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Home My Public Portal About08) 7E Final Design for a New Mural at Temple City LibraryDATE: TO: FROM: MANAG EM ENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM June 2, 2015 The Honorable City Council Bryan Cook, City Manager AGENDA ITEM 7.E. By: Brian Haworth, Assistant to the City Manager/Economic Development Manager Giselle Corella, Executive Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: FINAL DESIGN FOR A NEW MURAL AT TEMPLE CITY LIBRARY RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to approve a final design concept for a new mural at Temple City Library. BACKGROUND: 1. On January 20, 2015 , City Council approved an artwork commission agreement with Arthur Mortimer for a new mural at Temple City Library. The project scope identified an artistic intent for the mural as recommended by the Public Arts Commission, i.e ., the exploration of unique community events or subject matters between the 1920s to present day (Attachment "A"). Additionally, $29,000 in public art in-lieu revenues were appropriated to install and realize the new artwork, including a weekend event whereby community volunteers would paint the mural. 2. On May 11, 2015, Mortimer presented the Commission with three preliminary sketches provided hereto as Attachment "B" and summarized below. Sketch 1 shows a parade along Las Tunas with the name ''Temple City" on prominent band shields, followed by girl flag twirlers. Behind them is the Pacific Electric Red Car, a regional mass transit system that was instrumental in the city's early development. In the background, trees and parade goers line the street, as well as the tops of some existing older businesses and the Temple Theater, a now-vanished landmark . Flanking the mural are the City's new gateway pylons on Rosemead Boulevard, alongside portraits of city founder Walter Temple and hometown astronaut Steve Lindsey. City Council June 2, 2015 Page 2 of 3 Sketch 2 is a variation of Sketch 1 that contains slight differences including but not limited to: the elimination of a left-side gateway pylon, moving the Red Car to the left and adding in front a visible girl flag twirler. Sketch 3 illustrates an expansive landscape of Temple City's early days. A small building in the center foreground reads "Temple Townsite Co. Office," with a Model T Ford parked in front. The background features the iconic San Gabriel Mountains, in addition to citrus groves and a smattering of buildings. Arrayed across the landscape is a collage of images containing themes of Sketches 1 and 2 with the addition of South Santa Anita School, the town's first school (now Longden Elementary). The Commission ultimately selected Sketch 2 for further refinement, particularly the removal of (ventilation) pipes atop background buildings and incorporation of the following components: depiction of South Santa Anita School, a helmet to astronaut Steve Lindsey's portrait and reference names to the framed images. (The Commission also felt the artistic elements could be easily simplified and rendered with flat colors to allow for ease of painting by community volunteers.) 3. On May 19, 2015, Mortimer presented the Commission with two slight variations on Sketch 2. Provided as Attachment "C", Sketch 2-A incorporates the Commission's requested alterations; Sketch 2-B adds upon it with a second gateway pylon flanking the mural's left side and making the adjacent Red Car more prominent. The Commission selected the latter concept for final rendering, subject to City Council approval. ANALYSIS: Sketch 2-B provides a fanciful representation of Temple City's many elements. Its creative development is the result of Mortimer's exploratory efforts through a number of community interviews and research assistance by the Historical Society of Temple City. Mr. Mortimer will be present at tonight's meeting for any questions. Should City Council approve the recommended sketch, its action would trigger the following milestones to produce and ready the artwork in time for a "Mural-In-A- Weekend" event tentatively scheduled for June 27-28, 2015. Mortimer will produce a full-color, scaled rendering of the final sketch to depict how the artwork will look at completion. The artist will also design and layout the actual mural over a one-week period at a City-provided facility. City staff will begin event planning for the mural painting weekend, including publicity and artist coordination. Staff will also facilitate efforts to physically relocate City Council June 2, 2015 Page 3 of 3 the existing Temple City Library mural to the north-facing wall of Temple City Unified School District headquarters. Commissioners will assist City staff in planning event logistics and recruiting volunteer artists. The advisory body will also review and approve title and descriptive text for the mural's identification plaque (anticipated for installation before actual painting begins). Alternately, should City Council desire revisions to the Commission's recommended concept, those changes could be made and submitted for subsequent review on June 16, 2015. It should be noted, however, that any additional revisions would push the "Mural-In-A Weekend" event to later next month. CONCLUSION: City Council approval of the recommended action accomplishes a task identified in the FY 2014-15 Public Arts Annual Plan, i.e., a new mural at Temple City Library. The mural's realization is anticipated to bring many benefits, including providing an artistic and aesthetic dimension to local history, and forging relations with volunteer artists in the local arts community. FISCAL IMPACT: None, if the recommended action is pursued. However, should City Council request changes to the Commission's recommended design concept, the cost is estimated at $1,500. This expense can be absorbed by the project budget. ATTACHMENTS: A. Desired Artistic Themes B. Initial Design Concepts C. Refined Design Concepts OBJECTIVE EXHIBIT 1 DESIRED ARTWORK THEMES AND DIRECTION (PER FINAL COMMISSION APPROVAL ON DEC. 3, 2014) ATTACHMENT A Develop a mural that showcases themes unique to Temple City between the 1920s and present day. FEELING/SENSIBILITY Nostalgic, reflective, recollective, happy,'noteworthy, hometown, 'warm fuzzies." 1 COMPOSITION !D_spiration: Romance-An Homage to Maxfield Parrish. POSSIBLE THEMES2 Background Mt. Wilson and Henniger Flats (viewable from Temple City) Mt. Baldy Citrus trees Undeveloped land, tracts (possibly a map) Chicken coops §jgnificant Businesses Wonder Cleaners Fisher's Drug Store Ye Loy Chinese Restaurant McVey's Hardware Cool's Candies Sprouse-Reitz Dime Store Significant Buildil}ill! South Santa Anita School (now Longden Elementary) 1950s Theatre(@ Rosemead/Las Tunas) Pacific Electric Railway Station (TC Park) Sanner House/Casa Robles (6355 Oak Ave.) First Sheriffs Station Lucky Baldwin House (9676 Lemon St.) Women's Club Modern Day Farmer's Market Astronaut Steve Lindsel 1 "warm fuzzies": A feeling or state of well-being and contentment. 2 Listed in no particular order. COMMUNITY EXECUTION Employ a Call to Artists for a two-day community involvement process. 3 Possibly with red rocket climbing structure. ATTACHMENT B N ~~ J: 0 1- ll.J ::.:: (f), ___ __, SKETCH 2-A Aiteratlons to this sketch: 1. Add Santa. Anita School & Flag behind trees. 2. Add Steve Lindsey vvith hc!met 3. Add names for rv'ir. Temple & Mr. Lindsey. 4. Remove some pipes atop buiidings. ~ );! () I s;: m z -; () Altcn:.:.tJo;~s 1:0 this sketch: 1. Change proportions (n1ider & no< as tali}, 2.Add Pyton and more of Red Cor on i-eft. 3. Add Sanw An~ta School & Flag behind trees. 4. Add Steve Lindsey with he! met. 5. Add names for i\'lr. Tern pie & rvlr. Undsey, 6. Remove some pipes atop builcilngs.