Item 13 - AIPP AUS AEDP Phase III_AL&SFC - Artist Recs_AC.pdf — original pdf

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Selection Process Recommendations for Phase III AUS Airport Expansion & Development Program AIPP Opportunities: Amenity Lounges & Spaces for Children Agenda Item #12 Arts Commission Meeting June 16, 2025 Art In Public Places Austin-Bergstrom International Airport AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III Artist Selection Panel Recommendations Sponsoring Department: Aviation Project Budget: Total $2,904,000 ➢ Restroom Entries: $80K (x 9 restroom sets) ➢ Amenity Lounges: Mobility Lounge & Sensory Lounge $546K (x 2 lounges) ➢ Spaces for Children: High Energy & Quiet Energy $546K (x 2 spaces) Council District: District 2 Project Manager: Alex Irrera 1 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III PROJECT BACKGROUND Commissioning bodies* sponsored an open call for Austin-based artists/artist- led teams to submit qualifications in consideration of collaboration, design, fabrication, and installation of new public art opportunities located throughout the new Concourse B and the new Arrivals and Departures Hall: two spaces for children, a sensory lounge, a mobility lounge and 18 restrooms. *The City of Austin Art in Public Places program (AIPP) of the Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development Department (EDD) and Austin- Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) 2 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III: Amenity Lounges & Spaces for Children Amenity Lounges (x2) • Mobility Assistance Lounge • Site: Departures Ticketing • Estimated Budget. $546K • Sensory Lounge • Site: Concourse B • Estimated Budget. $546K • Project Summaries Spaces for Children (x2) • High Energy • Site: Concourse B • Estimated Budget. $546K • Quiet Energy • Site: Concourse B • Estimated Budget. $546K • Project Summaries • Two signature lounges at AUS aim to enhance Guest Services by supporting passengers needing accessibility assistance. • Artistic interventions should help create welcoming, inclusive, and comforting environments for individuals with special needs and their families. • AUS is seeking to create two dedicated children's spaces that integrate play into the functional components of the artwork. • One space should promote high energy, movement, and exploration, while the other should offer a calming and serene experience. • Artists are encouraged to incorporate contemporary, whimsical concepts • Opportunities may involve collaboration with local subject matter experts using analog and/or simple digital interactivity. and artists with disabilities. • One or two artists or artist-led teams will be selected to design these • Two artists or artist-led teams will be selected—one for each lounge. distinct environments. 3 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III SOLICITATION PROCESS: Open Call to Austin-Based Artists Evaluation Criteria • Professionalism and applicable experience • Technical skills and aesthetic appeal of past work • Consistent quality and production of artwork • Communication of ideas and intentions 4 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III: Amenity Lounges & Spaces for Children SELECTION MEMBERS Voting Angela Wolf, Artist & Director of Curriculum, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Austin, TX Norie Sato, Artist, Seattle, WA Carol Zou, Artist, Santa Monica, CA / Albuquerque, NM Brittney Williams, Interior Designer & Co-Founder, Origin Studio House, Austin, TX Isabelle Asakura, Landscape Architect & Partner / Director of Research and Innovation, Asakura Robinson, Houston, TX Non-Voting Advisory Robert Mercado, Program Manager / Architect, AUS Nick Garcia, Program Design Manager, AEDP, AUS Bernardo Diaz, AIPP Panel Liaison 5 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III: Amenity Lounges & Spaces for Children APPLICATION RESULTS 173 33 COMPLETED PHASE III APPLICATIONS ELIGIBLE AMENITY LOUNGE & SPACES FOR CHILDREN APPLICATIONS SELECTION RESULTS – AMENITY LOUNGES & SPACES FOR CHILDREN MAY 15, 2025 JUNE 6, 2025 Selection Panel Convened/Deliberated 8 Artists Interviews (8 hours) Selection Panel Convened/Reviewed Eligible Completed Applications (3 hours) AIPP OPPORTUNITY ESTIMATED ARTIST BUDGET RECOMMENDED ARTIST RECOMMENDED ALTERNATE Amenity Lounge – Mobility Amenity Lounge – Sensory $546,000 $546,000 Spaces for Children – High Energy $546,000 Spaces for Children – Quiet Energy $546,000 Brian Joseph Rakhee Jain Tabria Williford Lucas Aoki Jamal Hussain Jamal Hussain Iris Kwon Iris Kwon 6 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Mobility Lounge: Brian Joseph Brian Joseph "Cunningham Mural" 2018 Acrylic on wood 15 ft x 15 ft 7 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Mobility Lounge: Brian Joseph Brian Joseph "Marshalling Yard Murals" 2023 Acrylic paint 30 ft x 340 ft 8 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Mobility Lounge: Brian Joseph SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS I really appreciated the role of community and community connection in the aesthetic. The artist brings a history of public art installations and ability to assemble a team of consultants to realize the project. Was able to visualize a vibrant and inclusive space through the artist’s approach. Brian was recommended for the mobility space. His dedication to community pride could be a benefit in the mobility space, helping those that visit the space see themselves as a true part of the community. His work has potential to be effectively brought into 3D and could empower individuals with disabilities using the space to see themselves as part of the Bydee movement. He has experience in planning for large scale project and engaging the community... I think the narrative of the Bydee people and the idea of the shells could be powerful for this space the experience of disabled travelers in the airport. 