The Rotary Club of Kingsport, TN, in collaboration with the Kingsport Public Art Committee, Edens Investment, and Barge Design Solutions, Inc., is seeking qualifications from artists or art teams for the commission of a centennial sculpture to commemorate the every-day heroes of the community at the traffic circle currently in development for the Brickyard Village.

As part of the Brickyard Village development, the new road system will include a traffic circle central to the right-of-way and directly adjacent to the Community Building. The Brickyard sculpture will be commissioned by the Rotary Club of Kingsport and installed in the traffic circle under coordination with the City of Kingsport’s Office of Cultural Arts. An elevated platform for the sculpture will be constructed in the center of the traffic circle. The design of this platform will include a cog design, representing both the Rotary logo and the original City seal.

The sculpture must not exceed the 33.5 ft. platform, but the artist(s) is encouraged to use multiple components to fill the space as needed and frame the views of the Community Building. The sculpture must be lit at night or have light elements incorporated into the design. Careful consideration should be given to the lighting, such that it does not create glare that would negatively affect motorists or residences fronting the traffic circle.

The sculpture should be highly visible 24 hours per day, both day and night, and should activate the space that it occupies. The use of moving parts should be limited. The sculpture should not have any fragile components and should be resistant to vandalism. It should be a substantial, durable and long- lasting piece. It is intended to be one of the main attractions within the Village, engaging viewers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Rotary Club Selection Committee will review the qualifications of applicant artists and will select three finalists. Their selections will be based on the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence as demonstrated in 10 digital images of the artist(s) previous work
• Experience in design and installation of projects of a similar type and scale
• Experience working in community settings
• Willingness to meet all contractual guidelines
• The use of content appropriate for all audiences
• Special consideration will be made for sculpture created with indigenous materials.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submissions shall include the following:<

• Cover letter/letter of intent
• Digital portfolio (10 digital images of previous artwork)
• Include an image list with a thumbnail view of each image submitted
• Indicate the budget amount and provide a short description next to each thumbnail
• Artist’s resume
• Contact information for 3 professional references (at least 2 should be from individuals who have commissioned public work from the artist)

Please see commission portal link for full project information and application instructions. Submit your digital packet to [email protected]