Item 08 - Elisabet Ney - Artist Recommendation _ Presentation.pdf — original pdf

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•Project: Elisabet Ney Museum Grounds •Artist: TBC •Phase: Artist Selection Recommendation •Sponsoring Department: Parks & Recreation •Project Budget: $100,000 •Council District: District 9 •Project Manager: Lindsay Hutchens Arts Commission Meeting Agenda Item #7 Date: 12/16/2024 Elisabet Ney Museum Grounds Project Background The Elisabet Ney Museum is the former studio and portrait collection created by 19th century sculptor Elisabet Ney. The museum offers a range of educational programs, exhibits, special events, workshops and lectures throughout the year. Receiving 21,000 visitors each year from local, national, and international locations the Elisabet Ney Museum is located in historic Hyde Park. Hyde Park traces its origins back to 1891 and is considered to be Austin's first suburb. In 1892, European portrait sculptress Elisabet Ney (1833-1907) purchased property in Austin, established a studio named Formosa and resumed her career as a sculptor of notables. At Formosa, Ney sculpted legendary Texans, including Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. Ney also assembled at her American studio portraits of European notables, including King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Otto von Bismarck, Arthur Schopenhauer and Jacob Grimm. At the turn of the 19th century, Elisabet Ney’s studio became a gathering place for influential Texans drawn to “Miss Ney” and to the stimulating discussions of politics, art and philosophy that took place there. Following Ney’s death, her friends preserved the studio and its contents as the Elisabet Ney Museum and established the Texas Fine Arts Association dedicated to her memory. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places based on its significance as the former American studio of Elisabet Ney, and a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program. The property is also designated as a Texas State Antiquities Landmark, a Texas Recorded Landmark, a City of Austin Landmark, and listed as a contributing site to the Hyde Park National Register Historic district and the Hyde Park Local Historic District. Elisabet Ney Museum Grounds Budget – $100,000 Sponsor Department – Parks & Recreation Artists applied on PublicArtist.org Technical quality and aesthetic appeal of past work Selection Criteria • • Dedicated and consistent artistic practice • Authenticity, creativity, and innovation of work as presented Communication of ideas and intentions • • Ability and enthusiasm to engage the community in • which the artwork will be installed Experience with public art projects of a relatively similar size and scope Artwork Goals • A work of art of redeeming quality that advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places • Honors Elisabet Ney’s art, history and legacy • Conceptualizes a strong overall artwork design approach that integrates with the site and surrounding built and natural environments Is easily maintained and vandal resistant in an exterior environment Is permanent with an expected life span of at least 20 years • • Elisabet Ney Museum Grounds Application Results  43 applications were received  AIPP Staff determined 29 applications were eligible Selection Panel Voting Panelists  Rehab El Sadek – Artist, AIPP artist (https://www.rehabelsadek.com/)  Brianna M. McIntyre – Artist, Curator (https://www.occupyvacancy.com/)  Kelsey Quinn Harrison – Artist, Assistant Professor (https://www.kelsey-harrison.com/)  Meghan Shogan – Artist, Fabricator (https://www.vaultstoneshop.com/)  Beverly Penn – Artist, Professor (https://beverlypenn.com/) Selection Panel Non-voting Advisors  Laura Esparza - advisory member of National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program  Stephen Gonzalez - Hyde Park National Register Historic district  Christina Bies - Sponsor Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services, City of Austin  Ellen Colfax - Sponsor Project Manager, Parks & Recreation, City of Austin  Marjorie Flanagan - Division Manager, Museums & Cultural Programs, Parks & Recreation, City of Austin  Jade Walker - Site Coordinator/Curator Elisabet Ney Museum, Parks & Recreation, City of Austin  Kristi-Anne Shaer - AIPP Panel Liaison Selection Results  Friday, November 8, 2024, selection panelists were given access to review and score applications  Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the selection panel met for four hours and determined one Recommended Artist – Tamara Johnson – and one Alternate Artist – Erin Cunningham – for the $100,000 commission Recommended Artist – Tamara Johnson Picnic (detail), 2018 Cast concrete 16in x 5ft x 6ft Commissioned by NYC Parks and Recreation Department and sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). Recommended Artist – Tamara Johnson Currents 123 (detail), 2024 Mixed Media installation Solo exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum in conjunction with the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Teaching Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. Chair with Crackers Hydrocal gypsum, pigment, recycled glass, pewter, copper, oil-based paint, matte varnish 30 in x 22 in x 20 in Tickets