HomeMy Public PortalAbout19) 7H Final Artist Recommendations for Rosemead Blvd. Public ArtAGENDA
ITEM 7.H.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
DATE: September 3, 2013
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager/(
Via: Brian Haworth, Assista t the City Manager /
Economic Development Manager
By: Chelsea Wood, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: FINAL ARTIST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD
PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITIES
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council (Council) is requested to:
a) Accept the Public Art Commission's (Commission) artist recommendations for
upcoming Rosemead Boulevard public art installations;
b) Authorize the City Manager to execute artist agreements that initiate the final
conceptualization and fabrication of Rosemead Boulevard public art design concepts
that incorporate the Commission's recommendations;
c) Direct the Commission to review and approve the final Rosemead Boulevard design
concepts at their regular meeting of October 2, 2013; and
d) Direct staff to present final design concepts for Council approval at their October 15,
2013 meeting.
BACKGROUND:
1. On March 23, 2013, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking
credentials from professional artists to design preliminary public art concepts for the
Rosemead Boulevard Safety Enhancements and Beautification Project (Rosemead
Project).
City Council
September 3, 2013
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2. On April 25, the City recieved 48 qualifications from professional artists across
California, nine of which are San Gabriel Valley residents.
3. On April 30, 2013, the then as -yet -unseated Public Arts Commission convened and
developed a pre -qualified large -list of artists, basing scoring upon a set of criteria
pursuant to the RFQ and federal funding requirements. Of the 48 artists who applied,
29 received a score above 525—out of a total 700 points—automatically selecting
them onto the large -list of pre -qualified artists for the City to consider when
commissioning public artwork.
4. On May 28, 2013, the then as -yet unseated Commission met and finalized a
collective recommendation to Council of six pre -qualified artists onto a short-list to
design preliminary art concepts for the Rosemead Project. The Commission
recommended artists Carole Choucair Oueijan and Christie Beniston to prepare
preliminary design concepts for four tile mural seating walls; Daniel Stern and
Heath Satow for two sculptures; and Robin Brailsford and Jose Antonio Aguirre for
23 art walk pavers.
5. On June 18, 2013, the Council approved the artist recommendations, which
subsequently initiated the preliminary design concept phase. Artists were awarded
$1,000 honorariums to provide the Commission with a statement of their proposed
artwork's theme and approach, as well as sketches of the proposed artwork along
with material samples, and fabrication timelines and budgets.
6. On August 7, 2013, the Commission received six presentations of preliminary
design concepts for their initial evaluation and critique. The Commission
recommended artists Carole Choucair Oueijan, Robin Brailsford, and Daniel Stern
to receive contractual agreements for the finalization of design concepts and
fabrication of four tile mural seating walls, 24 art pavers and two sculptures
respectively. It should be noted that one artist was selected for each artwork
component to allow economies of scale with final design, fabrication and
installation costs; as well as to ensure that all artworks integrate well with the
Rosemead Project's architectural style.
7. On August 22, 2013, the Commission reviewed the recommended artists'
preliminary design concepts for further artistic direction, and addressed ongoing
maintenance and public safety concerns. The Commission also considered
constructability issues and Americans with Disabilities Act compliances as raised
by staff and the Project Architect (GRUEN). The culmination of all final
recommendations, including those from the Project Architect, is summarized in the
following narratives, and will be provided to the artists as they enter contractual
agreements that commence the final design concept and artwork fabrication
phases.
City Council
September 3, 2013
Page 3 of 5
ANALYSIS:
Public artwork planned for the $20.7 million Rosemead Project will establish the City's
first public art collection, with four tile mural seating walls, two sculptures and 24 art
pavers seamlessly integrating into an "art walk" and place -making mechanism. The
Commission's recent selection of artists: Carole Choucair Oueijan; Robin Brailsford; and
Daniel Stern through a preliminary design concept process was based on industry best
practice to ensure the procurement of high-caliber installations.
The following provides an overview of the artists' preliminary design concepts, along
with a recap of the Commission's recent recommendations for final designs that make
each installation safer and more durable; and which may include suggestions of better
contextualizing the artwork's direction in way of form, function or context to the
community's varied historical and sociocultural backgrounds.
1. Tile Mural Seating Walls, By: Carole Choucair Oueijan
Ms. Oueijan proposed "Temple City's Life Story" as the title and inspiration for her
series of four tile mosaic murals on seating nodes located at the north and east
sides of Rosemead Blvd. and Callita St., and at the northwest and southeast
corners of Rosemead Blvd. and Las Tunas Dr. (Attachment "A"). Since the long
and narrow murals will be installed beneath seating benches, Ms. Oueijan was
inspired to design a film strip representing four community themes titled, "Embrace
the Nature," "Working Together for a Brighter Future," "Festivities," and
"Transportation."
