Wednesday, August 17, 2011

DEADLINE REMINDER: Artist Portfolios for new Southeast WY Welcome Center due Sept. 2

The deadline for Art in Public Buildings artists’ portfolio submissions for the new Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center in Cheyenne is fast approaching. Portfolio submissions must be postmarked by September 2, for consideration.

The dramatic new Welcome Center is scheduled to open in mid-2012. Construction has begun along I-25 at mile marker 4.9 just north of the Colorado/Wyoming border. The new facility references historic tourism in the region as it is sited along the axis of the early Park-to-Park highway once connecting Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone National Parks.

In addition to serving as an information resource and introduction to the state, the facility also provides a workplace and headquarters for the Wyoming Office of Tourism staff. Their mission is to promote and facilitate increased traffic to and within the State of Wyoming, by residents and non-residents alike.

The building’s lobby –- positioned along the axis of the former Park-to-Park road – links the south and north entries and provides the main public access area. A connecting reception area houses interactive information stations for visitors while an interpretive hall provides an introduction to Wyoming’s rich story through a series of exhibition stations. The colorful interpretive galleries link to the glass-enclosed prow of the structure overlooking the prairie environment, and providing a sweeping view of the western vista.

The committee for the Art in Public Buildings Project has identified two areas as potential sites for public accessible art installations. One is an exterior plaza linking the structure to the primary visitor drop-off zone and parking lot. The second is a series of three interior steel doors linking the reception area and main corridor. Artwork for either location must be durable, structurally sound, secure and easy to maintain. Both 2-D and 3-D works are encouraged. The call for entries and additional project information is available through the Wyoming Arts Council website at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/.

Application for this project will be a two-phase process. Initially, artists are encouraged to submit a defined portfolio of work along with support documentation that includes a short narrative of potential design concepts and mediums. Following review, the committee will invite select artists to develop site-specific proposals to be reviewed in December 2011.

The Wyoming Arts Council is responsible for the implementation of the 1% for Art in Public Buildings legislation for the State of Wyoming.

FMI: David L. Newell, Curator of Art, Wyoming State Museum at 307-777-7677 or david.newell@wyo.gov.

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