JEFFERSONVILLE — The Jeffersonville Public Art Commission and the Steamboat Nights Festival committee is calling for artists to create a temporary outdoor sculpture inspired by the official insect of Indiana: the lightning bug.
The committees are asking artists and artist teams to design, build and install a freestanding sculptural work for the 2018 Steamboat Nights Festival, which is Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The art would be located at the Big Four Park Lawn for the duration of the festival and possibly for two weeks after the installation.
This year, Indiana officially recognized the lightning bug as the official state insect.
The deadline for the project is June 29. It is open to artists 18 and older. Prior experience in public art is preferred but not required.
The selected artist will receive a stipend of $3,000 to cover the costs of the project, including design fees, materials, fabrication, transportation and installation. The committees will select only one piece.
The artwork can be either a literal or conceptualinterpretation of the lightning bug theme, but it must include a sort of illumination. Artists can submit up to three concept renderings for the sculpture.
All entries must be original works by the submitting artists. Artists can choose the types of media used to sculpt the art, as long as it is suitable for outdoor display. If needed, electrical access will be provided.
The materials used in the artwork are required to be durable and vandal- resistant, and they must not pose safety threats.
All proposed sculptures should be able to withstand a high-traffic, unmonitored outdoor environment with limited maintenance throughout the show.
The sculpture should be at least 6.5 feet tall, 6.5 feet wide and 6.5 feet deep. It should not exceed 8 feet in any direction. It must be freestanding with a way to anchor it to the ground with spikes or weights.
Each sculpture should be installed at least two days before the festival to insure proper placement and ability to be illuminated at night. Artists are responsible for delivering and installing the sculpture, but various city departments will help with installation.