HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-16 Public Art Commission Agenda Packet
IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
54954.2(a) OR SECTION 54956
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
Jim Migdal, Chair
Mila Zelkha, Member Ben Miyaji, Vice-Chair Amanda Ross, Member
Dara Olmsted Silverstein, Member Nia Taylor, Member Loren Gordon, Member
City Council Liaison: Liz Kniss
Elise DeMarzo: Public Art Program Director Nadya Chuprina: Public Art Coordinator
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart
Thursday, February 16, 2017
City Hall Community Meeting Room
250 Hamilton Ave
7:00 p.m.
AGENDA
ROLL CALL
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Members of the public are invited to address the commission on any subject not on the agenda. A reasonable time
restriction may be imposed at the discretion of the Chair.)
Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Public Art Commission after distribution of the agenda
packet are available for public inspection in the City Hall Council Chambers during normal business hour.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 19, 2016 ATTACHMENT
STAFF COMMENTS
ACTION:
1. Highway 101 Bike and Pedestrian Bridge – Staff recommends the approval of artist Mary
Lucking as the project artist for the Highway 101 Bike and Pedestrian Bridge project.
ATTACHMENT
NON-ACTION:
2. Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital public art - Jill Sullivan, VP of Space Planning and General
Services of Stanford Children’s Hospital will give a presentation on public art planned for the
site. (20 minutes)
3. Code:ART – Staff presentation on the interactive artwork and eight urban interventions selected
for the Code:ART festival to take place June 1-3. (30 minutes)
4. Informational update on the status of the updated policies associated with the Public Art Master
Plan. (5 minutes)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
Next PAC Regular Meeting – 7 PM, March 16, 2017
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, January 19, 2017
City Hall Community Meeting Room
250 Hamilton Ave
7:04 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Jim Migdal, Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon, Mila Zelkha, and
Nia Taylor
Commissioners Absent: Dara Silverstein, and Amanda Ross,
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Peter Castelino, Program Assistant II
CALL TO ORDER: Chair, Migdal called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Staff requested Non- Action item IV to be
presented first, and Action Item II to follow up in addition to removing Item V as the presenter is
unavailable.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – Jessica Brettle from the City of Palo Alto, Clerks Office thanked the
Commissioners for their service to the Public Art Commission, and spoke on the recruitment process for
other Commission vacancies.
Commissioner Taylor arrived at the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 20, 2016 PAC Regular Meeting Minutes Moved: Ben Miyaji,
Second: Jim Migdal. All in favor. November 17, 2016 PAC Regular Meeting Minutes Moved: Ben
Miyaji, Second: Jim Migdal. All in favor.
STAFF COMMENTS: Staff reported on the California Avenue Project delays due to rain and updated the
Commissioners on the estimated time of competition. Staff also reported on the open call for the Junior
Museum and Zoo. Deadline for submission is February 1. Staff announced that artist Susan Zoccola was
in town that day to meet with the design team for the Charleston/Arastradero corridor project and tour the
site.
NON- ACTION:
4) 450 Bryant Street – Avenidas CEO, Amy Andonian presented the planned historic upgrades and
new addition to the current Avenidas Senior Center. The presentation included renderings of the new
addition to the current building, and the public atrium available for public art. Commissioners made
suggestions regarding artwork materials and cautioned staff to be aware of any sensitivities the
Avenidas community may have to sound, light or movement.. The Commission was enthusiastic
about the project and excited about the artwork in the atrium.
ACTION:
1) Election of Officers – Commissioner Migdal shared information about the different roles and
responsibilities of being the Chair and Vice Chair of the Public Art Commission. A straw poll was
conducted to either proceed or postpone elections due to the absence of two Commissioners.
Commissioner Gordon nominated Commissioner Migdal to Chair. Migdal accepted. Commissioner
Migdal nominated Commissioner Miyaji who declined the nomination. Voting took place and
Commissioner Migdal was unanimously elected to another term as Chair of the Public Art
Commission. Commissioner Zelkha nominated Commissioner Miyaji as Vice Chair. Commissioner
Miyaji accepted. A vote was conducted and Commissioner Miyaji was unanimously elected to
another term as Vice Chair of the Public Art Commission.
2) Donation of artwork by Christine Gray – Cubberley Artist Christine Gray is donating Totem
Cactus with Art, as she concludes her residency at the Cubberley Artist Studio Program. The artwork
will be part of the City’s portable collection installed throughout City facilities. Moved: Chair
Migdal moved to accept Cactus with Art, into the collection. Second: Vice Chair Miyaji. All in
Favor.
