HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucas Farms Neighborhood-Highland Park Art RFQ
Lucas Farms Neighborhood: Indigenous History
Public Art Project
Request for Qualifications
Accepted through January 11, 2024
Introduction
The Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Lucas Farms
Neighborhood Association, is seeking an Indigenous artist to design, fabricate, and
install an artistic interpretive panel, or public artwork in another form which conveys the
project goals, to be located in Highland Park (750 Highland Avenue) in the Lucas Farms
neighborhood.
The goal of the project is to develop and install a public art installation in the Lucas
Farms Neighborhood which captures the spirit of the neighborhood and accurately and
artistically acknowledges and commemorates local Indigenous history.
Artist(s) will be provided creative control to develop the public art installation and meet
the goals of the Neighborhood and Committee. Artist(s) responsibilities will include
presenting a concept, responding to Committee, neighborhood, and Indigenous
stakeholder input, refining a final design, and fabricating and installing an artistic and
attractive public artwork to be completed by October 1, 2024.
Figure 1: Map of Lucas Farms Neighborhood Highland Park (750 Highland Ave)
History
The Meskwaki people are of Algonquian origin from the Eastern Woodland Culture
Areas. The tribe has been historically located in the St. Lawrence River Valley, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Meskwaki were called “Renards” (the Fox) by the
French but have always identified themselves as “Meskwaki.” The Meskwaki fought
against the French in what are now called the Fox Wars (1701-1742) and in 1735, the
Sauk and Meskwaki allied together to fend off Europeans and other Indian Tribes. Both
tribes moved southward from Wisconsin into Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. Even though
the Meskwaki and Sauk are two distinct tribal groups, with linguistic and cultural
similarities, the two tribes have often been associated throughout history. (Sources:
www.meskwakipowwow.com and www.meskwaki.org/history/).
The Lucas Farms Neighborhood is located on the homelands of the Sauk and Meskwaki
Nations. According to Iowa City historian Irving Weber, Iowa’s first Governor Robert
Lucas could see the fires of the Meskwaki as he looked west across the Iowa River.
Keokuk Street and Keokuk Court in Lucas Farms bear the name of Keokuk, a leader of
the Sauk tribe. Keokuk’s Reserve, a strip of land retained by the Sauk and Meskwaki
tribes in the aftermath of the Black Hawk War, included the area of Lucas Farms. Today,
the Lucas Farms Neighborhood partners with Meskwaki leadership to hold an ‘honor
fire’ each year during the annual Lucas Farms History Days to commemorate this history.
The Lucas Farm neighborhood is an eclectic mix of residential areas, including the
historic Plum Grove site built in 1844 by Robert Lucas, the first Governor of Iowa. The
neighborhood features homes constructed from the 1880’s through the 1960’s and
features . The neighborhood street names have rich history and several notable Iowa
Citians made Lucas Farms their home, including Civil War-era Governor and slavery
abolitionist Samuel Kirkwood. More Lucas Farms neighborhood history can be found at
www.lucasfarmsneighborhoodassociation.org/history .
About the Project
The project will be installed in Highland Park (750 Highland Avenue), at the corner of
Highland and Keokuk Street). Siting of the project within the park must be approved by
the Iowa City Parks & Recreation Director.
Image of Highland Park at 750 Highland Ave captured from Google Street View
The project will involve the selected artist soliciting input from neighborhood and
Indigenous stakeholders to discuss the concept for the artwork via an on-site or
zoom/virtual platform meeting. The artist will then create a selection of concepts for the
neighbors to review as part of a second round of public input, which can be carried out
in-person or using digital platforms. The Iowa City Public Art Coordinator and
Neighborhood Outreach & Engagement Coordinator will assist the artist with
coordinating neighborhood outreach and engagement. Final design approval will be
exercised by the Public Art Advisory Committee.
The goal of the project is to develop and install a public art installation in the Lucas
Farms Neighborhood which captures the spirit of the neighborhood and accurately and
artistically acknowledges and commemorates local Indigenous history. Artist(s) will be
encouraged to exercise creativity in developing a public art installation which meets this
goal and considers the following:
• The artwork should convey and draw the viewer into the history of the Lucas
Farms Neighborhood and Meskwaki and Sauk Nations.
• Based on input from Meskwaki groups regarding culturally significant colors,
symbols, or imagery, artists are encouraged to incorporate any such motifs
accurately and appropriately in the project design so that it could be replicated in
future wayfinding signage projects in the neighborhood.
• The Lucas Farm Neighborhood’s long-term vision is to create and install a
cohesive history/landmark route throughout the neighborhood. As such, the
project is encouraged to be designed and installed in a way in which it could
serve as the “starting point” of a future neighborhood landmark tour yet be able
to remain a standalone piece in the interim.
Budget
The budget for the project is $17,000 which must include all costs of design, fabrication,
installation of the artwork, and artist fee.
Review Process/Criteria
A sub-committee consisting of representatives from the Public Art Advisory Committee,
Lucas Farm neighborhood, and Sauk/Meskwaki Nation will be responsible for reviewing
the RFQ responses and recommending an artist based on the following criteria:
• Quality, creativity & strength of past work as provided in the application materials
• Technical competence demonstrated by past work
• Understanding of the project goals as indicated in the letter of interest
• Relevance of submitted materials to the project
• Aptitude for planning and budgeting as indicated by past project information
submitted
• Experience working on public art projects to meet the project goals as indicated
in the letter of interest
• Experience and commitment to participate with agency/community as part of
concept development
Preference will be given to (1) Indigenous artists; and (2) Iowa City area artists or those
who create art or exhibit their art in the Iowa City area.
Tentative Project Schedule
1/11/24 RFQ submission deadline
1/15/24 Review by sub-committee begins and selection of recommended
artist(s)
Jan/Feb 2024 First design input meeting with artist and neighborhood to be
held.*
Feb/March 2024 Design concepts created by artist(s) and made available for
feedback from the neighborhood and Sauk/Meskwaki.*
April/May 2024 Final design presented to and approved by the Public Art Advisory
Committee.
Artist fabrication begins and site is prepped.
10/1/24 Project installation complete by October 1, 2024
* City staff will help coordinate public engagement meetings/input opportunities
Submission requirements
Interested artists are being asked to provide:
• Applicant’s contact information.
• Statement of Interest.
• Maximum two-page resume that outlines professional accomplishments.
• A minimum of two (3) and maximum of six (6) images of past works. Identify
images with project title, location, date completed, media, dimensions, budget,
commissioning agency, project partners, and/or brief description of the
project/conceptual information.