Request for Qualifications
Project Title: Kansas Capitol Mural: Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al.

Project Overview: The State of Kansas seeks applications from artists and artistic teams for a commission to create a public mural commemorating Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et aI. to be located in the Kansas Capitol in Topeka, Kansas. The qualifications of artists and artistic teams who apply will be reviewed by the Capitol Preservation Committee, and finalists will be invited to submit site-specific proposals. The Capitol Preservation Committee will select one artist or artistic team from the finalists to be awarded the commission.

Download the Brown Mural Call for Artists (PDF)

Application Deadline: To be considered, responses to this request for qualifications must be received by the Capitol Preservation Committee by 5:00 p.m. CT on May 1, 2012.

Eligibility: This project is open to all qualified artists and artistic teams who are residents of the United States.

Mural:

1. The mural will demonstrate artistic excellence and be an original work. It will be prominently located in the Kansas State Capitol (built 1866-1903), the grandest and most important public building in Kansas. John Steuart Curry’s murals on the second floor, including “Tragic Prelude” (1938-1940), represent some of the finest public art in our country. Each year thousands of Kansas children tour the Capitol and take with them powerful, enduring images of the people and events which shaped their state. Dedication of this mural will coincide with the completion of major projects to restore and preserve the Capitol, greatly increasing public exposure to the mural.

   More information about the Kansas State Capitol is available through the Kansas State Historical Society. The East, West and South Wings and an Underground Parking Garage have been preserved, restored, renovated or constructed new over the past 11 years. The North Wing will be completed in September 2012. The interior and infrastructure work includes new lighting, air-conditioning and heating, plumbing, electrical, finishes, windows and furnishings. The exterior masonry has been repaired. The copper dome and copper roof will be replaced and completed in 2013.

2. The mural will memorialize the landmark significance of Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al. by capturing its antecedents, elements, and effects on Kansas, the United States, and the international community. It will be historically accurate. The case memorialized by this mural was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 17, 1954, and is cited as: Oliver Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka et al. (347 U.S. 483, 74 S.Ct. 686, 98 L.Ed. 873). More resource information about Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al. is available through the Kansas Legislative Research Department.
3. The mural will be located in the Kansas Capitol in Topeka, Kansas. It will be painted, then applied to and made integral with the wall at this site. The mural will be a permanent fixture in the Kansas Capitol, durable, stable, non-deteriorating, low maintenance, and appropriate for the light, temperature, and high volume of pedestrian traffic at this site.

   More information about the possible sites for the mural is available through the Kansas Legislative Research Department.

4. Timeline

   This schedule is contingent upon the Capitol Preservation Committee’s schedule and upon funding for this project, and may be changed at any time.

• May 1, 2012 Deadline for response to the RFQ (received by 5:00 p.m. CT).
• August 1, 2012 Finalists notified by this date. Finalists will be asked to visit the site for the mural.
• December 1, 2012 Deadline for responses to the RFP (received by 5:00 p.m. CT).
• April 1, 2013 Interview of finalists by the Capitol Preservation Committee.
• July 1, 2013 Selected artist or artistic team will be notified of award.
• August 1, 2013 Anticipated date for execution of contract.
• Sept. 2013-Sept. 2014 Art production and completion. Installation of the mural will be coordinated with the artist or artistic team, the mural project manager, and the Statehouse Architect.
• October 1, 2014 Dedication of the mural.

Budget

The funding for this project will be provided by private donations. The project budget and the selected artist’s fee are subject to negotiation.

Educational Public Programs

The artist or artistic team will be required to participate in no more than three educational public programs during or within a year of the completion of the project. These programs will be designed to instruct and to arouse attention and interest in the Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al. mural through discussions about the artist’s or artistic teams’ concepts and techniques, and the ideas that shaped the mural’s content.

Selection Process

The selection of the artist, or artist team, will be conducted in three stages.

Stage ONE (RFQ): The Capitol Preservation Committee will evaluate all Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) submissions and select finalists.