9 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Sensory Lounge: Rakhee Jain Rakhee Jain "Folding Stories" 2022 Polyester, Embroidery Polyester Thread, Aluminum, Walnut Wood, 3D printed aluminum nylon composite nodes 14 ft x 9 ft x 8 ft 10 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Sensory Lounge: Rakhee Jain Rakhee Jain "Harmonic Strings" 2023 Sandblasted and Oxidized Steel Plates, Steel Tubes & Pipes, Direct To Metal Paint 12 ft x 6 ft x 10 ft 11 Recommended Artist: Amenity Lounge - Sensory Lounge: Rakhee Jain SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS The artist demonstrates strong potential in developing feasible public art concepts, with proven experience in both 2D and 3D projects and a solid understanding of the public art process, including community engagement and problem-solving. They showcase originality and creativity by translating community stories into compelling narratives and communicate ideas effectively through imagery and sensory elements. Additionally, their approach emphasizes adaptability, iterative testing, and a thorough understanding of materiality, lighting, durability, and project coordination. Rakhee was recommended for the Sensory Lounge space. Her prior experience in creating large-scale installations, grounded in community engagement spoke to the possibilities that could be designed for this space. She asked thoughtful questions, especially about universal design, and it was clear that she would leverage her ability to engage communities to gather input from a variety of groups to consider how the space could be designed to meet a broad audience's needs. 12 Recommended Alternate: Amenity Lounges: Jamal Hussain Jamal Hussain "Our Ever-changing Eternal Landscapes" 2024 Site-specific Installation, Projection Mapping, 2- Channel Video 20 ft x10 ft 13 Recommended Alternate: Amenity Lounges: Jamal Hussain Jamal Hussain "Symbiosis" 2022 Site-specific installation, projection mapping, interactive touch, audio, video 12 ft x12 ft x12 ft 14 Recommended Alternate: Amenity Lounges: Jamal Hussain SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS Offers a distinct approach that emphasizes transformational experiences and utilizes new media... Jamal was recommended as the alternate for both of the amenity spaces. His concepts were interesting and have the potential to create unique space... His work is a really good match for the project which could really benefit from some of this sensitivity and technology... If a place opens up for an alternate, I think he could handle it and do a good job. 15 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - High Energy: Tabria Williford Tabria Williford "Symphony of Species" 2025 MDO 8 ft x 4 ft 16 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - High Energy: Tabria Williford Tabria Williford "Garden's Ascent" 2025 Sail material print canvas design 12 ft x 9 ft x 10 ft 17 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - High Energy: Tabria Williford SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS The artist presents a well-organized approach with clear visuals and a demonstrated workflow from 2D to 3D, supported by experience in various project phases and universal design principles. They evoke movement and playfulness in their work, with strong communication skills evident in a well-structured presentation and experience engaging diverse community groups. While adaptable and self-aware of project complexities, there is potential for further development in flexibility and practical problem-solving. Tabria was recommended for the high-energy space for children. She seems to respect the experience of children and seems committed to seeking out input from children and their families to better design the space. Her approach to use textures and universal design has true potential to create an exciting, engaging, and inclusive space that will engage all children in a variety of ways. 18 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - Quiet Energy: Lucas Aoki Lucas Aoki "Toys in the Attic 2" 2024 Dimensions Undefined 19 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - Quiet Energy: Lucas Aoki San Antonio Botanical Garden Mural Lucas Aoki 2025 Acrylic paint. 17 ft x 21 ft 20 Recommended Artist: Spaces for Children - Quiet Energy: Lucas Aoki SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS The artist demonstrates strong potential with extensive experience in public installations and a supportive professional network of collaborators, creating whimsical, colorful, and interactive pieces that evoke wonder and curiosity. Their approach emphasizes sensory engagement, environmental responsiveness, and inclusivity, with thoughtful community involvement and adaptability to project scope and maintenance considerations. Overall, they show a balanced ability to communicate ideas effectively while planning for flexibility and sustainable design. Lucas was recommended because he seemed to have an intuitive sense of what children enjoy and expressed a commitment to diversity and accessibility in his design. He also seemed to have considered a clear plan/process for successfully seeing the project through and how the space could sustain use over a long time. Additionally, his ideas about how to incorporate lighting and sound into the space was thoughtful and interesting. 21 Recommended Alternate: Spaces for Children: Iris Kwon Iris Kwon "Welcome to Tea Party" 2025 Acrylic and cotton thread on canvas 40 in x 30 in 22 Recommended Alternate: Spaces for Children: Iris Kwon Iris Kwon "The Child" 2025 Resin Figurine 15 in x 5 in x 3 in 23 Recommended Alternate: Spaces for Children: Iris Kwon SELECTION PANELIST COMMENTS The artist shows solid experience transitioning from 2D to 3D work and offers a diverse design team, with strengths in storytelling and an attractive aesthetic. Their approach uses whimsical, colorful characters and spatial storytelling to engage communities, primarily focusing on interaction with children. While demonstrating some degree of competence in coordination and flexibility, there is room to develop more leadership on project process and execution, especially in public art. Her paintings and concepts are a combination of narratives, not always straightforward, which I appreciate. I hope that she will be able to find a way to expand that work into 3 dimensions, not just as design work. The wonder of childhood is great here... 24