Item 12 - AIPP AUS AEDP Phase III_RE - Artist Recs_AC.pdf — original pdf

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Selection Process Recommendations for Phase III AUS Airport Expansion & Development Program AIPP Opportunities: Restroom Entries Agenda Item #11 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: Restroom Entries Restroom Entries (9 sets) • Sites: A/D Hall and Concourse B • Estimated Budget. $80K per restroom set • Project Summary. • This opportunity focuses on creating visually impactful restroom entrances to support intuitive wayfinding in the airport. • Artists should draw inspiration from Austin’s local culture, landmarks, history, flora, fauna, and environment. • Designs should feature harmonious themes and color palettes to enhance the traveler experience. • Up to nine artists will be selected, with one artist assigned to each set of restrooms. 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: Restroom Entries SELECTION MEMBERS Voting Val Britton, Artist, Portland, OR Rex Hamilton, Artist, Austin, TX Leslie Moody Castro, Curator and Writer, Austin, TX & Mexico City, MX Non-Voting Advisory Robert Mercado, Program Manager / Architect, AUS Nick Garcia, Program Design Manager, AEDP, AUS Monica Maldonado, AIPP Panel Liaison 5 AUS-AIPP AEDP Phase III: Restroom Entries APPLICATION RESULTS 173 87 COMPLETED PHASE III APPLICATIONS ELIGIBLE RESTROOM ENTRY APPLICATIONS SELECTION RESULTS – RESTROOM ENTRIES MAY 22, 2025 Selection Panel Convened/Reviewed Eligible Completed Applications (4 hours) RECOMMNEDED ARTISTS – X1 RESTROOM SET EACH ($80K) RECOMMENDED ALTERNATES Hallie Brewer Elizabeth Chiles Essentials Creative Elizabeth Hudson Hope Hummingbird Phoebe Joynt • Deborah Mersky • • Monica Mohnot • Manik Nakra • • Alternate 1: Shannon Fannin Alternate 2: Malti Lee • • • • • 6 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Hallie Brewer Selection Panel Comments Hallie demonstrated an exceptionally strong design aesthetic and sense of dynamic composition. We loved the artist's use of joined, dyed, and printed fabrics. Hallie’s work is visually interesting and intriguing. Hallie has a strong visual voice, and the work would add value to any space. This artist demonstrated the ability to curate a space. Their colors and compositions felt intentional and visually stimulating. 7 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Elizabeth Chiles Selection Panel Comments Elizabeth's use of collage in the photographic process is technically impressive while the imagery is also strongly evocative of the native flora of Austin. For me, it creates a strong emotional impact. I love the richness of the densely layered images. Elizabeth’s work and process is quite unique and can translate into many printed mediums to withstand an and accommodate a space like the airport. Elizabeth is also a highly respected member of the Austin arts community. This Artist's work is very interesting and learning about how the art was made added depth the work... 8 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Essentials Creative Selection Panel Comments This collaborative's work is vibrant, dynamic, and reflective of deep research and multiple cultural perspectives. It is visually beautiful, and the process feels connected and thoughtfully researched. Essentials Creative is a respected, collective of artists who produce public art in creative and unique ways. Having their work in the airport would be great representation for the Austin art community. Their work was vibrant and representative of their cultures. I'm interested to see how this group of Artist's come together to make another cohesive piece. The work brings a colorful energy that is the essence of Austin. 9 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Elizabeth Hudson Selection Panel Comments This Artist's work was the strongest of all the work considered for this project. They're unique voice and approach to figurative work feel refreshing and familiar. I was captivated by the ethereal nature of the watercolors, and balanced compositions. I was very impressed with Elizabeth's technical painting skills, original use of color, and the evocative, dream-like mood created in each work. I loved how much color went into each painting while still feeling focused and sophisticated. I could see this work translating beautifully into painted ceramic tile or painted, laminated glass. Elizabeth Hudson’s artistic voice and work are unique as is her use of materials. 10 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Hope Hummingbird Selection Panel Comments Hope Hummingbird's work shows deep engagement with the craft of ceramic tile and will be well-suited to this project. We appreciated the artist's sense of color and the depiction of local artists in the work, showing a unique connection that pays homage to the local community. Hope Hummingbird is an artist that is connected to the Austin art community. The portraits of artists would memorialize and commemorate the contemporary artists that made the arts ecosystem in Austin so special. This was one of the strongest Artists being considered. Their work had a sense of calm that radiated from the work... 11 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Phoebe Joynt Selection Panel Comments Phoebe showed consistency and ambition in the portfolio of work. The artist's use of graphic, almost Pop-art elements with graphic pattern and figuration was unique and we feel that the artist would create a unique work for the airport. Phoebe is a respected muralist in the city who is capable of a commission of this size. Her visual voice is unique and interesting. This artist is prolific in Austin and their work can be seen all over the city. There will be a familiarity with this work by the viewer, and an appreciation of Austin's mural/street art scene being represented. This artists artwork also has a consistency that evoke confidence that they will create something great for this project. 12 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Deborah Mersky Selection Panel Comments Deborah's work demonstrates smart use of research into each project. I loved the patterns created and their graphic impact. The artist shows familiarity in working with durable materials which will be an asset to this commission. Deborah Mersky has multiple installations in Austin and is an artist with a proven record of producing site specific works that withstand the test of time. This artist is clearly qualified for a commission such as this one. 13 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Monica Mohnot Selection Panel Comments I found Monica's fiber works compelling in their use of color and space, and the way they draw one's eye around the composition. I can imagine the artist translating these abstractions into exciting work for the restroom entrances. Monica Mohnot’s work is unique, visually arresting, and her history of large-scale public art projects proves she is both capable and qualified. This Artist displays a mastery over abstract composition and color choice. Their textile pieces are what stood out to me the most as great pieces. 14 Recommended Artist: Restroom Entries (x1): Manik Nakra Selection Panel Comments Manik's work demonstrates a strong use of color and dynamic composition. We like the use of figurate and graphic elements and can see this artist creating an imaginative and vibrant work for the restroom entrances. Manik Nakra has proven he is capable of large- scale, public art projects that last. Manik’s visual language is both unique and strong. Their work used a vibrant and expressive color pallet that would work great for a public art piece. Also, this artist unique voice shines through in their work. 15 Recommended Alternate 1: Restroom Entries: Shannon Fannin Selection Panel Comments Shannon shows a mastery of technique and skill and can reference the very specific motifs present in Austin as a changing city. She is also a respected member of the Austin arts community. This artist brought a unique artistic style, being the only hyper-realistic painter in the group. They display a mastery over their craft that radiates from the work... I'd be interested to see what this artist would create for this opportunity. She can paint in a photo-realistic style and shows dedication to her chosen subject matter of vehicles. 16 Recommended Alternate 2: Restroom Entries: Malti Lee Selection Panel Comments Malti's sense of space, composition, and color are dynamic and lively. We like her unique combination of architectural line drawings and painted renderings of plant life taken from the Austin area. We all agreed that we haven't seen work like this before and it feels fresh. Malti Lee has a unique perspective in illustrating the iconic architecture of the city of Austin. She combines the visual references of her culture and the city to produce work that is interesting and nuanced. This Artist had very interested art style and was unlike any style I had seen before, which I greatly appreciated. 17