as a tribute to the Sicilian fishermen who formed the backbone of Boston’s fishing industry during the late 19th C through the mid-20th C. The working title is the Sicilian Fisherman’s Tribute and is to be located on the north side of Long Wharf near the remnants of T Wharf, which along with Eastern Packard Pier and Commercial Wharf in Boston’s North End formed the commercial center of activity for the neighborhood.
Background
From the late 19th C through the mid 20th C immigrants from Italy, mainly from Sicily, settled in the North End bringing with them their cultural traditions and language. The main motivation was the expansion of the fishing industry in New England, founded in the early 17th C, and the economic opportunity it presented. Looked upon originally as poor and illiterate, the dealers at the wharfs soon noted these hardworking men who were a critical component in the development of one of the largest fishing ports in the world. The industry flourished through the early 1960’s. At that time, signs of overfishing began to appear and the federal government began regulating the catch. By the 1970’s the Canada extended its territorial claim to 200 miles and competition from the Canadian fishing fleet effectively closed a number of areas to the Americans. Combined with competition from large international factory ships, the glory days of the North End fisherman came to an end. The cultural traditions brought with them from Sicily were an integral component of life in the North End.
Project Administration
Ricardo Barreto, Public Art Consultant, has been selected to facilitate the Artist Selection Process. The administration of the project itself will be handled by the Maritime Society of Our Lady of Help of Sciacca of Boston in collaboration with the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and the Boston Art Commission.
Eligibility
The RFQ is open to all artists in New England and New York.
Process
Five finalists will be selected for the project based on past work through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. Selected finalists will receive a Request for Proposals (RFP) with a full package of information including site plans. Proposals will be presented to the selection committee through an interview process whereupon the committee will select a winner.
Proposal Development Fee
Each of the five finalists will receive an honorarium of $1,500 following the proposal presentation and interview.
Budget
The budget is $100,000 inclusive of all project related costs including artist fees, fabrication, installation, insurance, etc.
Criteria
Applicants will be asked to address the following criteria:
- Project should be appropriate to the site and reflect the specific history and contribution of the Sicilian fishermen to Boston’s maritime history
- The final piece can incorporate realistic elements or be entirely abstract
- Materials need to withstand the effects of ocean and four seasons of coastal weather and provide the maximum resistance to vandalism
- Maintenance requirements should be minimal
- The piece must comply to safety and ADA standards for access
Artist Evaluation
Artists will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Artistic quality as demonstrated by previous work
- Special skills or training pertinent to the project
- Expressed interest or experience in community outreach and education
- Ability and interest in meeting the goals of the project
Application Deadline: 5 pm Friday, September 28, 2012
Anticipated Timeline
- Finalist will be notified by Friday, October 12, 2012
- Proposals following the RFP are due Friday, December 7, 2012
- Proposal presentations/artist interviews will take place mid December, 2012
- Announcement of the chosen artist will be made in early January, 2013
- Timeline for final design/fabrication/installation to be determined in early 2013
Application Requirements
Interested artists should contact the Ricardo Barreto Public Art Consultant at rdb8888@gmail.com.
Please submit:
1. Resume with current contact information in PDF or MS Word format only. The file name for your resume should be in the following order: lastnamefirstname_resume.
2. Email up to 6 clearly labeled JPEG digital images of relevant past work. Artists may send information formatted as follows:
Acceptable digital images must be:
- Formatted as JPEGs to read in Adobe Photoshop
- Maximum pixel dimensions per image approximately 600Hx800W
- Image resolution – up to 300 pixels per inch (ppi)
- Maximum file size per image – 1MB
- Name each image: lastnamefirstnameimagenumber.jpg
- Include a 1-page, 8 1⁄2” x 11” thumbnail printout of images with corresponding image numbers
3. A corresponding, numbered, annotated image list with title, media, dimensions, location, brief description and date of the work, project budget, and project partners, if applicable.
The file name for your resume should be in the following order: lastnamefirstname_list.
Please do not send proposals at this stage.
Please email your entry to rdb8888@gmail.com with the subject line Fisherman’s Tribute
Entries should not exceed 5 MB per email.
Participants are solely responsible for the timely arrival of their entries. Participants, by virtue of entering the competition, agree to save harmless the organizers, sponsors and anyone else involved with the competition for any delay, damage or loss, real or perceived.
Contact: Ricardo D. Barreto
1-617-285-1966