Questions from Artist (01/13/12 – 01/23/12)
Q=Question, A=Answer in italics
1. Q: Can I apply as a European artist? A: Yes
2. Q: Are you seeking one artist (or team) to oversee/create all the sculptures, or are you looking for a number of individual artists (or teams), each to make a sculpture? A: One artist or a team led by one artist.
3. Q: Is there a fee to apply? A: No
4. Q: Is your local granite dense, or porous? This question relates to surface quality and final finishes. A: Refer to Cold Springs Granite; their website is included at the end of the RFQ.
5. Q: If your boulders are local, what are the percentages of them without fissures? A: Refer to architectural drawings and Cold Springs Granite.
6. Q: Why aren't your local artists jumping into the breach? Not innovative enough? What? A: This is open to all interested artists.
7. Q: With the low temperatures most of the year, keeping a crew at work---plus the designer(s) can be a super-expensive project, for the 3-5 year estimate. I am not confident that 2M is enough for 21 separate projects. Even outsourcing, shipping, moving to the site and pedestal requirements, will push $150K each, depending on the size. Ten to 14 separate units will challenge your $2M., with nothing for the Artists or worker bees. A: Interested artists should review local weather data. This is an On-Site Commission. The granite is in place on foundations.
8. Q: Is it necessary to use ""your"" granite, or is it just that these available pieces are those that fell off the mountain during the Rushmore excavation? A: RFQ states that this sculptural work may be additive, subtractive or other methods, and that artists must make use of the granite that is in place.
9. Q: What is your expectation for "A significant portion of the sculpting must take place on site in Rapid City"?
A: Type and amount of work on site may be proposed by each artist applicant.
10. Q: Why not offer an additional approach such as a community education component such as a lecture or ? Working outside the studio and then fabricating on-site would be impossible for us......plus many artists want their processes to remain somewhat mysterious. A: See response to question #9, above. The opportunity for public engagement and information is part of the project’s vision.
11. Q: What is the honorarium for this project? A: As stated in the RFQ.
12. Q: Is it actually a 2 million dollar project now with one commissioned sculptor? Do you want to keep the mailed material I sent you for my original proposal? It would be great if I could get more information concerning the 19 granite boulders re: approx. weight dimensions etc. I am having some trouble deciphering the architectural drawings; pictures of the stones on site would be the best for me as well as the 35 foot spires.
A: Commission is to not exceed $2 million, as noted in the RFQ. The link to the photographs of the granite and architectural drawings are available at callforentry.org to the architectural drawings for the granite.
13. Q: Can you submit as an individual artist and be a part of a team as well? A: You can apply as a team and as an individual.
14. Q: Can this be sculpted in my office? A: Each applicant can recommend how much would be completed on-site and how much in their studio for the selection committee to consider.
15. Q: The sculpture stones look like they have been laminated together is this true? A: The stones in some cases have been laminated together, please refer to the architectural plans for more specific information about the granite.
16. Q: The granite blocks also look like they have been machine cut & polished was this part of another project?
A: The machine cutting and polishing was done initially because the initial thought was to sculpt one stone per year for 20 years. The current RFQ accelerates that schedule and requests one artist be in charge of the complete sculpting process, either individually or leading his/her team. You can find photographs, architectural plans and project criteria at the On Site commission at www.callforentry.org.
17. Q: Is there is a possibility to put up a pole building or some kind of temporary structure on the Market Square site to do some of the work that is necessary to the completion of the sculptural project. A: Each applicant is welcome to propose any reasonable measure to complete the work and protect public safety.
18. Q: I am curious about how some of the granite pieces are affixed, and if it might be possible to move them to effect some of the work (elevate, rotate, etc) while still remaining on site? A: The boulders are set in place, but could be moved with some effort. The Spires can not be moved.
19. Q: Would the project be willing to receive a proposal that included both steel and granite? A: The RFQ states that the work may be subtractive, additive or other method.
20. Q: Also, so that we are clear, it is our understanding that you would like the artist to be somewhat of an attraction and work while there are people (tourists) watching? A: Yes, the intent is to have the public view the sculpting process in a safe manner.
21. Q: Would we submit our qualifications as a supportive artist role, or not at all since we would not be the “lead”?
A: If you are solely interested in a supporting role, please apply to the initial call. When we make our recommendations for semi-finalists, we will e-mail the decline group and ask if they would like us to share their contact information with semi-finalists. if so, you can give us permission.
22. Q: Could you share information on how I should provide a letter of support? A: Here is the text from the cafe application: Please include the names and contact information for 3 individuals with whom you have worked, collaborated or who have commissioned your work in the past. Actual letters of reference are not required and will not be accepted.
