Reimagining Works - Opportunity for artists

My new sculpture project is a commission through the Dayton Metro Library Reimagining Works initiative http://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/works

Reimagining Works is a fantastic opportunity for local artists (250 mile radius of Dayton) to submit responses to the 17 RFPs. It is all part of the Libraries for a Smarter Future project http://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/9-news/812-may-2013-facility-update. 

Dayton Metro Library (DML) is making a huge investment in the improvement of library facilities. They are renovating existing library branches to accommodate new uses and creating new branch facilities. Part of that investment is commissioning art work for the buildings. There will be a mix of 2D and 3D commissions.

Here's another cool part. DML has partnered with the Dayton Art Institute (DAI) http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/  for Reimagining Works. The process is that art pieces from the DAI permanent collection are shown to the users of the libraries and the general public. The users get to vote which pieces should be used to inspire the artists who will create the permanent art pieces for the library. The artist then uses these inspirations to build out their idea. This ties together the commissioned art work, the artist, the community, the library experience, and artwork that lives in the Dayton Art Institute collection.

My commission is the first of 17 possible projects. If you're interested in submitting a proposal there are three more RFPs open right now. But hurry - the deadline for these next three is August 7th. Keep watching the Reimagining Works site; there are 13 more RFPs to come! 

New Sculpture Commission - New Blog

I have a new commission for a steel outdoor public sculpture. I want to ensure that the local and remote community can follow the creation of this commission project from end to end without having to come to the studio to look over my shoulder. In addition to this blog, I will tweet about the project on my Twitter account @KallArt, and post images on my Flickr album Electra C. Doren Sculpture Commission

The local community will have the sculpture as part of their library experience so they are my customer for the sculpture, and I want their feedback during the process. Even if you're not local I'd like your comments and questions. Please follow, retweet, and comment here, on Twitter, and Flickr.

I apologize that my blog posts won't be in chronological order in the beginning. I've already been designing and making decisions while responding to the RFP for this commission. So I'm going to be posting some current events and some recollections of steps already past in no particular order until I've "caught up" with myself.

I'm intrigued by artist's inspirations, their vision, their process, and their struggles making decisions as they create their artwork. But I have long disliked when artists talk "about" the value and impact of their artwork. I don't usually find that the value and impact of their work is enhanced by their descriptions. It usually falls flat and sounds like propaganda. So I'm going to try to remain true to my own prejudices in this blog and stick to the what, why, and how of my work, and leave the perception of value and impact of what I make to you.