REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AVENUE C PUBLIC PLAZA SURFACE ASPHALT ART

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AVENUE C PUBLIC PLAZA SURFACE ASPHALT ART

The Kensington Stewards, in partnership with the Neighborhood Plaza Partnership (NPP), a program of The Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort) and Councilmember Brad Lander’s office, are seeking proposals from artists to be submitted to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) for an “Asphalt Art Activation” (asphalt art) to be designed, produced, and painted on the asphalt surface of a triangle that sits at the intersection of Avenue C and McDonald Ave in Kensington, Brooklyn. Recently approved by Brooklyn Community Board 12 and slated to be transformed into a public plaza, the Avenue C Plaza will be one of the 70 plazas that are in the works under the DOT’s NYC Plaza Program.

GUIDELINES
Designs should adhere to all the following guidelines:
1. Be bold, colorful and VERY SIMPLE (emphasis on simple).
2. Must be simple enough to be implemented using stencils over 1 or 2 days by volunteers who may have no training with art.
3. Consist of no more than 4 colors.
4. Be design/pattern-based - NOT character or portrait-based.
5. Does not include words.
6. Can be enjoyed from close-up and far away.
7. Any design that consistently or methodically repeats itself will work best.
8. Consider that those who live within the viewshed of the plaza will see this from their residences.
9. Be 100% authentic and original and do not infringe upon any copyrights.

ELIGIBILITY
● Special consideration will be given to local artists in Kensington or Brooklyn.
● Applicants must provide examples of past artwork that demonstrates proficiency in design.
● Previous experience with large agency collaborations is a plus.
● Previous experience or demonstrated proficiency working with stencils a plus.
● Previous experience or demonstrated proficiency in accomplishing large-scale, team-based projects a plus.

LOCATION SPECIFICATIONS
Currently an asphalt triangle, the Avenue C Plaza site is located at the intersection of Avenue C and McDonald Ave in Kensington, Brooklyn. The site area is approximately 3650 sq ft with a length of 145 ft and a width of 50 ft. In addition to the asphalt art, the plaza once implemented will also include plaza elements (tables, chairs, umbrellas, boulders, planters and other elements) as shown in the schematic diagram below. The plaza site is slated to be resurfaced with asphalt in order to create a smooth surface for the plaza.


SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
All items must be included as part of the submission package or applications will not be reviewed.
● Contact info, including name, address, city, state, zip code, e-mail and phone number.
● Three (3) examples of past work in PDF or JPEG format. For each example of past work, please include title, material and when the work was created.
● Conceptual design for plaza surface in PDF or JPEG format. Conceptual design can be stand-alone or superimposed on site area.
● Attach an abbreviated curriculum vitae.
● Bio: Briefly describe your past work experience in solo/group exhibitions in 150 words or less.
● Design Description: Briefly describe your design and its creative intentions in 150 words or less.
● Past Leadership Experience: Briefly describe one team and/or community-based project that best represents your leadership skills in 150 words or less.

REVIEW PROCESS
● The Kensington Stewards will receive the initial applications. The top two applications will be submitted to the DOT’s Urban Art Program. The DOT Process is a juried process in which they will decide the final proposal/artist to be selected for the eventual implementation of asphalt art for the plaza surface.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Application materials must be in JPEG or PDF format and be submitted to [email protected] by August 14, 2015, 5pm EST.

TIMELINE *
1. August 14, 2015 - Artist Applications due to The Kensington Stewards.
2. Mid-August – Kensington Stewards/NPP Art Subcommittee reviews applications. The top two (2) applications chosen will be submitted to the DOT’s Urban Art Program.
3. Late August - DOT Art Committee reviews applications and makes final decision for artist and proposal.
4. Late August/ Early September - Site Visit with Artist.
5. Late August/Early September - Artist submits Final Design.
6. Early-Mid September - Notify Community Board.
7. Hear back from Community Board, then proceed to implement.

*The above timeline is subject to modification and no asphalt art will be installed until plaza site is remediated/resurfaced by DOT.

PROJECT BUDGET
• Artist Honoraria: $2,000 (To Artist)
o Honoraria covers the following tasks
 Complete final design and fabricate stencils.
 Oversee implementation process. NPP will coordinate volunteers to help with day-of implementation, but artist must be on-site the day(s) of the art installation/painting to oversee volunteers.
• Artist Material Stipend for Stencil Production: $500 (To Artist)
• Paint, and associated paint materials: $1,500 (NPP will purchase paint & paint materials)
• Total Project Budget: $4,000

INSTALLATION MATERIALS
● Artist must use a water-based exterior grade primer and exterior grade paint.
● Recommended materials for stencils are oil board.

RELEVANT EXAMPLES OF DOT ASPHALT ART
1) “Lovely to See You” by Emily Caisip, Location - Franklin Street BikeShare Station, TriBeCa
For more photos, please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nycstreets/sets/72157635178389378

2) “Modern Tapestry” by Kim Sillen, Location – Division Street Plaza, Lower East Side
For more photos, please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nycstreets/sets/72157644908974127/

FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have specific questions about the opportunity, please contact [email protected].