Silk-screen on copper sheeting, matte varnish 30 ft x 5 ft x 3 ft Waffle Cone Column Pigmented cement, steel, North Texas ammonite 72 in x 4 in x 8 in Recommended Artist – Tamara Johnson Backyard Pool, 2014 Concrete, ceramic tile, aluminum, fiberglass, seed, acrylic paint 26 in x 27 ft x 44 ft The LOT Long Island City, NY Recommended Artist – Tamara Johnson After reviewing applications and listening to comments from all members of the AIPP panel meeting, I felt that Tamara has the most potential to create an artwork which could advance the public understanding of visual art for the visitors to the Ney. Her work is playful, challeng ing, and aligns with the spirit of Elisabet Ney. I am confident in her ability to create something delightful for visitors based on community input. She has dem onstrated a history of success in this task. Visually, her work is appealing, interactive, and I could imagine it in an outdoor setting appropriate to the site cond itions at the museum. I believe that with the support of the AIPP team and process, she could rise to the challenge of creating a work at the proposed budget leve l. I believe her application best meets the requirements of the RFQ. - Meghan Shogan Tamara Johnson’s portfolio conveys an innovative, thoughtful approach to sculpture that will bring something new to the Elisa beth Ney Museum and Austin. The project will benefit from her previous public art experience in other cities as well as her stewardship of the Sweet Pass Sculpture Park in Dallas. - Rehab El Sadek Tamara Johnson's practice is full of life, curiosity, humor, and material intelligence. She is a consummate sculptor, constru cting forms from the canon of sculpture using forms from the playground, the kitchen, the pantry. - Kelsey Quinn Harrison Innovative and compelling work with sensitivity to site and context. Demonstrated ability to complete successful outdoor publ ic sculpture in a variety of media. Brings curiosity and versatility to the project that supports the RF[Q]'s goals of advancing contemporary art in Austin, whil e also submitting a proposal that evidences knowledge, respect, and dedication to art historical and architectural precedents. - Beverly Penn Tamara Johnson is an incredible talented artist. The reason's for this selection are obvious such as name recognition, high r elevance, contemporary edge, and momentum. If I were to choose an artist to see a solo show right now between the two options, I would select Tamara. She's fa r more cutting edge. I do believe she is a wild card and what she produced will be unexpected, and her art associated with Elisabet Ney will only help to eleva te the museum. I do think translating her work to public art is a farther leap, but this leap in her career is inevitable. - Brianna McIntyre Recommended Alternate Artist – Erin Cunningham [left to right] Counterpoised, 2015 Cast Aluminum 26 in x 10 in x 6 in Forward Fold, 2017 Cast iron 14 in x 10 in x 5 in Recommended Alternate Artist – Erin Cunningham As Seen From Earth, 2024 Cast iron, steel, silicone, fabric, wood Dimensions Vary Co-Lab Projects Austin, TX Recommended Alternate Artist – Erin Cunningham Of a Delicate Nature, 2015 Cast iron Dimensions Undefined Kemp Center for the Art Wichita Falls, TX Recommended Alternate Artist – Erin Cunningham With respect and empathy for the audience of the Hyde Park neighborhood, Austin as a whole, and the Ney Museum, I believe Eri n Cunningham is the right choice for the Elizabeth Ney Museum public art project. I believe this is a chance for Austin to promote one of their own, an d give an opportunity that can change the course of this artist's career. Some of the criticism against this choice are due to Erin not being as contemporar y or as conceptual as her competition. My perspective on this is that she is still the kinder choice for the audience, as the other artist, who is imme nsely talented, will provide something less expected, and probably less related for the Ney Audience. This can be good as we always want to push ourselves, but this also runs the risk of frustrating the Ney Audience. I believe Erin's work will be a crowd pleaser and that she will produce something that is highly durable, e asily translatable for public art, and accessible for the audience, while still exemplifying and honoring Elisabet Ney's memory. - Brianna McIntyre Erin’s portfolio, while more predictable than some of the other applicants and taking a more classical approach to sculpture (metal casting), would relate to and compliment the work of Elisabet Ney. The materials she uses in her practice would situate beautifully on the grounds at the m useum, and would be appropriate outdoor materials with a long life span. I believe in her ability to create a work that would incorporate community feedback and intrigue visitors. - Meghan Shogan [Erin Cunningham] successfully demonstrates innovative approaches to the relationship between the figure and landscape, with a proven track record of successful outdoor installations in permanent materials. Work submitted has a consistent, unique artist perspective regarding both figure and landscape, with demonstrated curiosity to respond to each unique site with sensitivity to both contemporary user experience and art historica l context. - Beverly Penn