The Commission has requested that Ms. Oueijan cut her 14 -month fabrication
timeline to 6 -months by reducing the detail of each mural, and instead focusing on
a simplified image that clearly reflects each designated theme. Since the viewing
area of the horizontal mural is limited and low to the ground, a graphic
representation of the image would be more recognizable from a distance. The
Commission also provided specific art direction for each theme based on imagery
provided in her preliminary design concept including, wild parrots, the San Gabriel
Mountains, and the Camellia Festival Parade. While the design of the seating wall
is expected to drain water away from the mural, the Project Architect (GRUEN)
advises raising the mural 2" above grade as an extra precaution against potential
water ponding.
The final design, fabrication and delivery of the four tile mural seating walls is not
to exceed $60,000.
City Council
September 3, 2013
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2. Art Pavers, By: Robin Brailsford
Ms. Brailsford presented two concepts for 24 art pavers, as well as concepts for 23
sandblasted word art locations, that encapsulate different aspects of the City's
history and culture (Attachment "B"). Her first design concept consists of 24 (2' x
2') camellia bloom pavers, ranging in color from whites to reds and yellows to
greens to compliment the Rosemead Project's landscaping. The second
preliminary design concept combines eight camellia pavers with 16 (2' x 4') pavers
inspired by the Eight Immortals, a famous Chinese folktale of legendary
superheroes that represent longevity and prosperity. Pavers will be primarily
installed between Callita St. and Sereno Dr., mainly concentrated in predominantly
pedestrian areas to encourage more foot traffic along the art walk and adjacent
businesses.
The Commission prefers a combination of the large (2' x 4') and regular (2' x 2)
size pavers as it provides a more visible and engaging artwalk concept. However,
because camellia motifs will be used in a number of other physical and commercial
corridor elements—including sandblasted sidewalk pavers, monuments, and
banners—the Commission requests eliminating the camellia design in the artwalk
pavers and instead use imagery that better represents the City's history and future
potential. Furthermore, the Commission agrees that the Eight Immortals narrative
is not relevant to the City's history or urban development. Based on these
recommendations, Ms. Brailsford will be given creative freedom to revise her
proposal for 16 (2' x 2') and eight (2'x 4') pavers that balance narratives of Temple
City history and future to coalesce with other related Rosemead Boulevard artwork
themes.
The initial budget of $45,000 was to produce 24 (2' x 2') art pavers and 23 word art
locations. However, the Commission's recommendations to incorporate large and
regular size pavers posed a need for an additional $13,400 in materials, which will
be covered by the Rosemead Project construction budget. The final design,
fabrication and delivery of 16 (2' x 2') and eight (2' x 4') pavers and 23 word art
features are not to exceed $58,400.
3. Sculptures, By: Daniel Stern
Mr. Stern proposed two life-size bronze sculptures of a man and woman in
dynamic poses of movement, titled "Jump On," and "Helping Hand/Reaching Out"
(Attachment "C"). Both sculptures are an artistic nod to the historic Pacific Electric
"Red" Car Trolley, which originally ran down Las Tunas Drive. The two sculptures
will be installed atop plinths on seating nodes located northwest at Las Tunas Dr.
and Rosemead Blvd., and Rosemead Blvd. and Broadway St.
City Council
September 3, 2013
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Both sculpture designs must be revised to meet Americans with Disabilities Act
compliances and roadway design guidelines to ensure appropriate overhangs and
street and sidewalk clearances. Although the Commission appreciates the
sculpture's active nature, they agree that it poses public safety and liability
concerns to anyone attempting to climb or hang off the (10') bronze structure.
Overall, the Commission enjoys the sculpture's reference to the Pacific Electric
"Red" Car Trolley, but advises that Mr. Stern rethink his approach to provide a
better representation of this historic regional icon.
The final design, fabrication and delivery of both sculptures is not to exceed
$50,000.
Each artist's unique perspectives and artistic styles will provide for a series of
complementary artworks that, when completed, will weave together an artwalk of
different narratives that depict the City's history and future, enhancing the pedestrian
experience on Rosemead Boulevard and encouraging interaction between artwork and
observer.
CONCLUSION:
Should the Council accept the Commission's artists recommendations, the City
Manager will execute formal artist agreements (Attachment "D") that require artists to
further refine their design concepts to incorporate the Commission's recent
recommendations. The agreement also includes a key milestone that requires each
artist to present their final design concept for the Commission's initial approval at their
meeting of October 2, 2013. Final designs will be presented to the Council for their
ultimate approval at their meeting of October 15, 2013, after which the fabrication
process immediately commences to ensure that delivery and installation of artwork is
completed by April 2014.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 City Budget. Funding for the design,
fabrication, delivery and installation of these artworks was appropriated in the
Rosemead Project construction budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
A: Preliminary Design Concept for Tiled Mural Seating Walls (Oueijan)
B. Preliminary Design Concept for Art Pavers (Brailsford)
C. Preliminary Design Concept for Sculptures (Stern)
D. As -to -Form Artist Agreement