Stage TWO (RFP): The finalists will be asked to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP), by
submitting detailed project descriptions and site-specific, to scale, color renderings of their proposed murals. Finalists will be strongly encouraged to visit the site for the mural prior to the submission of their proposals.

Stage THREE: The Capitol Preservation Committee will select one submission from all of the requested proposals to be awarded the commission.

Selection Criteria

The Capitol Preservation Committee will consider the following criteria when making its selection: the applicant’s formal education and professional training; a chronology of achievement in the arts; evidence of artistic excellence; a demonstrated ability to undertake projects of a similar scope; a record of professional public art; and a history of working positively with clients and the public in the creation of an art project.

The Capitol Preservation Committee reserves the right to reject any and all applications.

Applications:

Download the Brown Mural Call for Artists (PDF)

To be considered for this commission, artists and artistic teams must prepare and submit their responses to this request for qualifications by 5:00 p.m. CT, May 1, 2011.

MAIL ALL MATERIALS TO:

Mulvane Art Museum
1700 SW College Avenue
Washburn University
Topeka, KS 66621
ATTN: Capitol Preservation Committee

1. Package all application materials in a sealed envelope, mailer, or mailing box. The applicant’s name and address, and the project title: Kansas Capitol Mural: Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al. should appear clearly on the exterior of the enclosure.
2. Do not staple any materials together.
3. Clearly title each page of the application with the applicant’s name, the date of the application, and the title of the project: Kansas Capitol Mural: Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al.
4. Include these materials in this order:
   1. Artist’s resume’. Teams should submit a resume’ for each member.
   2. Three references from clients. Include the clients’ names, mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.
   3. Visual support materials: Submit all visual materials on one computer disk, clearly labeled with the applicant’s name and contact information. Submit all documents as PDFs. Submit all images in jpg format. Resolution should be 600dpi or higher.
   1. Include a maximum of 10 digital images of previous works, only 4 of which may be detailed images. Include images of paintings, murals, and public art by the artist or artistic team.
   2. Label each image with a name, the title if any, medium, date completed, and where installed.
   3. Provide any links and website addresses where additional images of work by the artist or artistic team may be viewed.
   4. One copy of each printed document, such as an article, catalogue, or news release, directly relevant to the qualifications and experience of the artist or artistic team.
   5. Self-addressed envelope, mailer or mailing box with pre-paid postage, to have hard copies of materials returned following the completion of the selection process. Disks will not be returned. The Capitol Preservation Committee will make every effort to protect submitted materials, but will not be responsible for any loss or damage.

Capitol Preservation Committee:

The Capitol Preservation Committee has the statutory responsibility to develop plans to place a mural in
the Capitol commemorating Oliver Brown et al. v. the Board of Education of Topeka et al. (KSA 75-2267
and 75-2268). Members of the Committee include: the Statehouse Architect, the Executive Director of
the Kansas State Historical Society, the Executive Director of the Kansas Arts Commission, three
members appointed by the Governor, two members appointed by the President of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, two members appointed by the Speaker of the
House, and one member appointed by the House Minority Leader.

Inquiries

All questions regarding this Request for Qualifications are to be directed to the Mulvane Art Museum at
785-670-1124 or mulvane.info@washburn.edu .

Download the Brown Mural Call for Artists (PDF)

TOPEKA, KAN. –  Filmmaker and University of Kansas doctoral student Juli Pitzer is finally taking her film, “Preserving the Past: Topeka’s Jayhawk Theatre” to a live Topeka audience 6:30 p.m. Thurs. April 28 at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s Marvin Auditiorium.

The event is free to the public and sponsored by the Historic Jayhawk Theatre Inc. and the Kansas Humanities Council. Refreshments will be provided to those in attendance.

The film has shown to Topeka audiences in their homes on WIBW television station three times since its completion in January 2011, but Pitzer is looking forward to showing the film to a live audience in Topeka.

“I’m excited to actually show the film in the hometown of the theatre. I hope to get people’s reactions and find more stories that people have to share,” said Pitzer. “I’m excited to see who comes to watch the film.”

