KANSAS  CITY  POWER  &  LIGHT    CALL  FOR  ARTISTS  -­‐  REQUEST  FOR  QUALIFICATIONS  

 INTRODUCTION    Kansas  City  Power  &  Light    (KCP&L)  invites  all  Artists  and  Collaborative  Artist  Teams  based  in  the  KCP&L  service  area  to  submit  qualifications  and  letters  of  interest  in  order  to  be  considered  as  finalists  for  the  commission  of  a  permanent  artwork  as  a  part  of  the  Crosstown  Substation  renovation   in  Kansas  City’s  Crossroads  Arts  District.    Project  Location:  18th  Street,  between  Holmes  and  Cherry  Streets  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri.    Budget:  $100,000   is  available  for  all  related  expenses  of  this  Public  Art  commission,   including  (but  not  limited  to)  Artist/team  fees,  engineering,  fabrication,  insurance,  shipping,  travel,  permitting,  installation,  documentation,  etc.      Key  Dates:    February  23rd,  2012   RFQ  Submission  Deadline  –  5pm  CST  (not  a  postmark  deadline)  Week  of  February  27th,   First  Phase:  Panel  Review  of  Submissions    Week  of  March  5th   Finalist  Orientation  Mtg.  &  Site  Visit    Week  of  April  23rd   Second  Phase:  Proposal  Presentations  &  Panel  Review  May  –  August         Fabrication/Installation  September  7th,  2012     First  Friday  Dedication  Event    

KCP&L  reserves  the  right  to  modify  or  revise  the  Call  for  Artists  key  dates  at  any  time.    DESIGN  BRIEF    

This  is  a  KCP&L  initiated  substation  redevelopment  program  that  aims  to  improve  the  public  realm  and  strengthen   the   utility’s   connectivity   to   the   area’s   rich   cultural   resources.   Artists/teams   are   asked   to  envision   a   permanent   artwork   to   enhance   the   renovation   design   that   will   welcome   the   hundreds   of  pedestrians,  residents,  and  motorists  commuting  through  or  stopping  by  this  busy  corridor  each  day.    The  North  side  of  the  substation  surrounding  wall  structure  is  approximately  90  feet  long  and  14  feet  at  its  highest  point  and  tapers  to  2  feet.  The  North  Plaza  area  boasts  an  11,500  square  feet  congregating  space   where   observers   can  meander   between  waist   height   light   bollards,   while   the   west   end   of   the  plaza  is  flanked  by  a  grass  area  and  the  east  end  is  anchored  by  a  bus  stop  for  the  KCATA.  All  site  lighting  is  powered  by  a  photovoltaic  array  (solar  wall)  located  on  the  south  end  of  the  substation.      KCP&L  and  its  design  team  have  designated  a  zone  for  a  commissioned  public  artwork,  either  attached  or  immediately  adjacent  to,  the  substation  surrounding  wall  in  the  North  Plaza  area.  The  cladding  of  the  wall   is  currently  designed  to  be  a  rust  color,  weathering  steel  approximately  1/4”  thick  surrounding  an  inset,   angled   glass   cavity   that   is   8   feet   at   its   highest   point   and   tapers   to   1   foot.   A   removable   panel  located  at  its  Eastern  end  will  allow  for  installation/maintenance  access.  Power  will  be  provided  to  the  display  and  LED  lighting  can  be  provided  for  general  illumination.  

 Architect’s  Rendering  of  North  Plaza  area  at  night,  with  Public  Art  designated  area  shown  in  yellow  

   

 Architect’s  Rendering  of  18th  Street  +  North  Plaza  area  looking  Southwest  

   FINAL  COMMISSION  SELECTION  CRITERIA  

• Submittal  of  all  required  application  materials  as  outlined  in  the  RFQ  and  Proposal  Guidelines.  • Attention  to  context:  architectural,  historical,  geographical,  and  cultural;  • Proven  ability  to  create  distinctive  site  specific  artwork  as  exhibited  by  past  work;  • Originality:  creativity  and  uniqueness  of  proposed  artwork  concept  for  this  project;  • Quality  and  craftsmanship  of  product  as  exhibited  by  past  work;  • Maintainability:  structural  and  surface  soundness,  durability  and  resistance  to  vandalism,  

weathering,  excessive  maintenance,  repair  costs;  • Appropriateness  for  placement  on  an  urban  pedestrian  site  and  ability  for  artwork  to  withstand  

public  interaction  where  it  can  be  touched  and  climbed  upon;  • Public  safety,  and  compliance  with  the  Americans  With  Disabilities  Act;  and  • Feasibility:  Artist/team’s  proven  track  record/ability  to  complete  the  work  on  time  and  within  

the  budget.    

