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2013 Art on the River Exhibition_Artwork SelectionCity of Dubuque .marts & Cultural _Affairs Advisory Commission March 26, 2013 The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Dubuque 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Re: Approval of 2013 Art on the River Exhibition Dear Mayor and City Council Members: Introduction The purpose of this memorandum is to request City Council concurrence with the selection of artwork for the 2013 Art on the River Competition. Background The City is currently in the seventh year of the Art on the River Program. The 2012 Exhibit, consisting of works of sculpture in the Port of Dubuque, will be on display through June 2013. In January, the "Call for Sculptors" for the 2013 -2014 Art on the River Exhibit was emailed to hundreds of artists, galleries and educational institutions, posted on regional and national online sources, and advertised locally. This year, there were 79 entries from 47 artists from 18 states and one foreign country (Vienna, Austria). The 2013 Art on the River Exhibition will be installed in July 2013, with the date for the opening event scheduled for Thursday, July 11, 2013, at 5 -7 p.m. at the Grand River Center. The Art on the River process is overseen by the Art on the River Committee comprised of Arts Commissioners, arts educators, a representative from the Dubuque Museum of Art, local artists and city staff. The Committee previously recommended to the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission and the City Council that a blind jury process be utilized to select artwork for the Exhibition and to select different jury members each year, typically one from the Dubuque area and two from out of the area. Discussion A panel of three credentialed jurors reviews the artist applications and makes a recommendation to the Commission and the City Council on the selection of artwork. The jury made their selections of art work for the 2013 exhibition on March 15, 2012. Jurors for the new exhibit are: Seth Myers is a conceptual artist and a dedicated arts educator currently working as an Assistant Professor of Art & Communication at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He received a BA in Art from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, and his MFA in New Genres from the San 1 Francisco Art Institute. He also attended Goldsmiths College in London, England, where he practiced full -time studio art as a part of his undergraduate studies. Over the past 12 years, his work has been exhibited internationally at venues that include the New Fangle New Media Exhibition of GenArts in San Francisco, the Unge Kunstneres Samfung Gallery in Oslo, Norway, the Berliner Kunstsalon in Berlin, Germany, and the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba. His work has also been recognized in international art publications including Art Nexus, Artist Magazine- Taiwan, and Japan -based Shift Online Magazine. Sean O'Harrow has been the Executive Director of the University of Iowa Art Museum in Iowa City, IA., since 2010. A native of Hawaii, O'Harrow earned his doctorate in history of art from the University of Cambridge, England, in 1997 and a bachelors degree in Fine Arts (art history) from Harvard University in 1990. He oversees the management and care of UIMA collections as well as its curatorial, educational, fundraising and administrative activities. He was instrumental in helping the UIMA house, preserve and display its vast collection at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, following the flood of 2008 that devastated the University of Iowa arts campus. He served as the Executive Director of the Figge from 2007 until 2010. Prior to arriving in Iowa, he was an Official Fellow of St. Catharine's College in the University of Cambridge and senior executive in the investment banking sector in London. He currently serves on the Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors. Laura Primozic is an artist and the Instructional Technician at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. Primozic received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 2010. Her work has been exhibited across the country: Seattle, WA; Lincoln, NE; Minneapolis, MN; Chicago, IL; Philadelphia, PA and Schuylerville, NY. She also has work in the collections of the Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis MN; Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI; Saratoga Clay Center; and Schuylerville, NY. Primozic has been making work surrounding the idea of the vast overwhelming arctic landscape and representing it on a micro scale since 2006. She is interested in absurd interactions between man -made objects and natural landscapes. The highly crafted construction and simple design blurs the definition of beauty, preciousness, and the pristine. The jury selected 10 works and two alternates. Attachment 1 provides details on each of the works of sculpture including the title, artist, description of the art work, and images of each work. Selections are: Conscious of Her Shores, Jason Lowrey, Williamsburg, VA THEB #4 or Jeff Boshart, Charleston, IL Quarks VI and Quarks VII, Guy Believer, St. Charles, IL RiverBoatBench, Don Lawler, Stephensport, KY Cone Flower Cluster, Bounnak Thammavong, Swisher, IA Steel Inverted Arch, Kenneth Thompson, Blissfield, MI Moving Compass, Kristin Thielking and Keven Brunett, Stevens Point, WI Prairie Walker, James Johnson, Charleston, IL All Things Truly Wicked Start from Innocence, Jessica Teckemeyer, Dubuque, IA 2 Alternate Selections: Rules of Civility, Kristin Garnant, Camanche, IA Passion, John Bannon, Chicago, IL The jury has also made recommendations on siting the works along the Riverwalk and at the Grand River Center. On March 19, 2103, the Art on the River Committee voted unanimously to approve the jury's selections. On March 26, 2013, the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission voted unanimously to approve the jury's selections of works of sculpture