UFASB Whitney Laboratory for Marine Studies: Public Art Commission

Information:

The Art in State Buildings Program at the University of Florida will commission an artist or artist team to create a site-specific work of art for the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Studies in St. Augustine, FL. The sites for art are both interior and exterior and all appropriate media will be considered. Of particular consideration for exterior works of art is the location on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Matanzas River (Intercoastal Waterway). It is prone to hurricanes, high winds, flooding, and salt air.

The total budget for this project is $100,000 for finalists’ proposals, creation, and installation of selected work of site-specific art. Finalists will receive an honorarium to create and present a site-specific proposal. The total amount of each honorarium will be determined based on the number of finalists (up to 4), and the total amount available for all honoraria cannot exceed $5,000. The final art budget is between $95,000-$98,000.

Location: UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Studies, St. Augustine, FL

Art Budget: The art budget is between $95,000-$98,000.

Honoraria: Finalists will receive an honorarium to create and present a site-specific proposal. The total amount of each honorarium will be determined based on the number of finalists (up to 4), and the total amount available for all honoraria payments cannot exceed $5,000.

Art Selection Timeline: Applications due Oct 13, 2023, finalist notification Nov 2023, and proposals due Feb 2024.

Sites for Art:

The Whitney Marine Lab is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Matanzas River (Intercoastal Waterway). It is prone to hurricanes, high winds, flooding, and salt in the air.

The Whitney Marine Lab will be the public interface for the sea turtle research lab and hospital. The building will host K-12 school groups visiting the space, as well as University visitors.  The lobby will also be a site for research presentation.

The committee is equally considering a single installation or an installation with multiple pieces of art throughout the available locations.

Materials are important: plastic is not allowable (unless there is an educational reason).

All available sites for art are listed. It is not expected that all sites will receive art for the available budget.  All appropriate media will be considered for each site.

Sites are not listed in priority order.  All sites are being considered equally.

Dimensions are provided via the linked document along with elevations, floorplans, and renderings.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kci90rdy44up2sy1m8veq/UFASB_Whitney_CTA_Sites_for_Art_FINAL_sm.pdf?rlkey=3bx2f4tu8eama61d2px6r7ks6&dl=0