State of Connecticut Percent-for-Art Installation at CAES
Project Description
The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station is seeking a work of art that honors the rich history of CAES and taps into the extensive photo and archival collection. The project aims to achieve a permanent public art project while simultaneously carrying out a digital archive component that can be expanded upon by CAES following the completion of the 1% for Art project. The project itself will become a research project and may be of interest to artists who tend to engage interns in research-based projects that include a cross-sector component.
Artists may consider the use of imagery from the archives and the use of text and/or poetry, The project may include combination a combination of photos/images and archival collection to mount a permanent display. Artists may consider the full array of CAES when developing the underlying structure of their project, or they may choose to focus on the two departments that occupy the Jenkins-Waggoner Laboratory – The Department of Entomology, and The Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology.
As a facility rich in history, knowledge, research, tradition, and innovation, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station values the arts and maintains a collection of artwork and artifacts that speak to the institution’s past. Portraits of former directors are on display throughout the campus, artifacts are preserved, and manuscripts (both former and new publications) are highly regarded. Artists are encouraged to visit the website to learn about the extensive scope of work carried out by the CAES staff and scientists.
About The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES)
CAES is the first Agricultural Experiment Station in the United States, founded in 1875. The mission of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is to develop, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge, improve agricultural productivity and environmental quality, protect plants, and enhance human health and well-being through research for the benefit of Connecticut residents and the nation. Seeking solutions across a variety of disciplines for the benefit of urban, suburban, and rural communities, Station scientists remain committed to “Putting Science to Work for Society,” a motto as relevant today as it was when it was founded in 1875.
In 2016, nearly 50 PhD scientists work for CAES with a focus on plants and environment research, engaging in cross agency partnerships with research supporting the work of other state agencies. In addition, the laboratory provides free services such as soil testing and plant and bug analysis for residents. The CAES campus in the historic Prospect Hill neighborhood of New Haven includes an auditorium which is used almost daily for events, workshops, and lectures. The agency also operates three research farms and laboratories.
The Jenkins Laboratory, a National Historic Landmark, was originally built in 1932 as a WPA project. It recently underwent renovations and acquired a new addition. Construction was completed in 2015 and the building now goes by the name Jenkins-Waggoner Laboratory. The new contemporary wing creates a dynamic contrast to the existing structure while celebrating and maintaining the historic appearance of the original laboratory. The existing facility is 17,900 gross square feet (GSF), has three occupied floors plus a penthouse and contains laboratories, offices, insect collections and a library. The two-story 12,000 GSF addition accommodates required program areas and the overall project provides facility upgrades.