Fleur-de-Lis Sculptures to Decorate Downtown as Part of New Rochelle s 325 th Anniversary Celebration

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1 Press Release July 22, 2013 Call for Artists: Fleur-de-Lis Sculptures to Decorate Downtown as Part of New Rochelle s 325 th Anniversary Celebration New Rochelle Council on the Arts, Business Improvement District and City of New Rochelle Sponsoring Competition In 2000 New York City had its Cow Parade, and in 2006 Larchmont followed suit, with fiberglas ducks nesting all over its downtown. Now plans are afoot for New Rochelle to be visited by a swarm of Fleur-de-Lis sculptures -- brightly decorated, five-foot- tall fiberglas sculptures that will be installed in the downtown area as part of the city s 325 th anniversary celebration. The New Rochelle Council on the Arts, the Downtown Business Improvement District and the City of New Rochelle will commission 10 to 15 artists to decorate pre-fabricated fiberglas Fleur- de-lis sculptures as part of the celebration of the 325 th anniversary of the settling of New Rochelle by the Huguenots. One artist (or artist team) will be selected for each free-standing Fleur de-lis. Artists age 16 and older are invited to submit their ideas by September 1 st ; for an application form and complete instructions visit Organizers say the intent of the project is to celebrate the city s history by showcasing local talent; they hope the sculptures will create a dialogue between artists and the local community, enliven the downtown and delight visitors. We are very excited to partner with the BID and the City of New Rochelle for the Fleur-de-Lis project, said Judith Weber, President of NRCA. The Fleur-de-Lis shape was chosen to represent the city s French heritage, and we look forward to seeing what themes local artists bring to their interpretations. The project continues the Art in Public Spaces Program initiated by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA). The program s first project was Steal Away, an outdoor mural by Jeff Schlanger that was installed at the Lawton Street parking lot in Other public art installations include banners in the atrium of the New Rochelle Public Library (the result of a

2 design competition sponsored by NRCA); mosaic benches at the Ward Acres Community Garden, a collaborative project between NRCA and the garden group; and a collaboration this summer with the group Groundswell that will result in a wall mural painted by local teens. Weber says that artists interested in the Fleur-de-Lis project are not required to have any prior public art experience: They will be selected based on their artistic excellence, innovation, creativity and originality; the appropriateness of the materials they choose for an outdoor installation intended to last two years; and the appropriateness and relevance of the style and theme they propose as it relates to downtown New Rochelle and the city s 325 th anniversary. A selection panel will determine the winning designs and notify the artists, who will then each receive one of the 5-by-5 foot fiberglas forms to decorate. Selected artists will also receive an honorarium of $300 to cover the costs of implementing their designs. The works are to be completed in October and will be installed at sites around downtown New Rochelle. Artists will be awarded their $300 honorariums upon the completion of the selected work. Serving on the selection panel are Judith Weber, President of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts; Theresa Kump Leghorn, Vice President of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts; Billie Tucker, a member of the New Rochelle Municipal Arts Commission who also serves as Treasurer of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts; Luiz Aragon, Commissioner of Development for the City of New Rochelle; Rakph DiBart, Executive Director of the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District; and Ivar Hyden, City Council member representing the downtown district. For an application form artists can visit the NRCA website at For questions about the competition info@newrochellearts.org PHOTO CAPTION: Rendering of a free-standing Fleur-de-Lis sculpture.

3 The New Rochelle Council on the Arts in collaboration with the City of New Rochelle and the Downtown Business Improvement District Announces a Downtown Public Art Project: Fleur-de-Lis Request for Proposals DEADLINE: September 1, 2013 Artist Opportunity: The New Rochelle Council on the Arts, the Downtown Business Improvement District and the City of New Rochelle seek to commission artists for the adornment of pre-fabricated 5 Fleur- de-lis in celebration of the 325 th anniversary of the settling of New Rochelle by the Huguenots. One artist (or artist team) will be selected for each free-standing Fleur de-lis. Installation sites will be determined when work is completed. The project continues the Art in Public Spaces Program initiated by NRCA.. Concept of Artwork: Combining strong visual appeal with a well-thought out concept, the Fleur de-lis will serve as a focal point within the borders of the downtown Business Improvement District in New Rochelle. The function of this project is to provide the opportunity for dialogue between the artist and the local community, residents and visitors and to produce aesthetically exciting work to enliven the downtown setting. The free-standing Fleur-de-lis measures approximately 5 h x5 w x2 d and is two sided. The fiberglass form will be made available to each selected artist for the execution of work which is consistent with the designs which were accepted. Project Budget: Each selected artist will be required to sign a contract with The New Rochelle Council on the Arts that defines his/her responsibilities, review process during execution and will receive an honorarium of $300 for the completed and delivered form provided execution is consistent with submitted and selected design. Cost of execution of design onto to pre-fabricated form is the artist s responsibility.

