Grand River Center ArtworkMEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
November 11, 2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Recommendations on Artwork for Grand River Center
On September 15, 2003 the City Council approved a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
for the installation of artwork in the Grand River Center.
City staff worked with the Dubuque Museum of Art (DUMA) to send out this RFQ to over
80 local artists residing within the City of Dubuque. Additional RFQs were sent to artists
upon request. On September 24, 2003 approximately 24 artists participated in a tour of
the Grand River Center to get a better understanding of the proposed locations as well
as a feel for the colors and fabrics used throughout the facility.
On October 7, 2003, the city received a total of 19 responses to the RFQ. The design
review committee consisted of the following individuals: Jerry Enzler, National
Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium; Mitzi Yordi, Platinum Hospitality; Amy Wickham,
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation; Sue Czeshinski, Dubuque Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau; and city staff, including Planning Services Manager
Laura Carstens, Administrative Services Manager Pauline Joyce, Assistant City
Manager Cindy Steinhauser and Economic Development Planner Pam Myhre.
Artists were selected based upon their ability to develop artwork that is a correct '?it"
with the building architecture, quality of the artwork and the experience in working with
large spaces, and professional qualifications. The committee also focused their
selection on odginal pieces or artwork without a wide distribution in the Dubuque area.
There were some changes in the quantity and placement of artwork resulting in the total
cost of the artwork being $56,362, which is $33,638 under the $90,000 budget.
Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser will show you the artwork and is
recommending the purchase.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
MEMORANDUM
November 10, 2003
TO:
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager(,.~~L'~
SUBJECT: Recommendations on Artwork for Grand River Center
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend a selection of artists for placement of
artwork in the Grand River Center.
Discussion
On September 15, 2003 the City Council approved a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the
installation of artwork in the Grand River Center. The proposed locations for artwork included
1) one large hanging sculpture in entryway; 2) one large print behind the reception desk; 3)
one large print near escalator; 4) four large prints in the meeting room hallway; 5) one
sculpture under the River Room stairs; and 6) sculpture in the prefunction space adjacent to
the Riverwalk, The total budget for the artwork is $90,000, Included in the RFQ was the
proposed timeline:
September 16, 2003
September 24, 2003
October 7, 2003
October 13, 2003
November 3, 2003
Issue Request for Qualifications
Presubmission Tour of Facility
Responses Due
Artwork viewing at Grand River Center
City Council Decision on Artist(s)
City staff worked with the Dubuque Museum of Art (DUMA) to send out this RFQ to over 80
local artists residing within the City of Dubuque. Additional RFQs were sent to artists upon
request. On September 24, 2003 approximately 24 artists participated in a tour of the Grand
River Center to get a better understanding of the proposed locations as well as a feel for the
colors and fabrics used throughout the facility.
On October 7, 2003, the city received a total of 19 responses to the RFQ. A design review
meeting was held on October 13, 2003 and again on November 10, 2003 to review all of the
proposals. The design review committee consists of the following individuals: Jerry Enzler,
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Jim Rix, Platinum Hospitality, Rick Dickinson,
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation (GDDC), Sue Czeshinski, Dubuque Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau and city staff including Laura Carstens, Pauline Joyce, Bill
Baum and myself. Due to scheduling conflicts, Mitzi Yordi from Platinum Hospitality attended
on behalf of Jim Rix, Amy Wickham from GDDC attended on behalf of Rick Dickinson and
Pam Myhre attended on behalf of Bill Baum. Artists were selected based upon their ability to
develop artwork that is a correct '~it" with the building architecture, quality of the artwork and
the experience in working with large spaces, and professional qualifications. The committee
also focused their selection on original pieces or artwork without a wide distribution in the
Dubuque area. The following artists and locations are recommended for the Grand River
Center:
Location
Artist Recommended Medium
Sculpture #'1 city side prefunction space
Sculpture #2 city side prefunction space
Sculpture #3 prefunction space under stairs
Sculpture fl4 river side
Sculpture #5 river side
Sculpture #6 river side
Sculpture #7 river side
Sculpture #8 river side
Sculpture #9 river side
)refunction space
)refunction space
)refunction space
)refunction space
)refunction space
)refunction space
Sculpture #10 river side prefunction space
Sculpture #11 river side prefunction space
Meeting Room hallway #1
Meeting Room hallway #2
Meeting Room hallway #3
Meeting Room hallway #4
Escalator
Reception Desk
Board Room in administrative space
Administrative space #1
Administrative space #2
Administrative space ~L3
Gall Chavanelle* Metal
Gail Chavanelle* Metal
Ken Bichell* Pottery
Ken Bichell* Pottery
Ken Bichell* Pottery
Andrew Hudson* Pottery
Andrew Hudson* Pottery
Andrew Hudson* Pottery
Mark Fowler* Glass
Mark Fowler* Glass
Mark Fowler* Glass
Louis Kames* Painting
Louis Kames* Painting
Ellen Wagener+ Painting
Ellen Wagener+ Painting
Cynthia Nelms-Byrne* Painting
Thomas Jackson+ Painting
Kay Norman* Painting
Alda Kaufman* Painting
John Anderson-Bicker* Painting
John Anderson-Bicker* Painting
*Depicts local (city of Dubuque artist)
+Depicts Iowa artist
This recommendation is a revision to what was proposed in the RFQ. The committee is
recommending not purchasing a large hanging sculpture for the entryway as it was discussed
that the building itself was artwork. Other changes include a total of eleven pedestals for
artwork in the building as opposed to five that was originally thought to be in the building
design. Lastly, the committee is recommending placement of artwork in the "public spaces" of
the administrative space, which includes the boardroom and the small reception area. The
total cost for the artwork recommended above is approximately $56,362.00 and includes an
allowance for framing and mounting the artwork. This is $33,638.00 under the proposed
budget. All artists have indicated their ability to meet the 60-day requirement in the RFQ
whereby all artwork must be installed within 60 days of notice of award.
Request
The request is for City Council to approve the committee recommendation for artwork in the
Grand River Center.
Cc: Design Review Committee
,embles
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Duet
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Jazz
30"
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Sketch for Meander
Alda Kaufman
6765 Massey Station Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52003
563 556 1623
My work would be executed in mixed media, using watercolor,acrylics,
and gouache on a gessoed board. I would like to do a local scene such as the river
bluffs in the painMng pictured below. Another possibility would include the city and
river done in the same style and colors, My artwork needs to be matted and framed
under glass or plexiglass. The final size would include the matt. The size and shape
coouldbe adjusted according to the space available but would be about 35"X50".
I would suggest all artists selected collaborate on the framing so all works are
similarly framed.