for the 2013 -2014 Art on the River Exhibit. Upon City Council concurrence with this recommendation, city staff will notify all artists of the recommendation and work with selected artists to coordinate installation of the artwork in July 2013. Recommendation The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission is recommending that the City Council concur with the 2013 Art on the River jury selection for outdoor sculpture at the Port of Dubuque. Sincerely, Marina O'Rourke Chairperson Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission Attachment 3 4 Arton Rive 2013 Jury Selections 10 Finalists "Conscious of Her Shores" o Artist: Jayson Lowery Williamsburg, VA Width: 19" Height: 56" Depth: 19" Weight: 1400 Ibs Materials: Marble, Limestone, Cast Iron and Steel Artist Statement: This piece is part of a body of work that is an extended metaphor for contemplating correlations in how people interacted with one another and how they shape their environment. The ruins and relics of past societies are fascinating. They are tangible reminders that civilizations decline, ways of life change, and technologies are sometimes lost. The idea of a society in the distant future interpreting the ruins, relics, and garbage of our society is interesting to me. The remnants of places and objects we make and live with now may not make sense to someone finding them at the bottom of a hole a few thousand years from now. There may well be some misinterpreting of the purposes and significance of the things we take for granted. How would someone interpret the ruins of a place like an airport if knowledge of flight were completely lost? It 0 CO 44- it w Width: 16' -0 0 co 0":3zo a) �..� •• }' o) 11 .0) v -0 m052 E Artist Statement: When I ask my students to look at a sculpture they tell me they see the sculpture and describe it quite accurately. However, they almost always neglect to tell me what was beyond the physical form of the artwork. My sculptures follow in the traditions of the Constructivists and David Smith. Smith did a series of CUBIs (polished, stainless steel, stacked boxes) that delightfully reflect their surroundings. My THEB constructions (Transparent, Hollow, Empty Boxes) lack those reflective surfaces but allow you to see through the sculpture. Are the boxes empty or do they contain the environment beyond the sculpture? Do they diminish the site or enhance your awareness of it. Can you choose which focus you have intellectually or aesthetically? The sculptures do not compete with their setting but then they do their best to hold their own with an intimidating scale when you are up close but display a more playful aspect when seen from afar. I love this push and pull not to mention the use of more formal art elements as I construct them. You never get too old to stack boxes. I currently have these two large sale sculptures available for distribution this summer. If it is allowed, Dubuque has first choice of the two. The second one will be sent elsewhere. artist: Guy J. Bellaver St. Charles, IL I Width: 3' Height: 6' Depth: 1.25' Weight: 150 Ibs I Materials: Welded Steel, Marine Grade Fiberglass, Body Putty & Automotive grade Spray Paint Quarks VI Artist Statement: Quarks VI — is made from fiberglass and steel rod, expanding the artist's exploration within the Quarks series from the earlier bronze pieces. The color palette of this piece is a very strong "electric" blue. This vibrant color allows the sculpture to clearly differentiate and utilize both its positive and negative spaces. The Quarks Series The Quarks Series is inspired by Fermilab - the proton - antiproton collider that investigates High - Energy Physics, the science of matter, space, and time. The collision of the protons and antiprotons can only be seen when captured by a very high resolution camera. The collision images are the basis for the Quarks Series, which explores mass that is exploding and creating disintegrating arcs - the fiberglass segments represent mass, and the rod represents that mass leaving one area, and exploding into another. Each sculpture in the series continues the artist's career -long exploration of the relationship of positive to negative space, and the energy of their interaction. Artist: Guy J. Bellaver St. Charles, IL Width: 3' Height: 5.5' Depth: 1' Weight: 150 Ibs Materials: Welded Steel, Marine Grade Fiberglass, Body Putty & Automotive grade Spray Paint Artist Statement: Quarks VII — the color palette of this piece is more subdued than the blue of Quarks VI, and explores shadow and light within the energy masses. The Quarks Series The Quarks Series is inspired by Fermilab - the proton - antiproton collider that investigates High - Energy Physics, the science of matter, space, and time. The collision of the protons and antiprotons can only be seen when captured by a very high resolution camera. The collision images are the basis for the Quarks Series, which explores mass that is exploding and creating disintegrating arcs - the fiberglass segments represent mass, and the rod represents that mass leaving one area, and exploding into another. Each sculpture in the series continues the artist's career -long exploration of the relationship of positive to negative space, and the energy of their interaction. River Boat IBench Artist: Don Lawler Stephensport, KY Width: 5' Height: 2' Depth: 2' Weight: 1500 Ibs Materials: Indiana Limestone, Rock Pitch Finish, Stainless Steel & Monument grade Epoxy Artist Statement: This design was created after reading the Wikipedia description for the history and demographics of the Port of Dubuque. A contemporary artistic interpretation of a river boat (or barge) slowly turns out into the current of the Mississippi River. The reference includes the past (river boat traffic and construction) and the present (barges and the riverboat casino) importance that river boats have for the City of Dubuque. Cone Flower Cluster CONEFLOWERCLIISTER: proposedworkby A collection of spherical abstract artwork inspired by native Iowan wild flowers; the cone flower. Cone