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louvenia dorsey bright PORTRAIT

Call to Artists

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Portrait of Representative Louvenia Dorsey Bright
November 21, 1941 – July 29, 2023
Honoring a Vermont Legislative Legacy
Artist Application

The Louvenia Dorsey Bright Portrait Committee, in conjunction with the Vermont State Curator and the Friends of the Vermont State House, to support the preservation and interpretation of Vermont’s capital building, has decided to commission a portrait of Representative Louvenia Dorsey Bright, the first African-American woman and woman of color, to serve in the Vermont State Legislature.

Goal

To commemorate the legacy of Representative Louvenia Dorsey Bright, the first African-American woman and woman of color to serve in the Vermont State Legislature (1988-1994), by commissioning a large, high-quality artistic portrait – a true work of art. This portrait will be included in the permanent collection of the State House and will authentically reflect her essence and contributions.

Scope of Work

The Vermont State House is working to add portraits to its collection that represent the state’s growing diversity, and offer the opportunity to tell stories that pertain in particular to leaders from our political past. That past includes the story as to how Vermont’s General Assembly would eventually reflect the expansion of voting rights to women and people of color – which decades later would culminate in the election of Louvenia Bright as the first woman of color to serve in Vermont’s House of Representatives. 

Representative Bright made her mark on Vermont history when she was elected to the Vermont State House of Representatives in 1988 and served three terms representing the City of South Burlington, Vermont (1988-1994). Her election confirmed her as the first African American woman – and, in fact, the first woman of color – to serve in the Vermont State Legislature.

It is our goal to provide historical legacy, representation, and prompt the storytelling that should inspire others to represent their communities at the State House.

all submissions are due by may 31, 2025
Louvenia Bright, Representative

Louvenia Dorsey Bright
(1941—2023) 

Representative Louvenia Dorsey Bright

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 21, 1941, Louvenia Dorsey Bright grew up in Robbins, Illinois, and Niles, Michigan. She later moved to Detroit, where she graduated with honors from Detroit Eastern High School and earned degrees from Highland Park Junior College and Wayne State University, majoring in business education.

In 1963, she married Dr. William E. Bright II, and together they served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines (1965–1967), where she taught at Philippine Normal College in Manila. Upon returning to the U.S., she taught business education at Highland Park High School and earned a Master’s in Education from Wayne State in 1971. That year, her family relocated to Burlington, Vermont.

Louvenia continued her career in education, teaching at Colchester and Burlington High Schools while earning a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Education Administration from the University of Vermont. She was deeply involved in community leadership, serving as Vice President of the Black Professionals Network of Vermont and holding key roles in the NAACP, the Vermont State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and other organizations.

In 1988, Louvenia made history as the first African-American woman elected to the Vermont State Legislature, serving three terms representing South Burlington. As a State Representative, she championed race and gender equity, parental leave, and social justice, serving as Ranking Member of the Health and Welfare Committee and on the Government Operations Committee. In 2021, Vermont NAACP chapters honored her legacy by establishing The Bright Leadership Institute to support BIPOC Vermonters in public service. She also received a lifetime achievement award from Emerge Vermont for her political contributions.

After retiring in 1995, Louvenia moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and later settled in Park Forest, Illinois. She passed away peacefully on July 29, 2023.

proposal requirements

Submittals to this RFQ should consist of the items listed below:

  1. RFQ Requirements
    1. A statement of interest stating why you would be the right choice for this project.
    2. A PDF of your current resume listing all applicable experience, including any relevant description of special techniques, materials used, and studio setup.
    3. Up to 8 digital images of previous work that pertains to the nature of this project. Please include a corresponding image list which includes the title, date, medium, and dimensions for each piece. Please provide .jpg images 4×6 inches at 72 dpi.
    4. References.
    5. Preference will be given to qualified Vermonters and/or artists of color.
    6. Process will include a video interview before final selections are made.

All submissions will be evaluated by the full Portrait Committee based on the quality and suitability of the proposal. 

All submissions are due by May 31, 2025.

important
information

all submissions are due by may 31, 2025
Thank you for your submission. We appreciate your taking the time to express interest and submit your credentials to be a part of this important initiative.
 
Please keep in mind that it may take up to two months for the committee to review all work and get back in touch with the many artists who provided us with submissions.
 
If you have any questions about the process, please direct them to Gail Carrigan at

info@vtstatehousefriends.org

Please introduce yourself by filling out this form, including your statement of interest, and uploading your resume and samples of your work.


friends of the vermont state house

126 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

email (preferred contact method)

info@vtstatehousefriends.org