Mesalands Community College selects local artist to create Wind Center sculpture

TUCUMCARI, NM (12/01/2011)(readMedia)-- Mesalands Community College is pleased to announce that Norman Andersen of Minneapolis, MN, has been selected as the commissioned artist to create a unique large-scale sculpture, for the newly constructed North American Wind Research and Training Center. The new project proposed by Anderson will be a wind-driven kinetic sculpture that will have visual, sound, and aesthetic appeal, as well as movement to attract the attention of the community. This new sculpture was commissioned through the New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs that administers the Arts in Public Places program. This program focuses on enriching New Mexico's public spaces through an innovative and diverse public art collection.

The Arts in Public Places program assists agencies in selecting artwork for their communities. This program has placed more than 2,500 works of art in all of New Mexico's 33 counties, according to their website. Agencies such as Mesalands with a capital budget exceeding $100,000, will use one percent of their budget for artwork. The College had a budget of $70,000 for the project, which is one percent of the $7 million that was funded for the new Wind Center. The $70,000 will include the cost of fabrication, installation, engineering, professional photographic documentation, building permits, insurance, and gross receipt tax.

Ben Owen, Arts in Public Places Coordinator for New Mexico Arts, explains the significance of this program.

"Art in Public Places is important because it enhances the environment and makes spaces open to the public more accessible, enjoyable, and livable," Owen said.

Owen facilitated the process in selecting an artist and sculpture for the new Wind Center. His responsibilities included ensuring the community-based art-selection committee was compliant with state law and procedures. The committee members selected for this project were: Project Director, Dr. Aaron Kennedy, Dean of Student Services; T.J. Alden, Mesalands Student; Connie Chavez, Executive Assistant to the President; John Hail, Jr, Director of the Wind Energy Technology Program; D'Jean Jawrunner, Art Faculty; Randal Kilmer, Architect, Kilmer and Associates Architects; Mark Lake, Artist; Jim Morgan, Director of the North American Wind Research and Training Center; and Jim Streetman, Mesalands Board of Trustees.

Andersen's sculpture was chosen after a nationwide search. Andersen has experience creating sculptures that are either powered or controlled by wind. The Wind Center sculpture will have a visual and functional form. The sculpture will also have kinetic action with the rotation of the curved arms of horizontal wind-wheels. Sound adds another unique aspect to the sculpture. Depending on wind speed and direction, the horizontal wind-wheels will play the sounds of organ pipes. Additionally, the sculpture will be lit for the community to enjoy at night.

The committee was very impressed by the many different aspects of Andersen's sculpture.

"Norman Andersen's sculpture he proposed was beautiful. The sculpture will have sound, lighting, and motion. It will definitely be a wonderful addition to our campus," Dr. Kennedy said.

The anticipated installation date for the new sculpture is in fall of 2012.