Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is on the hunt for that one special artist to create a large art installation for its new School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) building.

“We want the piece to be very inspiring, welcoming people into our community, inviting them to explore the building and connect with us,” CDIS program director Vasso Founta told The Cap Times. “That's how we decided to do this broad call for artists.”

In a nationwide call, school officials are offering $70,000 to the chosen artist, along with approving a budget of $60,000 for fabrication and $125,000 for shipping fees. The all-encompassing search is unique to the university as all other campus pieces have been chosen by the school directly. The search is open through October 27, 2022, and they are seeking somewhat of a local flavor for the installation.

Plans call for the sculpture to sit on the northeast entrance of the new building, assuring that it will be highly visible on campus and a focal point for the building.

Construction for the new 325,000 square-foot building, which will be the most sustainable on campus, is set to commence next year, with the new building ready to open for classes in early 2025. Both the new building project and the art installation have been privately funded. A large portion of the funding comes from longtime benefactors in the Morgridge family.

An art committee of four staff members, alongside CDIS faculty and the Chazen Museum of Art Director, will choose semifinalists for the project this winter, with each of those artists set to pocket $5,000 for submitting a detailed proposal of their potential work.