SUBMISSION  GUIDELINES    

1. All   submissions  must   include   ten   printed   copies   of   a   ‘Letter   of   Interest/Approach   Statement’  that  is  no  more  than  three  typewritten  pages.  This  letter  should  include  a  primary  contact  email  address   and   phone   number,   and   the   Artist/team’s   reasons   for   interest   in   this   project   in  particular.  In  doing  so,  the  Artist/team  should  also  describe  how  his/her  work  and/or  experience  relates  to  the  project.  Although  a  detailed  proposal   is  not  requested  at  this  time  we  do  expect  this  document  to  address  the  artwork  you  will  propose.    

 2.      Submit  a  maximum  of   ten  digital   images  of   recent  artwork  with  no  more   than  2   images  of  an  

individual  work.  A  portion  of  the  depicted  work  should  relate  in  material  and/or  approach  to  the  KCP&L   substation   project.   Collaborative   teams   may   include   up   to   six   images   per   member.  Images  must  be  saved  as  MAC  compatible  JPG  files  on  a  CD-­‐ROM  or  USB  Flashdrive  at  72  dpi.  The  maximum  pixel   dimensions   are   1000   in  width   and   1000   in   height.   The   file   size  must   not  exceed  2MB.  All   images  must  be  clearly  labeled  with  the  number  (order  to  be  viewed),  Artist’s  last   name,   and   first   name.   Example:   smith_jane_01.   Do   not   label   images   with   characters,  commas,   periods   or   spaces.   The   Image   Identification   document   (see   below)  must   correspond  with  digital  images.  Do  not  embed  images  in  a  Power  Point  presentation.  

 3.      Submit   ten   printed   copies   of   an   ‘Image   Identification’   document   that   includes   title,   year,  

medium  and  dimensions.  For  descriptions  of  public  art  installations,  please  also  include  location,  commissioning  agency  and  budget.  Any  additional  notes  may  not  exceed  25  words  per  image.  

 4. Submit   two  printed  copies  of  a  current   resume.   If  you  are  submitting  as  a  collaborative   team,  

each  member  must  submit  an  individual  resume.    

5.      If  the  Artist/team  wishes  the  material  returned,  an  addressed  and  stamped  envelope  of  ample  size   and   postage   for   return   of   the   materials   should   be   included.   Material   that   is   not  accompanied  by  a  stamped  envelope  cannot  be  returned.  

   WHERE  TO  SUBMIT    Hard  copy  applications  may  be  sent  by  mail  or  express  delivered  to:                  Kathy  Dowell  Art  +  Service                5523  Charlotte  Street                Kansas  City,  Missouri    64110-­‐2717    DEADLINE:  submission  packages  must  be  RECEIVED  on  or  before  FEBRUARY  23RD,  2012  by  5  p.m.  CST  (NOTE:  THIS  IS  NOT  A  POSTMARK  DEADLINE)    While  all  reasonable  care  will  be  taken  in  the  handling  of  materials,  materials;  however,  we  cannot  be  responsible   for   their   loss   or   damage.   E-­‐mailed   applications   cannot   be   accepted.     Artist/team’s   may  arrange  for  hand-­‐delivery  by  contacting:  KCP&Lpublicart@att.net.      The  Selection  Committee  reserves  the  right  to  withhold  the  award  of  a  commission  or  re-­‐release  the  call  for  entries  should  it  be  determined  the  proposals  submitted  are  unacceptable.        

ARTIST/TEAM  SELECTION  PROCESS    

The   Selection   Committee   comprised   of   arts   professionals   and   stakeholder   representatives  will   review  applicants  from  which  a  shortlist  of  three  to  five  finalists  will  be  developed.  Each  finalist’s  team  will  be  paid  a  $2,500  stipend  to  be  used  to  develop  a  design/conceptual  proposal  for  the  site.        Finalists   will   be   invited   to   participate   in   an   orientation   meeting(s)   with   the   project   team,   and   every  effort  will  be  made  to  provide  the  finalists  with  information  and  contacts  to  assist  with  project  research  in   the   development   of   their   proposal.   Proposals   will   be   due   approximately   six   weeks   following   the  orientation.    The   selection   panel   will   reconvene   to   review   Artist/team’s   proposals   on   a   date   TBD,   which   will   be  conducted   in   person.   The   proposals   must   include   a   detailed   budget,   time-­‐line   and   an   on-­‐going  maintenance  plan.    The  final  selection  will  be  made  from  the  finalist  short  list.  The  Artist/team  will  be  informed  of  the  final  selection  within   two  weeks   of   the   final   Artist/team   selection   panel.   Artist/team  will   contract   directly  with  KCP&L  and  will  receive  payments  as  outlined  within  the  contract.  No  selection  shall  be  considered  final  until  the  Artist/team  and  the  A/E  Consultant  have  properly  executed  that  agreement.      FOR  MORE  INFORMATION    

No  phone  calls  please.  If  you  require  assistance  contact  us  via  email  at  KCPLpublicart@att.net