AUGUSTA – The Maine Arts Commission is making a call to professional artists who live in New England to submit proposals to design, execute and install artwork at the Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School, Percent for Art site in Lewiston. The total budget for the project is $45,000, and the submission deadline is Friday, Nov. 28.

The Percent for Art law reserves 1 percent of the construction funds for all state-funded building projects to provide artwork for the public areas of the buildings.

Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School is a new construction, replacing the Pettingill Elementary School in Lewiston. The school is under construction and is scheduled for completion in July 2009.

The school board adopted the theme “Aspirations” to guide the design and construction of the project. Interior color was chosen by the colors in the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” and there are passages from the book throughout the building on the higher soffits.

The school itself is separated from many of the urban elements of Lewiston by natural wetlands and trees. The school is designed to be a LEED certified green building. Environmental responsibility, diversity of the area’s culture, economy, industry and ideas are some of the values the school intends to promote.

The committee that will select the final artwork has assessed the site and chosen the following potential areas to be addressed by a single artist (or single arts entity): exterior of the main entry/exit area; interior, either the 72-foot-long wall of the main corridor or the window transoms of the library and cafeteria.

Materials and design ideas for exterior pieces should take into consideration the site conditions and harsh winter climate. Architect representative is Jeff Larimer of Harriman Associates, who can be contacted at [email protected]. Questions can be directed to Kerstin Gilg at the Maine Arts Commission, [email protected].

An artist’s budget proposal must cover all design, fabrication, transportation, documentation and installation expenses, including any building or site modification associated with the artwork.

E-mailed materials should be sent to:[email protected]. Mailed materials should be addressed to Percent for Art Competition: Geiger Elementary, c/o Kerstin Gilg, Maine Arts Commission, 25 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0025