MONTREAL/May 18, 2005—
To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, CUPFA commissioned a major work of art to be installed in the new Engineering, Computer Science & Visual Arts Integrated Complex.
Together with the conservation and mounting of the 1930s York Theatre artifacts and the installation of a monumental glass mural by Nicolas Baier, the CUPFA commission will reinforce the University's commitment to showcasing the arts on the Sir George Williams Campus in the Quartier Concordia.
Moreover, the competition and the selected art work celebrate the vital connections between CUPFA and Concordia. Musicians, journalists, filmmakers, psychologists, accountants, engineers and artists are but a few of the part-time faculty that bring an applied pedagogy to the university framework. As such, the artwork would express the diversity of CUPFA's membership within the University and Montreal.
Located within the pedestrian concourse at metro level - a critical juncture where public and private spaces intersect - the work could be no larger than 4.5 metres high by 3.75 metres wide, and was to be fixed to a grey limestone surface. Artists needed to pay special attention to the fact that the work will be installed in an area with high public circulation and had to adhere to all building and safety codes. The work also had to be visible both day and night. Suggested art media for the competition were: painting, photography, low relief, three-dimensional wall sculpture, or other compatible application.
A selection committee was struck with the following members:
• Shahriar Ameri, CUPFA member, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science,
Concordia University
• Andrew Dyke, Associate, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects
• Dr. Clarence Epstein, Director, Special Projects, Office of the President, Concordia University
• Francine Paul, chargÈe de projet IntÈgration des arts ‡ l'architecture Direction des programmes nationaux et dÈveloppement des operations MinistËre de la Culture et des Communications
ï Michële Thèriault, Director, Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery
• David Vivian, CUPFA, Faculty of Fine Arts, Concordia University
• Sandra Margolian, Assistant to the Director, Special Projects, Office of the President, Concordia University (committee secretary)
The selection committee considered several submissions and selected four artists, who were required to present maquettes with detailed technical, maintenance and budget specifications. The artist who was chosen for the commission is Holly King.
Holly King's Seascape and The Sublime was made possible with the generous contributions of the offices of Dr. Frederick Lowy, President and Vice Chancellor, Michael Di Grappa, Vice President, Services, Christopher Jackson, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Nabil Esmail, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, and the Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
