Graduate School issues call for public art proposals

From: Graduate School

The Virginia Tech Graduate School is inviting artists and designers to help define the visual legacy of graduate education on its Blacksburg campus. A formal Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued for a permanent exterior public art installation that will be located between the Graduate Life Center and the Newman Library.

The project commemorates two milestones: the 2005 opening of the GLC as a national model for graduate communities and the 20th anniversary of the Graduate School moving its operations into the hub in 2006. The deadline for submissions is June 15.

This initiative seeks to create a landmark that reflects the creativity, strength, and endurance of Virginia Tech’s graduate students. Beyond decoration, the installation aims to acknowledge the vital role graduate students play in the university’s land-grant mission and global impact. 

"I am eager to see this project come to life. Public art installations strengthen our campus’s sense of place, spark curiosity, and reflect the value of creativity here at Virginia Tech,” said Ruth Waalkes, associate provost for the arts at Virginia Tech and executive director of the Center for the Arts. “Practically speaking, these works serve as way-finding milestones and gathering spots, connecting our physical landscape and fostering community."

To ensure the piece resonates with those who live and work in the space, the Graduate School conducted a community survey to gather themes and inspirations. Respondents emphasized a desire for the work to represent the "interconnectedness" of the graduate experience. Suggestions included the use of mosaics to represent individual contributions to a larger whole, the enduring imagery of mountains, and the concept of "light" as a symbol of discovery and knowledge. Community members said they wanted art that is both durable and interactive, serving as a focal point for gathering and reflection.

Since the work will be situated outdoors, the selection committee is prioritizing designs that utilize sustainable materials capable of withstanding the Southwest Virginia climate with minimal long-term maintenance. The chosen artist will be expected to create a design that not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the grounds but also invites physical or intellectual engagement from passersby.

Themes that the planning committee encourages in the proposal include:

• The Graduate Life Center is a space and a place for graduate education.
• Transformative graduate education that pushes the boundaries of traditional disciplinary education and provides the underpinnings for an innovative, holistic graduate experience.
• Community that is strong, vibrant, welcoming, affirming, inclusive, curious, thriving, and growing.
• Celebrating interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches, spanning disciplines from science and engineering to arts and humanities.

Selected artists will have the opportunity to contribute to a site that serves as a crossroads for scholars from every discipline. The project is designed to involve current students and alumni in the process, ensuring the final piece resonates with those who connect with the Virginia Tech graduate school community.

“Virginia Tech Graduate School encouraged me to think outside my disciplinary or departmental silo,” said Sreyoshi Bhaduri, who earned a doctorate in engineering education in 2018 and now works in artificial intelligence. “The people, leadership, even the shared classrooms nudged me towards continuous learning — that it was okay, in fact preferred, that I build my ideas from across disciplines. This respect for knowledge and necessity for communication and shared language across disciplinary silos is what I bring to my career in artificial intelligence today.”

Applicants can find full technical requirements, site specifications, and submission instructions in the official RFP document available through the Graduate School's website.

Gifts to the project can be made online.