3) Birdie, Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course – Staff presented updated renderings of, Birdie by Joyce
Hsu who is the project artist by the Commission in 2014. With an adjusted budget in 2015, the
artwork is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2017 on the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Couse.
Commissioners inquired about the material and location of the public art project in addition to
expressing great appreciation for the artist and her patience. Moved: Commissioner Zelkha moved to
approve the new renderings of Birdie and for the artist to proceed with fabrication. Second: Vice
Chair Miyaji All in Favor.
NON- ACTION:
5. Code: ART- Staff presented an update on the selection process for Code:ART, a three day festival,
June 1-3, 2017. Staff mentioned the project is still seeking funding for all eight projects but can
currently fulfill four. Commissioners inquired about the length of installation for some of the artwork
and Staff clarified that the installations are only planned for three days.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
Next PAC Regular Meeting – 7 PM, February 16, 2017
MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:03 PM by Chair Migdal.
City of Palo Alto Staff Report to Public Art Commission
February 9, 2017
RE: Agenda Item 1
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Public Art Commission approve artist Mary Lucking as the project
artist for the highway 101 Bike/Pedestrian Bridge with an estimated art budget of $90,000 -
$100,000.
Discussion:
The Highway 101 Pedestrian Overpass Project at Adobe Creek will replace an existing underpass that is
available only half the year (on average) due to seasonal flooding. It would also complement an existing,
although Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) deficient, overpass that is 1.25 miles north. The new
overcrossing will also include a 0.13 mile Class I trail connection along an existing Santa Clara Valley
Water District maintenance road.
In the heart of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto (along with its neighbor to the south, Mountain View) is
home to hundreds of technology and research-based companies, including a number of major
employers such as Google, Intuit, and Space Systems Loral that have clustered in close
proximity to Highway 101 and the Bay Trail. To better link these growing job centers with
regional trails and bicycle facilities, and improve access to superb recreation opportunities like
the Baylands, Palo Alto has prioritized the funding and construction of a new, year -round
bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing over Highway 101 at Adobe Creek near the City’s southern
border.
Bridge Project Status
The Bridge design submissions received during the design competition were not selected due to
budget constraints. The City sought design teams through a Request for Proposal process
resulting in a design team selection by Council in May 2016. The design team, Biggs Cardosa
and Associates (BCA) developed a 15% design for Council consideration in early November
2016. Council accepted a bird-friendly Bowstring Bridge Concept design presented by BCA for a
12-foot wide bridge to meet the $13 million project budget.
The Art Selection Process:
Staff pulled artists from the prequalified pool who have experience in transportation projects
for consideration for this commission. Of the 61 artists with transportation experience, a pre-
panel of staff brought the number down to 23 to be considered by a selection panel.
The selection panel was made up of:
Claudia Guadagne – FMG Architects
Judith Wasserman –Served on original Bike Bridge Panel, former ARB and PAC member
Mila Zelkha – Public Art Commissioner
Mel Day – Artist, Cubberley Artist Studio Program
Selene Foster – Palo Alto Art Center Curator
Jerry Hearn –Environmental Advocate
Lee Lippert – Cyclist, former ARB member
The selection panel chose five artists to give presentations about their previous work and their
design development process. One of those finalists dropped out of the project, and the
remaining four made presentations to the panel January 25, 2017. Panelists were asked to
score the artists in three categories: 1- artistic excellence and strength of their previous body of
work 2-Suitability to the bridge project based on previous work 3- Artist’s approach to the
concept development and process. After the interviews, the panelists scored the artists, and
Mary Lucking was the highest ranked artist.
Timeline:
The artist contract will need to go to Council for approval. Mary Lucking will likely come to Palo
Alto to meet with the design team in late March to early April, and begi n her design process
then. The project construction will begin early 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in 2020
pending permitting and available funding.
MARY LUCKING
SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
In Progress
Mustang Transit Center; Scottsdale, AZ. Art integrated into a new transit center. (2017)
Grand Bridges; Tempe, AZ. Sculptural pedestrian bridge railing. (2016)
2016
Cat’s Cradle; Tempe, AZ. Sculptural pedestrian bridge railing.
2015
Desert Rose; Phoenix, AZ. Art integrated into a new transit center.
Sixteen Stories of One Home Town; Mesa, AZ, Art integrated into a new light rail station.
Nothing But Flowers; Phoenix, AZ. Art integrated int o a new park and ride facility.
2013
Meanwhile, Down in the Arroyo; Tucson, AZ. Art integrated into a new flood control park project.
Nancyplants Island; Tucson, AZ. Art integrated into a modern streetcar station with Pete Goldlust.