Go back to Main Street Square page
Q=Question, A=Answer in italics
1. Q: Can I apply as a European artist? A: Yes
2. Q: Are you seeking one artist (or team) to oversee/create all the sculptures, or are you looking for a number of individual artists (or teams), each to make a sculpture? A: One artist or a team led by one artist.
3. Q: Is there a fee to apply? A: No
4. Q: Is your local granite dense, or porous? This question relates to surface quality and final finishes. A: Refer to Cold Springs Granite; their website is included at the end of the RFQ.
5. Q: If your boulders are local, what are the percentages of them without fissures? A: Refer to architectural drawings and Cold Springs Granite.
6. Q: Why aren't your local artists jumping into the breach? Not innovative enough? What? A: This is open to all interested artists.
7. Q: With the low temperatures most of the year, keeping a crew at work---plus the designer(s) can be a super-expensive project, for the 3-5 year estimate. I am not confident that 2M is enough for 21 separate projects. Even outsourcing, shipping, moving to the site and pedestal requirements, will push $150K each, depending on the size. Ten to 14 separate units will challenge your $2M., with nothing for the Artists or worker bees. A: Interested artists should review local weather data. This is an On-Site Commission. The granite is in place on foundations.
8. Q: Is it necessary to use ""your"" granite, or is it just that these available pieces are those that fell off the mountain during the Rushmore excavation? A: RFQ states that this sculptural work may be additive, subtractive or other methods, and that artists must make use of the granite that is in place.
9. Q: What is your expectation for "A significant portion of the sculpting must take place on site in Rapid City"?
A: Type and amount of work on site may be proposed by each artist applicant.
10. Q: Why not offer an additional approach such as a community education component such as a lecture or ? Working outside the studio and then fabricating on-site would be impossible for us......plus many artists want their processes to remain somewhat mysterious. A: See response to question #9, above. The opportunity for public engagement and information is part of the project’s vision.
11. Q: What is the honorarium for this project? A: As stated in the RFQ.
12. Q: Is it actually a 2 million dollar project now with one commissioned sculptor? Do you want to keep the mailed material I sent you for my original proposal? It would be great if I could get more information concerning the 19 granite boulders re: approx. weight dimensions etc. I am having some trouble deciphering the architectural drawings; pictures of the stones on site would be the best for me as well as the 35 foot spires.
A: Commission is to not exceed $2 million, as noted in the RFQ. The link to the photographs of the granite and architectural drawings are available at callforentry.org to the architectural drawings for the granite.
13. Q: Can you submit as an individual artist and be a part of a team as well? A: You can apply as a team and as an individual.
14. Q: Can this be sculpted in my office? A: Each applicant can recommend how much would be completed on-site and how much in their studio for the selection committee to consider.
15. Q: The sculpture stones look like they have been laminated together is this true? A: The stones in some cases have been laminated together, please refer to the architectural plans for more specific information about the granite.
16. Q: The granite blocks also look like they have been machine cut & polished was this part of another project?
A: The machine cutting and polishing was done initially because the initial thought was to sculpt one stone per year for 20 years. The current RFQ accelerates that schedule and requests one artist be in charge of the complete sculpting process, either individually or leading his/her team. You can find photographs, architectural plans and project criteria at the On Site commission at www.callforentry.org.
17. Q: Is there is a possibility to put up a pole building or some kind of temporary structure on the Market Square site to do some of the work that is necessary to the completion of the sculptural project. A: Each applicant is welcome to propose any reasonable measure to complete the work and protect public safety.
18. Q: I am curious about how some of the granite pieces are affixed, and if it might be possible to move them to effect some of the work (elevate, rotate, etc) while still remaining on site? A: The boulders are set in place, but could be moved with some effort. The Spires can not be moved.
19. Q: Would the project be willing to receive a proposal that included both steel and granite? A: The RFQ states that the work may be subtractive, additive or other method.
20. Q: Also, so that we are clear, it is our understanding that you would like the artist to be somewhat of an attraction and work while there are people (tourists) watching? A: Yes, the intent is to have the public view the sculpting process in a safe manner.
21. Q: Would we submit our qualifications as a supportive artist role, or not at all since we would not be the “lead”?
A: If you are solely interested in a supporting role, please apply to the initial call. When we make our recommendations for semi-finalists, we will e-mail the decline group and ask if they would like us to share their contact information with semi-finalists. if so, you can give us permission.
22. Q: Could you share information on how I should provide a letter of support? A: Here is the text from the cafe application: Please include the names and contact information for 3 individuals with whom you have worked, collaborated or who have commissioned your work in the past. Actual letters of reference are not required and will not be accepted.
Go back to Main Street Square page