Pitzer will open the evening with an introduction to the film.

“I will share a little about how some of the interviews went, and highlights to watch for. I always like to tell people my favorite parts,” said Pitzer.

The 20-minute film will be shown and a discussion and question and answer section will follow.

Pitzer has enjoyed sharing the film with audiences at KU, where she is a doctoral student in film and media studies, and hearing feedback both in person and from fans of the film on Facebook. But the project has an overall mission that is greater than pure entertainment value.

“People really enjoy it. They love the story being told, and people are becoming excited about what the film can do to help the revitalization of downtown [Topeka] and how the Jayhawk Theatre can play a role in that,” said Pitzer.

Pitzer has developed a passion for historic cinemas during her studies and has a special affinity for the Jayhawk Theatre, which is in a state of disrepair after decades of dormancy. Pitzer hopes for a large audience at the Topeka Library showing April 28 so she can continue to spread the film’s message of the theater’s importance historically and to the success of Topeka’s downtown.

“I hope [the audience] gains an awareness of the theatre. The more times people hear the words ‘Jayhawk Theatre,’ it will help the theatre itself. It will draw people for tours, and hopefully donations that will help the theatre come back to life.”

But her film is also a tool to unite people in the commonality of a historically American pastime.

“It’s a movie that people can have a personal connection to. The film presents the opportunity for the shared experience of going to movie theatres,” said Pitzer.

For more information about the film “Preserving the Past: Topeka’s Jayhawk Theatre,” visit “Jayhawk Theatre Documentary Project” on Facebook.

In a move that is political positioning at best, Governor Brownback has proposed dropping the Kansas Arts Commission from the state budget.

Were this decision math-based, our state would likely be expanding the Arts Commission, which offers grants and awards to artists statewide. The KAC sent out nearly 75% of its $2.1 million budget in 2010 in grants to programs in Kansas counties, according to their annual report.

A significant portion (more than half) of the Arts Commission’s funding comes from grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Mid-America Arts Alliance. These are regional and federal dollars coming to Kansas for the sole purpose of arts development, and they are only available if we have a state arts commission.

Even a politically or socially motivated decision is questionable. The Arts Commission, as a state agency, has a rigorous application process. The bulk of its grants go to local Arts Councils and agencies, libraries, and fine arts organizations like theatres, and symphonies, orchestras. In 2010, there were almost 300 grantees in more than 50 Kansas counties.

The Kansas Arts Commission is an economic development agency. Its grants help to employ people, help people purchase goods and services, create educational experiences and enrich rural and urban communities across the state.

“It just really makes me proud,” Anstaett said of the project. “It brings such beauty to the community.”

Anstaett was one of about 50 people who gathered Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of the latest mural of the project, an artwork with an endangered creatures theme.

The mural, which was sponsored by the Chords and Oil artist collective, was started in late June and completed a week ago on the south side of what had been a city water reservoir near S.W. 20th and Western. It shows a variety of animals that have existed through the years in the Topeka area, some by water, others on land and still others in air.

Some of the animals on the new mural, like the woolly mammoth, haven’t been seen for centuries. Others, like the red-bellied snake and whooping crane, continue to make their home along the muddy, frequently polluted waters of the nearby Shunganunga Creek.

The latest mural joins others with Topeka themes that already have been completed on the side of the former water reservoir, which has 900 feet of wall space. To date, more than 450 feet of the gigantic white wall space has been covered with colorful murals.

The project was started in 2007 and was initiated by the Chesney Park Neighborhood Improvement Association, which wanted to instill pride in the Central Topeka community while at the same time beautifying the area and curtailing graffiti.

The project now has reached the halfway point.

Space exists for about six more murals, which will be painted as funds become available.The goal is for the project to be completed by 2012.

Artist K.T. Walsh, who has been involved in painting the murals, said ideas are solicited from the community before a group of artists comes up with a plan for a mural. Groups of volunteers then paint the murals, often sitting on scaffolding in blazing summertime heat.

