HomeMy Public PortalAbout14) 9A Watercolor Designs for Rosemead Blvd Tile MuralsCity Council
April1, 2014
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Bandstand." The Commission approved the five design sketches for watercolor
rendering, with additional requested modifications to the sketches entitled
"Festivities" and "A District of Distinguished Schools" (Attachment "B").
5. On March 19, 2014, the Commission approved watercolor designs for City
Council approval, and-at Ms. Oueijan's discretion-recommended two final
modifications to the watercolor entitled "A District of Distinguished Schools."
ANALYSIS:
Tile mural designs for Rosemead Boulevard directory monuments are fine art
representations illustrating five iconic scenes of life in Temple City. Entitled, "Temple
City Today," this mural collection portrays the community's celebratory traditions and
cultural values as experienced by families and immigrant residents. Ms. Oueijan also
weaves in a contemporary history of Temple City's entrepreneurial legacy, which has
paved the way for recent business start-ups established on Las Tunas Drive. Ms.
Oueijan expounds, "the new murals will serve as a gateway to further understand the
unity and blending of the various communities, which come together to enjoy the
landmarks that make Temple City the place it is today."
The final watercolor designs incorporate the Commission's recommended
modifications to ensure each mural narrative is an accurate interpretation of community
life, and adheres to artistic best practices.
Final Watercolor Designs
1. "Embracing the Nature"
Location: Northeast of Pentland Street and Rosemead Boulevard
This design recognizes the San Gabriel Mountains and wild parrots as natural
amenities that provide an iconic backdrop as visitors travel north into Temple City
(Attachment "C"). The design is also an artistic nod to the growing parrot
population, which allegedly originated in 1959 when a Pasadena pet shop owner
released the birds to save them from a fire. Ms. Oueijan revised the original
design sketch to accurately reproduce the quintessential landscaping of the San
Gabriel Mountains as seen today facing north on Rosemead Boulevard.
2. "Festivities"
Location: Southwest of Broadway and Rosemead Boulevard
The Camellia Festival and Lunar New Year are conveyed in this design to
represent the merging of Eastern and Western cultures through celebratory
traditions (Attachment "D"). In particular, these events also help to bridge the gap
between diverse populations and transcend language barriers to establish a more
united and culturally aware community. The original design was altered based on
Commission input to enlarge the camellias, downsize the dragon, and incorporate
City Council
April 1, 2014
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the Camellia Festival's iconic carnival atmosphere and Ferris wheel. Per the
Commission's request, Ms. Oueijan also modified the camellia bud to better
distinguish it from a flowering rose.
3. "The Bandstand"
location: Southeast of las Tunas Drive and Rosemead Boulevard
The Temple City Park bandstand is memorialized in this design as a central
gathering place and cultural epicenter for community events like Concerts in the
Park (Attachment "E"). In 1991, the Citizen's Committee for a Bandstand in
Temple City Park was formed to organize fundraising efforts including an
engraved brick campaign. The Performing Arts Pavilion was officially dedicated in
September 1996, and has since seen thousands of professional musicians,
student performers and concert goers. The young girl's dress was modified from
the original design to better illustrate the swaying movements of dancing.
4. "What We Created"
location: Northeast of las Tunas Drive and Rosemead Boulevard
This design commemorates the first Winchell's Donut House and Pete & Jake's
Hot Rod Parts, which were both established in Temple City on Las Tunas Drive in
1948 and 197 4 respectively (Attachment "F"). Although these two businesses
have since relocated, the completed mosaic directory monument will be installed
northeast of the Las Tunas Drive and Rosemead Boulevard intersection to
connote the entrepreneurial legacies they left behind. The Commission approved
the design as proposed, without further revisions.
5. "A District of Distinguished Schools"
location: Southwest of Callita Street and Rosemead Boulevard
The design recognizes Temple City schools for receiving the California
Distinguished Schools award, and foreshadows the future graduation of
hardworking students who contribute to their track record of high academic
performance (Attachment "G"). The cheerleader is dressed in Temple City High
School colors of green and gold, and a soccer ball was added to hint at the
community's active participation in organized sports. Based on Commission
recommendation, the margin of space in the original design was increased
between the soccer ball and the bottom of the mural. The Commission also gave
Ms. Oueijan discretion to use shadowing on the California Distinguished Schools
logo to add depth and perspective; and to place the cheerleader's uniform strap
higher to resolve perceptions of body distortion.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is requested to accept the Commission's recommendations, allowing
Ms. Oueijan to proceed with the artwork fabrication phase for installation by the end of
this year.
City Council
April 1, 2014
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of recommended actions do not present an impact on the Fiscal Year (FY)
2013-14 adopted City Budget. The City Council approved Ms. Oueijan's $60,000 Artist
Agreement on September 3, 2013, which includes costs for artwork design and
fabrication.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Presented Sketches: January 22, 2014
B. Presented Sketches: February 5, 2014
C. Final Design: "Embracing the Nature"
D. Final Design: "Festivities"
E. Final Design: "The Bandstand"
F. Final Design: "What We Created"
G. Final Design: "A District of Distinguished Schools"
ATTACHMENT C
FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Title: "Embracing the Nature"
Size: 44" x 28"
location: Northeast of Pentland St. and Rosemead Blvd.
Revisions: The original design sketch was modified to accurately reproduce
the quintessential landscaping of the San Gabriel Mountains as
seen today facing north on Rosemead Boulevard.
ATTACHMENT D
FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Title: "Festivities"
Size: 44" x 28"
location: Southwest of Broadway and Rosemead Blvd.
Revisions: The original design was altered based on Commission input to
enlarge the camellias, downsize the dragon, and incorporate the
Camellia Festival's iconic carnival atmosphere and Ferris wheel.
Ms. Oueijan also modified the camellia bud to better distinguish it
from a flowering rose.
ATTACHMENT E
FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Title: "The Bandstand"
Size: 44" x 28"
location: Southeast of Las Tunas Dr. and Rosemead Blvd.
Revisions: The young girl's dress was modified from the original design to
better illustrate the swaying movements of dancing.
ATTACHMENT F
FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Title: "What We Created"
Size: 44" x 28"
location: Northeast of Las Tunas Dr. and Rosemead Blvd.
Revisions: The Commission approved the design as proposed, without
further revisions.
ATTACHMENT G
FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
Title: "A District of Distinguished Schools"
Size: 44" x 28"
Location: Southwest of Call ita St. and Rosemead Blvd.
Revisions: The margin of space in the original design was increased
between the soccer ball and the bottom of the mural. The
Commission also gave Ms. Oueijan discretion to use shadowing
on the California Distinguished Schools logo to add depth and
perspective; and to place the cheerleader's uniform strap higher
to resolve perceptions of body distortion.