Washington-Centerville Public Library RFP for Artwork Woodbourne Library Renovation & Expansion Project:
Art Speaks Volumes
Open To: Artists with ties to the Greater Miami Valley
Commission Amount: $35,000 is budgeted for artwork at Woodbourne Library Entry Open Date: May 15, 2017
Entry Deadline: July 7, 2017
Commissions Announced: August 1, 2017
Projection Completion: June 1, 2018
Project Summary: Washington-Centerville Public Library seeks to commission site-specific pieces of artwork for four spaces within the renovated and expanded Woodbourne Library slated to reopen in the Summer of 2018.
Artists are invited to propose newly created artworks, of any medium, that reflect the communities of Centerville/Washington Township and the Modernist tradition of the building. Artists may propose more than one work if they so choose. Proposed artworks should resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds and contribute to the inviting, engaging and stimulating library environment. The committee welcomes, but does not require, submissions that relate to the Washington-Centerville Public Library’s mission to be the community’s connection to diverse opportunities for education, enrichment and entertainment.
From the submissions, a committee of local citizens and Library Trustees will select the winning artists. Winning artists will meet with Library staff, architects and construction representatives to confirm plans for the commission and will be required to sign a Letter of Agreement by September 2017 and complete the work by June 2018.
Centerville/Washington Township Community Background: Centerville/Washington Township is a well-educated suburban community of approximately 53,000 people. Known for its strong school district, parks and library system, it is an attractive community for families with children.
Centerville has the largest collection of early stone houses in the state of Ohio. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Centerville, also known as “The Heart of Centerville”, is an Architectural Preservation District that reflects the “Main Street” downtown era that shaped American towns and cities in the early 1900s. Many of the downtown buildings were built prior to World War I and represent diverse architectural styles rich in craftsmanship and detail.
Woodbourne Library Background: Woodbourne Library is an elegant, metal-frame building with perimeter posts supporting a roof overhang that shades set-back glass walls. Originally constructed in 1965 as a bank branch, the building is considered one of the most significant and beautiful Mid-Century Modernist buildings in Southwest Ohio.
The building was designed by Woodford (Woodie) Garber, one of Cincinnati’s most original Modernist architects. Garber designed some of the region’s most innovative buildings but over time his buildings have suffered considerably from neglect and demolition. The Woodbourne Library is now one of his rare buildings that survives intact and in good condition, despite its change in function over time.
Beginning in 2015, the Woodbourne Library began a transformation to take three separate parcels of land, owned by the Library, and make a unified campus that will serve more than 70,000 library cardholders. As part of this master plan, more parking and green spaces will be added; the existing Library will be completely renovated; and a 10,000 sq. foot expansion will be added. When finished, the Library will be approximately 30,000 sq. feet and have active and quiet zones that meet the needs of all library users. New amenities will include conference/meeting spaces in a variety of sizes, larger spaces for teens and children’s collections, and a creativity space.
Practical Considerations: The artwork must be durable, safe and easy to maintain. Potential locations for artwork include vaulted ceiling space near front entrance, a wall outside the Children’s Room, a ‘nook’ in the central marketplace and a wall in a quiet reading area. Some locations for artwork will be accessible to Library patrons. Renderings from LWC Architects can be found at the end of this RFP that illustrate these potential locations with their dimensions. Architectural plans are still subject to revision.
Submissions: Proposals will only be accepted electronically, in the form of a single pdf of no more than 10 pages and no more than 10 MB. Proposals for each art submission must include the following and be organized in the order below:
1. A sketch and narrative explanation of the proposed artwork
2. An explanation of the relationship between the proposed art and the community/building
3. Size range and suggested location for each proposed artwork
4. Four- six images of completed artwork, preferably of similar scale and material
5. Budget range for each proposed artwork
6. Brief artist CV or bio (1 page maximum)
Proposals and questions should be emailed to: communityrelations@wcpl.lib.oh.us
Additional Information: The Library will hold a pre-proposal meeting for artists on June 6th, 4 PM at Centerville Library, 111 West Spring Valley Road, Centerville OH. LWC architects and Library representatives will be on hand with building plans and to answer questions.