Walsh said some ideas for future murals are the city’s Oakland neighborhood, “remarkable women” and the Latino tradition of Topeka.

Funding has come from a variety of sources, including the Security Benefit Group and Kansas Arts Commission, whose contributions were key to the completion of the most recent mural.

“This year, they were very important for us,” said Chesney Park Neighborhood Improvement Association president Tom Benaka. “We really appreciate them.”

The first murals were completed in the 1900 block of S.W. Western, just west across the street from the Kansas Expocentre. New ones are being painted around the corner on S.W. 20th, just west of S.W. Western. Future ones will wrap around the corner to the north in the 1900 block of S.W. Western, then along S.W. 19th just west of S.W. Western.

Previously finished murals depicted Topeka neighborhoods and community leaders. All of the murals will have Topeka themes, celebrating the city’s history and culture.

The project has been overseen by nationally known mural artist Dave Loewenstein, of Lawrence.

When completed, the mural will be the largest of its kind in Kansas and second-largest in the United States, organizers said.

Zach Snethen, 30, accompanied by his wife, Erin, 29, and son Oliver, 10 months, took an up-close look at the newest mural on Saturday afternoon.

“To take a blank wall like this and put art on it that represents the community is pretty amazing,” he said. “You can drive by it, but it’s really good to stop and study it, because they really do have aspects of the entire community on the wall.”

By Phil Anderson for The Capital-Journal

Premiering at Top City Thursdays tonight, in the vacant storefront at 8th and Kansas Avenues, the Chords & Oil arts collective will be debuting their newest art installation, POP UP TOP.

POP UP TOP seeks to breathe new life into vacant storefronts of Downtown Topeka. Vacant storefronts that have long sat empty are transformed into public art spaces and exhibits- that in turn foster a collective creativity to all who pass by. Through a partnership with Chords & Oil and downtown property owners; artists, creators, thinkers, and organizations have gallery space opportunities available to them at no cost in highly visible locations throughout downtown. All properties remain actively available for sale or lease.

The goal of POP UP TOP is to drive traffic downtown and new businesses into vacant storefronts, but in doing so also help stimulate a creative community around us. The gallery spaces available through POP UP TOP are not traditional gallery spaces. Through an agreement with involved property owners, Chords and Oil secures various “gallery” spaces in vacant buildings that are then made available to interested artists and organizations. The spaces vary in amenities and sizes. Many of the spaces are merely storefront displays and do not allow any access into the space. Nor do they offer utilities such as heat, a/c, water, or electricity. Installations will run for generally 3 to 4 months. Exact durations will be agreed upon with the Artist and Property owners.

For more information or to find out how you can get involved in a POP UP Gallery, visit chordsandoil.org/popuptop

republished from seveneightfive, 9-16-10 (art popping up downtown)

Katz is a former executive director of the Kansas Arts Commission, has taught at numerous universities, and has consulted and advised internationally with groups like the U.S. National Commission on UNESCO, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA), as well as the U.S. government. His perspective of the arts in America is influenced by his travels abroad and his values-based approach to discussion.

One of the key elements of Katz’s talk was his explanation of the state of the arts in America. Americans value individual decision-making and freedoms more than we value collective benefits. As opposed to the European model of social support, we prefer to make our own decisions about which social services, charities, and not-for-profit organizations to support – rather than paying taxes and having the government distribute our taxes to those organizations.

In that vein, we must ensure that our arts organizations appeal to individual choice. Our patrons must know exactly what their contributions will do for the organization, and they must be recognized as stakeholders in the future of the organization. Katz gave an example of this: If a donor has contributed to a theatrical production, the organization should ensure the donor will have a chair with his or her name on the back. Additionally, if a donor or sponsor has contributed to an event, it is important to publish their name and to recognize their contribution.

