Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an agreement with Suzy Gonzalez for artwork for the Austin History Center/Faulk Building Art in Public Places Residency Project, in an amount not to exceed $196,000.
De
Lead Department
Economic Development.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $196,000 is available from the Faulk Central Library Archival Repository Upgrade and Austin History Center Interior/Exterior Improvements capital project budgets of the Austin Public Library.
For More Information:
Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director, Economic Development Department, 512-974-3131; Constance White, Program Manager, Art in Public Places, 512-974-7852.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
On Monday, March 6, 2023, the Art in Public Places Panel unanimously approved the selection process recommendation of Suzy Gonzalez as the recommended artist and Veronica Ceci as the recommended alternate for the Austin History Center/Faulk Building AIPP Residency Project. Vice Chair Villanueva motioned for approval and Commission Liaison Acia Gray seconded. The vote passed 5-0-0. No members were absent.
On March 20, 2023, the Austin Arts Commission unanimously approved the selection process recommendation of Suzy Gonzalez as the recommended artist and Veronica Ceci as the recommended alternate for the Austin History Center/Faulk Building AIPP Residency Project. Commissioner Maldonado’s motion to approve the item and Commissioner Gray’s second on a 6-0 vote, with Commissioner Mok abstaining and Commissioner Garza absent.
Additional Backup Information:
Art in Public Places (AIPP), of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department (EDD) sought to commission a Texas-based artist or artist team to participate in a Residency Project that will ultimately lead to the creation of a permanent installation sited at the Austin History Center/Faulk Building campus located at 800 and 810 Guadalupe Street in Downtown Austin, Texas. The project budget is $196,000 inclusive of the residency period, design, fabrication, installation, engineering, permitting fees, travel, shipping expenses, insurance, and other project-related costs.
The goal of the project is for an artist to engage deeply with community stakeholders, Austin History Center archivists, and other Austin Public Library staff. It will be important for the selected artist to daylight the resources available at the Austin History Center including the community archives and the work of the Austin History Center staff. Ultimately, the Residency Project should result in a permanent artwork that honors the history and reflects the values of the Austin Public Library.
As part of the Residency Project, the selected artist will participate in a three-month research and development phase at the Austin History Center. During this time, in addition to conducting on-site research, the artist will be expected to follow a schedule to engage community stakeholders, Austin History Center archivists, and other Austin Public Library staff. Subsequently, information gathered during the research and development phase should inform and inspire artistic expression, medium and location for the artwork or series of artworks.
On September 12, 2022, the AIPP Panel approved a Request for Qualifications for the Austin History Center/Faulk Building AIPP Project. Notice of the public art opportunity was sent directly to eligible Texas-based artists in the AIPP Pre-Qualified Artist Pool. The original submission deadline of December 7, 2022 was extended to December 21, 2022.
On February 7, 2023, the selection panel met via Zoom to review eight artists’ applications and voted unanimously for Suzy Gonzalez as the recommended artist and Veronica Ceci as the alternate.