Flowers: The inspiration for the fond otthe Cone Flower Closter Artist: Bounnak Thammavong Swisher, IA Width: 96" Height: 60" Depth: 96" Weight: 225 Ibs Materials: Mild & Cor -ten Steel, Stainless Steel, Outdoor grade enamel & Spar Varnish Artist Statement: An abstract representation of a Cone flower blossoms created in painted steel and stainless steel. Steel Inverted Arch Artist: Kenneth Thompson Blissfield, MI IWidth: 7' Height: 6'6 Depth: 2' Weight: 1100 Ibs Materials: 10 gauge Corten Steel & Limestone Artist Statement: I see each new work as a 'clean sheet of paper' that presents new opportunities to discover sculptural solutions. Beyond content and my sense of aesthetics, my sculpture concentrates on the fundamental issues of form and how negative space defines it. oving ompass Aists: Samples of the kind of glass work we do to give you an idea of what the glass would look like installed in the vanes and against the sky_ We wouldn't use imagery since the glass would be too high up to see more than the color. This piece is also available, and could be made stronger to withstand public interaction. The glass is designed to with stand large temperature shifts, included freezing. Moving Compass Series: The text and imagery fused within the glass disks relate to nautical navigation and tools, such as buoys, depth charts, historical and contemporary compass designs, planets, maps of waterways from Lake Michgan to New York Harbor and Long Island Sound, Each stands 5 -6' tall. each disk is 6 -9" in diameter and 1" thick: steel. cast -iron wheels. fused ;lass with enamels. Moving Compass Series: Detail Kristin Thielking & Keven Brunett Stevens Point, WI Width: 6 -9" Height: 5 -6' Materials: Glass with enamels, Steel & Cast Iron Artist Statement: The text and imagery fused within the glass disks relate to nautical navigation and tools, such as buoys, depth charts, historical and contemporary compass designs, planets, maps of waterways from Lake Michigan to New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Prairie Walker 1 1 Artist: James Johnson Charleston, IL Width: 10' Height: 12' Depth: 6' Weight: 1200 Ibs Materials:10 gauge Cor -ten Steel Artist Statement: As a sculptor, I have always been concerned with creating works of art that cause the viewer to pause and reflect upon their surroundings and in doing so become more aware of the environment that they are passing though. In addition, each work of art that I have designed and fabricated is a reflection of past experiences that have shaped my life and the interest that I have in ancient cultures, especially the Mayan and Inca that used art as a means of understanding their place in the history of mankind. Equally important has been my use of the arch as a means of transforming the viewer from a place and time of activity to one of calm and reflection. 'Prairie Walker" was completed in the summer of 2011. In many ways it is a reflection of my experiences of living in the Southwest and Western United States in the early years of my life. Traveling through the wide -open spaces of deserts and prairies I was taken with the images that man -made structures made against the horizon and how in the heat of summer they seemed to move. Later in life I was involved in track events and would often train by running across the prairie and through vast wheat fields, it is perhaps the combination of these experiences that are reflected in "Prairie Walker." All Things Truly Wicked Start From Innocence Artist: Jessica Teckemeyer Dubuque, IA Width: 24.5 Height: 18 0 Depth: 25 Weight: 100 Ibs Materials: Synthetic Material, Bronze Casting, Patina & Automotive Wax Artist Statement: The sculpture "All Things Truly Wicked Start From Innocence" is a representation of a new born whitetail deer attempting to stand juxtaposed with the shadow of a wolf. The head is visually distorted as if a slow motion blur has permanently stretched and morphed the physicality. This frozen action attempts to convey panic or a moment of distraction. The sculpture will be cast bronze. Bronze is a material historically utilized to depict heroic individuals in monumental ways. Working against the materials historical associations, this sculpture depicts the villain or mass murder in an infantile state of being. This is not to elevate the pseudo command, but rather question whether nature or nurture could have changed the individual's actions. Ernest Hemingway stated, "all things truly wicked start from innocence." The statement implicates the murky depths of our subconscious. The work is a response to the15 mass shootings of 2012. I am interested in the conflicted complexity of human behavior. As social creatures, we combat reason versus instinct. Through translating a human experience into the form of an animal, we look at ourselves from another viewpoint. While the scale at 24.5" w x 18" h x 25" d is small for public art, I see this as strength. Working against the "bigger is better" mentality, viewers will dominate over the frail deer. Plus, aesthetic impact has more to do with the content of the sculpture for me, than monumental scale. lon e �� if VVI 2013 Alternates Rules of Civility Artist: Kristin Garnant Camanche, IA Width: 6'(varies) Height: 65" Depth: 12" Weight: 100 Ibs Materials: Weather proof Steel - Corten Artist Statement: This triptych consists of three abstract pieces constructed of corten steel. Their subtle curves reveal openings and recesses, the give and take of space, while maintaining an upright dignity and powerful presence. Sentries, speaking to the need of civility and compassion. The piece can be displayed in a line, if space permits, or it will fit on one 42" pad in a grouping. Passion Artist: John Bannon Chicago, IL Width: 4' Height: 16.5' Depth: 6.5' Weight: 300 lbs Materials: 3" X 3" Welded Aluminum Tubing and Lacquer Artist Statement: By presenting universal elements of visual perception from an aesthetically unique point of view, I work to create an experience that will open the viewer's mind to inspiration and new ways of thinking.