"Inspire an openness for exploration, discovery, and making." This is one of the goals officials from the New York Hall of Science and UrbanGlass are looking for from a long-term commission to be installed and exhibited in the Corona, Queens, science museum's dramatic two-story entrance rotunda. Hoping to have a visually striking piece of glass art on view prior to the New York Hall of Science's scheduled summer 2021 re-opening, there is a short deadline for proposals. Entries must be received before midnight, February 8, 2021. The successful proposal will unlock a budget of $45,000, and, to qualify, the selected artist must live in the Northeastern U.S.
The work will take over the dramatic entryway space from artist Dick Esterle's temporary site-specific work, Scattered Light (2014), which is made up of 528 26-foot lengths of industrial flagging tape in shades of fluorescent orange and pink used in surveying to mark utilities, boundaries and trees.
One of the goals the institution hopes to achieve with a new site-specific work is to welcome the diverse visitors of all ages coming to experience the wonders of science at the museum. According to the official request for proposals, the work should set visitor expectations as well as become an icon for the museum. The design and placement of the commissioned work should be mindful of the ample natural light in the Rotunda space, and also not obstruct lines of sight from the lower and upper levels.
Only regional artists may apply as the competition is open to established professional glass artists living in the Northeast (New York, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, PA, RI, and VT). You must be a professional artist with a digital portfolio of work. The artist will be working together with the New York Hall of Science and UrbanGlass staff to create a durable, site-specific work. You should bring a proven ability to consult and develop plans with a licensed engineer, be able to fabricate your own work, or to do so working with fabricators and installers.
The commissioned artist will be required to provide evidence of appropriate liability, property damage, and workers compensation insurance while working on the site. NYSCI and UrbanGlass are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all of its forms, and the selection of the commissioned artist will factor in diversity in terms of gender, age, race, culture, and education/learning differences, as well as experience in the areas of glasswork and design.
Full details, including floorplan and additional images, can be found with the official NYSCI Rotunda Glass Commission Request for Proposals.
To apply, download the official application form here.