Collaborative submission between the artist Christopher Warren, and the fabrication firm Demiurge llc

This submission for the RFQ for the Chadron State College COIL public art opportunity comes from a combined artist team, showcasing the creativity and uniqueness of the works created by the artist Christopher Warren (AKA Beatnik Prints), and the experience and exceptionality of the fabrication firm Demiurge.

The extensive artistic creations of Christopher Warren can be seen HERE, with his portfolio viewable HERE.

The impressive array of projects created by Demiurge can be seen HERE, with their portfolio viewable HERE.

Letter of Interest

Hello, my name is Christopher Warren. I am an artist based in Colorado, and I have been creating artworks that recreate forms from nature with colorful slices for over a decade. I am very interested in creating a series of outdoor sculptures for the the Chadron State College COIL building because I think my art style would be uniquely qualified for telling the story of the work that goes on in the COIL building, and because my pieces would create lively, engaging, and interactive public art that will delight and enlighten viewers. For this RFQ, I am applying with the highly accomplished art fabrication firm Demiurge LLC out of Denver CO. Between the specificity of my artwork to the COIL building, the interactive and playful nature of my proposed sculptures, and the breadth and quality of Demiurge’s resume, I strongly believe we would be an excellent fit for this project.

For this call, I am proposing a series of sculptures along the meandering walkway adjacent to the COIL building, that create different artifacts with vertical slices of colored metal. The artifacts will come from the different fields of study that occur in the COIL building. Some possible subjects for the sculptures include; A model of a chemical compound for chemistry, A heart muscle for anatomy, a flower bloom for botany, a dinosaur skull for paleontology, a geode for geology/mineralogy, a ringed planet for astronomy, etc. Some of the sculptures can be based on real specimens in the collection at the COIL. With the use of photogrammetry technology, we can get a digital model from a physical object with a smartphone and a series of photos from all angles. These sculptures will be made from a series of colorful vertical slices of metal, as stated before, but this construction method also gives us an opportunity to convey added data through the way that these will be affixed to the ground. The sculptural elements of each piece will be at roughly eye level, and affixed to the ground by extending a few of the central layers of metal to the ground. Carved into the front of these “plinth” layers will be a technical data element from each specimen. For example, on the front “plinth” layer for the sculpture representing the study of astronomy, we will carve the spectral lines emitted by that celestial body. This feature of each sculpture will tie it directly to the studies occurring in the COIL building, as well as create an art experience that is educational, engaging up close, and take the wonders that the faculty and students of Chadron State College have researched and discovered, and share them with the world!

If selected for this project, I as the artist will be responsible for the curation of the subject matter for the series of sculptures, including consulting with the relevant departments in the COIL building to decide on what specimen might represent their departments the best, and the in-person collection of any necessary data. Once the final sculpture subjects have been confirmed, I will work with Demiurge in the creation of the digital models that the final pieces will be based on. At that point, Demiurge will take over the creation and installation of the pieces, including the water-jet cutting of the metal, the two-part catalyzed polyurethane top coat coloring of the layers of metal, the assembly, delivery, and site installation of the pieces.

If selected, we will create a series of playful yet informational sculptures that will draw in viewers from afar, and engage and educate them up close; The subjects of the sculptures will be curated through consultation with the faculty that explores the world around us through the facilities in the COIL building; And with the combined efforts of the artist and a dedicated fabrication firm, we will deliver a unique and creative series of sculptures that meet the highest standards of quality and outdoor durability. We would be honored to create these pieces of art for the people of Chadron, and Nebraska. Thank you for your time and consideration.