4 The fabrication and installation of the Fleur-de-lis pre-fabricated fiberglass form will be the responsibility of the Downtown Business Improvement District and the City of New Rochelle who will ensure that the artwork is installed with the utmost care at a site chosen to best represent the work. Eligibility: This RFP is open to all artists, designers and students from the age of 16. Selection Process: A selection panel will evaluate each artist s submission and select one artist (or artist team) for each Fleur-delis. Selected work will be based on the following criteria: Artistic excellence, innovation, creativity and originality as demonstrated in submitted materials Materials to be appropriate for out-door installation intended to last two (2) years. Appropriateness and relevance of style and theme as relates to downtown New Rochelle and New Rochelle s 325 th Anniversary Examples of themes include but are not limited to: Founded as a French speaking settlement (1688) named for La Rochelle Two Miles of Waterfront Sound Shore summer pleasures Home to famous Artists- 45 Minutes from Broadway America s premier suburban community Park-like neighborhoods * Natural open spaces Diverse & Vibrant Artists are not required to have any prior public art experience. Artists are required to pick up and deliver 5 form from/to designated site. The completed Fleur- de-lis will remain the property the BID. Work is to be chosen by a selection committee: Judith Weber: President, New Rochelle Council on the Arts Billie Tucker: Member, New Rochelle Municipal Arts Commission Luiz Aragon: Commissioner of Development Ralph DiBart: Executive Director New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District Ivar Hyden: Councilman, Downtown District Theresa Kump Leghorn: Vice President, New Rochelle Council on the Arts Important Dates: Public announcement of RFP: July 22, 2013 Application Deadline: September 1, 2013 Selection Panel Determination of Winning Designs: September 20 th Work to be completed by Mid-late October (To Be Determined) Application Procedures: Applicants must submit in either of the following methods:

5 A preliminary to-scale rendering of your proposed design. The proposal should be executed in full color and detail. Renderings must be mounted neatly on poster board, ¼ foam core or other durable presentation material. Each board should not exceed 11 x 17 ; you may use as many 11 x 17 sections as necessary to fully render, to-scale, and show details. A written proposal describing your deign and explaining your choice of imagery, symbols, materials etc. (no more than one page). Include Resume or Biographical Information. Please mail packet with all materials to New Rochelle Council on the Arts, City Hall, 515 North Ave. New Rochelle, NY Memo: FLEUR-DE-LIS Please include a self-addressed 12 x 19 stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of your proposal and supporting materials: OR Applicants must submit the following items both burned on a CD and in Word Documents A written proposal describing your design and explaining your choice of imagery, symbols, materials etc. (no more than one page). One hard copy and one Word document on the CD No more than three (3) images. Work is to be 300dpi (500x500) JPG or EPS on a CD numbered to correspond with images. Label ALL images with Name, address, and contact number. Include Resume or Biographical Information hard copy and Word document on the CD A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of your CD and supporting materials. Please mail packet with all materials to New Rochelle Council on the Arts, City Hall, 515 North Ave. New Rochelle, NY Memo: FLEUR-DE-LIS Deadline for application materials : September 1, 2013 Notification of finalists: September 25, 2013 Works to be completed by mid-late October Please note: REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:: As a condition of entry, entrant grants the New Rochelle Council on the Arts and the City of New Rochelle the right to reproduce accepted designs in materials such as a catalogue, press releases, publications, brochures, leaflets, radio or television announcements, or other printed or electronic media for advertising, education and publicity for this and any future New Rochelle anniversary celebrations.

6 Please note: Materials will be returned via standard mail within 30 days of final selections only if a SASE is included in application. Although special care will be taken in the handling and return of all submissions, the New Rochelle Council on the Arts cannot be responsible for any materials that are lost, stolen, or damaged while in our possession or in transit. Questions: Artists may send his/her questions to info@newrochellearts.org. Please include your phone number for a quicker and more detailed response.

7 New Rochelle Council on the Arts APPLICATION FORM Please attach all additional requested information Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Telephone: Website: Tell us how you learned of this opportunity:

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