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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 Page 2 of 5 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 Page 4 of 5 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 Page 5of5 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