Katz also discussed the history of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Foundation of the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, and how this declaration of the congress made art a “public good.” He quoted the first line of the Act: “The arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States.” As the lawmakers put it, the arts, like clean air and national defense, benefit everyone. When one person partakes in the arts, whether by attending a concert, watching a film, producing a mural, or creating a sculpture, it benefits us all. Society is better for each individual’s exposure to the arts. Our government must therefore support and protect the arts and make access to arts a priority.

The Act goes on to clarify:

(3) An advanced civilization must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future.

Just as we support the pursuit of knowledge in the field of science, we must also support the arts and humanities. And just as science is its own system of education, so too are the arts and humanities:

(4) Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens. It must therefore foster and support a form of education, and access to the arts and the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants.

It is important when advocating for the arts to appreciate the foundation our leaders laid in 1965 with this act. Its language sets the arts and humanities forward as a pillar of learning and culture essential for our nation. Let’s move forward with the knowledge that art is a public good. That what we do will benefit our neighbors. That the creation of murals and sculpture and public art, and galleries, exhibitions, screenings, and shows all serve to benefit our community, educate and challenge our citizens, and enrich our lives.

Local businesses and storefronts will serve as venues for the display and performance of Topeka-based artwork created by over 100 regional artists. A large array of original artwork about Topeka will be showcased including: 2D visual art, music, film, and poetry. A variety of activities for kids and adults will occur throughout the afternoon at 435 S. Kansas Avenue.

The Art Walk will follow a designated path through downtown. (see the ReThink map for participating venues and their location) The ArtWalk route will be marked by handmade signs directing pedestrian traffic. All venues will emphasize the importance of downtown’s resurgence. Local eateries will provide refreshments at chosen venues, which will bring more local flavor to the event, stimulate local economy, and produce an awareness of Topeka’s cuisine.

This event is open to the public and the entire regional community! A donation of any amount will get you a cool ReThink Topeka pin that will serve as your pass to all the fun!

Venues:

1. Topeka Community Cycle Project- 423 S Kansas Ave 1-5 pm
2. 435 South Kansas Avenue (above Bosco’s) 1-5 pm
3. Rowhouse Restaurant- 515 Southwest Van Buren Street 1-5 pm
4. NexLynx- 123 SW 6th Ave., Upstairs 1-5 pm
5. Supersonic Music- 117 Southeast 6th Avenue/Parking Lot to the West of the store 1-5 pm
6. Jayhawk Tower -700 Southwest Jackson Street 1-5 pm
7. Break Room- 911 South Kansas Avenue 1-6 pm
8. La Michoacana- 1202 SE 6th 1-6 pm

Join and invite people to the event on Facebook!

artists/poets/ musicians:

• Pat Vincent G Abellon
• Thomas Fox Averill
• Janet R Bailey
• Annette Bartel
• Beatrice
• Dan Billen
• Sam Billen
• Merrilee Brandt
• Hayley Brazier
• CJ Calhoun
• Catherine Carter
• Daniel Coburn
• Nicole Cunningham
• Clay Davis
• Jeanette Devilbis
• Cale Herreman
• Stik Figa
• Jeff Fouquet
• Shanon Fouquet
• Kimi Frisch
• Karl Fundenberger
• Rose Gillenwater
• Lisa Grossman
• LeRoy Groves
• Justin Gutierrez
• Kaitlin Hannigan
• Rachel Haydon
• Martinez Hillard
• John Holcomb
• Melissa Homolka
• Kaylee Homolka
• Interior Sea
• Whitney Jacobs
• Renee Johnson
• LoveJones
• Katie Kennedy
• Ashley Laird
• Brad LeDuc
• Josesph Little
• Kristine A Luber
• Colin MacMillan
• Aaron Marable
• Bailey Marable
• Justin Marable
• Kendra Marable
• Aaron Martin
• Brie Martin
• Eric McHenry
• Heather McKee
• Jeff Moore
• Kristin Morland
• Stephanie Munoz-Oneil
• Sabra Nierenberg
• Sara O Keeffe
• Peg Penry
• Matt Porubsky
• Betsy Knabe Roe
• Stella Robbins
• Gerardo Cameron Rodriquez
• Jason Romonishin
• Jim Schwartz
• Rhonda Schley
• Bob Sell
• Leah Sewell
• Melissa Sewell
• Macie Smith
• Zach Snethen
• Jennifer Somers
• Timothy Volpert
• Michaela Warren
• Barbara Waterman-Peters
• Joe Williams
• Dana Wohletz