67th Street Station; Houston, TX. Art integrated into a new light rail station.
2012
Everyone Appreciates a Punctual Train; St. Louis, MO. Art integrated into a light rail station.
Picnic with a Fish; Scottsdale, AZ. Large-scale, one-day public art event.
In a Big Country; Phoenix, AZ. Decorative shade structures for a park and ride facility.
A Tree Grows in Scottsdale; Scottsdale, AZ. Temporary installation with Pete Goldlust.
2011
Take the Long Way Home; Phoenix, AZ. Art integrated into a park and ride facility.
Curiouser and Curiouser!; Phoenix, AZ. Arizona Science Center interactive sculpture.
LoveBirdLand; Loveland, CO. Bicycle path underpass sculptural wall forms with Pete Goldlust.
Contours and Crossings; Papago Park, Tempe, AZ. Bridge design for a multi-use trail.
Bird Song Sing; El Paso, TX. Temporary installation for the Chalk the Block Festival.
2010
BluesBirds; Glendale, AZ. Temporary installation for the Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival.
2009
Rag Riparian; Las Cruces, NM. Temporary public art installation with Pete Goldlust.
Peace Labyrinth; Tempe, AZ. Art enhancing a community-built labyrinth.
Blues Garden; Glendale, AZ. Collaboration with Andrew Sempere and Pete Goldlust.
Temporary interactive installation for the Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival.
2008
35th Avenue Streetscape; Phoenix, AZ. Bus shelters, benches, and sculpture.
Amur Serenade; Scottsdale, AZ. Interactive installation for the Scottsdale Lights festival.
Here We Are (Indian School Station); Phoenix, AZ. Art incorporated in a light rail stati on.
Turning Blue; Glendale, AZ. Interactive installation for Glendale’s Jazz & Blues Festival.
2006
Quincie Douglas Welcome Waves; Tucson, AZ. Decorative fences for a public pool.
2005
A Few Pieces of Advice to Help You On Your Way; Tempe, AZ. Temporary public art project.
Primordial Chicken Soup; Cambridge, MA. Temporary public art project with Andrew Sempere.
Behemoth Hitches a Ride; Tempe, AZ. Illustration for Tempe Public Library’s cards.
2004
Shade for Oak Flower; Tucson, AZ. City bus shelter designed with seventy 6th-grade students.
2003
MetroCenter Levee; Nashville, TN. Fences, flood walls, paving, and stair rails.
Shelby Street Bridge; Nashville, TN. Fence panels and sculptural seating/bollards.
Dunbar/Spring Circle Signs; Tucson, AZ. Unique street signs and native plantings.
1999
Downtown Greenway; Nashville, TN. Public art master plan for a future greenway.
Trace; Nashville, TN. Temporary outdoor art installation. Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University.
12 South; Nashville, TN. Lead artist on the 12 South revitalization project.
Can-Do; Nashville, TN. Artist-initiated, community-constructed public art project.
15 January 1997; Nashville, TN. Installation at the Cheekwood Museum of Art.
1997
Bubble Light; Memphis, TN. Temporary public art installation. Commissioned by the art journal Number:
and University of Memphis Art Museum, X Marks the Spot exhibition.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2016
Eric Fischl Gallery, Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ. Valentine (solo show)
2011
James Gallery, CUNY Graduate School, New York, NY. And Another Thing (group show)
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ. CF Grant Winners (group show)
2010
ASU Art Museum & Rula Bula Pub, Tempe, AZ. Open for Business (group show & solo installation)
PVCC CPA Gallery, Paradise Valley, AZ. Experimental Arts Festival (solo installation)
2002
Boston CyberArts Festival, Boston, MA (performance)
SIGGRAPH 2002, San Antonio, TX (performance)
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, Summer Solstice Celebration (performance)
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, Version>2.0 (performance)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, IMMEDIA 2002. (group show)
2000
1926 Gallery, Chicago, IL, (co-curator)
Sony’s Heart Young Artists Exhibition, Sony Berlin Headquarters, Berlin, Germany. (group show)
AWARDS
2015 Arizona Forward Award of Merit for Phoenix Park and Ride Series
2012 AFTA Public Art Network Year in Review Award for Contours and Crossings
2012 Valley Forward Award of Merit for Contours and Crossings
2010 Contemporary Forum Artists Grant
2009 AFTA Public Art Network Year in Review Award for Here We Are
2009 AFTA Public Art Network Year in Review Award for Amur Serenade
EDUCATION
2001, M.F.A., Art and Technology Studies.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL
1994 BA, cum laude, Double major in Architecture and Russian Area Studies.
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA