The Bass Miami Beach: Open Call to Artists!

 

THE BASS: NEW MONUMENTS ARTIST OPEN CALL The Bass, Miami Beach's contemporary art museum, announces the second cycle of New Monuments, a project supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the museum's Knight Art Commissions Program established in 2019.   Open to artists living or working in Miami-Dade County, New Monuments invites project submissions that visualize a new, temporary monument atop a plinth in Collins Park. The Bass' curatorial team and external jurors will select one artist each year for five years to create a work that will be on view for 10-12 months at a time.   The Bass is situated in Collins Park, a public park in Miami Beach, where there are presently four monuments that were commissioned by different groups at various times. Sitting atop stone plinths in the south side of the park, these existing monuments pay homage to Cuban epidemiologist Dr. Carlos Finlay, Venezuelan political leader Simón Bolívar, Nicaraguan scientist Dr. Luis Henry Debayle and Cuban writer Jose Martí.   In 2021, we continue to witness an international debate on monuments, reconsidering who they honor, their purpose, relevance, and the validity of their continued existence. Building upon the context of engaging in current conversations on monuments and their legitimacy, New Monuments provides local artists the opportunity to produce a temporary, new, fifth monument. The inaugural New Monument (Najja Moon's Yo' Mamma's Voice in the Back of Your Head), was installed in March of this year and remains on view through January 2022.    "The Bass conceived of New Monuments as a way to elevate the artistic voices in Miami," said Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Executive Director and Chief Curator of The Bass. "This project creates an opportunity for artists in our community to engage in the international conversation and consider what person, group of people, place, or idea they feel should be honored atop a plinth in an urban park in Miami Beach today."   Black, indigenous and/or people of color (BIPOC) artists are strongly encouraged to apply. The Bass will pay for all costs relating to the project including production, engineering, installation and maintenance. The selected artist will also receive a $5,000 honorarium.   "Historically, artists have expressed what was, what is and what could be through their work.  Through the lens of artists in Miami we've been moved to see the 'other' in ourselves, question and challenge long-held beliefs and connect people to place and each other," said Victoria Rogers, Knight's vice president for the Arts. "The New Monuments open call invites artists to re-imagine the purpose, relevance and validity of monuments.  I look forward to seeing what they choose to reflect."   To apply, artists will propose an idea for a monument that fits conceptually with New Monuments, considering reasonable materials that will retain integrity outdoors for one year and a work that can anchor to a 24-by-24-inch base plinth outdoors. Applicants must submit a drawing or computer rendering to illustrate the proposed monument, a 500-word statement about the proposal, a CV/resume, and at least three visual examples of past work. The deadline to apply is Friday August 27 at 11:59 PM EST. Applicants will receive a notification by September 17. Information sessions hosted by The Bass Curator Leilani Lynch will take place August 10 and 24 at 6pm.    Visit our New Monuments page online for more information about the open call and application process.  Click here for a New Monuments press kit.