Check out some of the music that will part of this event:

• Stik Figa – http://www.myspace.com/stikfiga
• Aaron Martin – http://www.myspace.com/prisonwine
• Sam Billen – http://sambillen.com/

And a sample of video to be played with many more at Break Room:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl994fPuCGM

And delicious food provided by:

• Rowhouse Resturant – fabulous food
• Linda Carson (Blue Planet Cafe) – delicious finger foods
• Topeka Natural Food Coop – snack samples
• Daddycakes – delicious cupcakes
• Break Room – good concessions for film watching
• La Michoacana – homeade ice cream

Join and invite people to the event on Facebook!

For the first time on public display, the completed “Art Cube” by Chords and Oil will be seen at the Topeka Home Builder’s Association 2010 Home Show, “Home is Where the Art Is.” The six and a half foot “Art Cube” was started by Chords and Oil as a live art interaction at the Arty Party (Arts Connect) in October, 2009. The cube is a celebration of Topeka, a great arts town.

“We are committed to partnering with other groups to accomplish our progressive vision for Topeka,” said said Andrea Engstrom, Chords and Oil board member.

Chords and Oil is an art collective consisting of 100 members, of which the average age is 28. The Chords and Oil Board of Directors consists of visual artists, musicians, poets, filmmakers, arts advocates, social activists, active volunteers, students and young professionals. The group formed in December, 2008 with the mission of effecting positive change to the Topeka arts community and, in doing so, to better the city of Topeka as a whole.

“We have a fundamental belief that people who are involved with the arts and given a chance to have an outlet for their creativity become better citizens,” said Chad Manspeaker, founding member of Chords and Oil.

Chords and Oil initiatives include public murals, community gardening and downtown revitalization. The group believes that a vibrant downtown would help the arts in Topeka by providing a setting for cultural progress. Chords and Oil members hope to create positive change through public service, by focusing on community beautification, environmental protection and education.

Since its debut event in Januray 2009, Chords and Oil has received positive feedback from the Topeka community.  “We have seen an absolute outpouring of support for what we are doing,” said Engstrom. “It is giving us momentum and motivating our group to dream bigger dreams for Topeka.”

The show is at Exhibition Hall, and is open at these times:

March 5th, Noon to 7 pm
March 6th, 9 am to 7 pm
March 7th, 10 am to 5 pm

If you made it to the Arty Party last fall – you might remember the Art Cube. Come see the finished product at the Home Show! This is the first public showing of our mobile, 256 square foot, collaborative, interactive mural featuring a theme of Kansas Progress.

Helping Hands Humane Society future location, Dillon’s Crossing, 21st and Belle, Topeka

February 27, 2010 at 10:00 am (approximately one hour)

Please join us for a gathering of artists to meet with the Arts Committee of Helping Hands Humane Society, Inc. The Committee is formulating a Request For Proposals (RFP) to select an artist or team of artists to help make the new shelter an exciting, friendly and welcoming place. The Committee would like the input of artists at this meeting before finalizing its RFP and budget.

Design elements include:

· Animal mobiles
· Interior directional signage
· Interior color schemes
· Designs for one or possibly two mascots
· Other suggested elements that help achieve our goal

The Committee is also interested in an interior mural, which may or may not be part of the initial RFP.

The meeting will be held inside the new facility at 21st and Belle on the eve of its remodeling. The new rooms in the building have been laid out on the floor with masking tape, so that persons attending will get an initial sense of place and space.
To reserve your place, please contact Mary Ann Earp, Chairperson at rbemae@sbcglobal.net