HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-18 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
Liz Kniss: City Council Liaison
Rhyena Halpern: CSD Assistant Director
Elise DeMarzo: Public Art Program Director Nadya Chuprina: Public Art Coordinator
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart
Thursday, May 18, 2017
City Hall Community Meeting Room
250 Hamilton Ave
7:00 p.m.
AGENDA
REVISED
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: February 16, 2017 ATTACHMENT
STAFF COMMENTS
ACTION:
1. Junior Museum and Zoo – Staff recommends the approval of artist Charles Sowers as the project
artist for the JMZ project. ATTACHMENT
2. Bike Boulevards – Staff recommends the allocation of funds for the Bike Boulevards / Art
Crosswalks pilot project.
3. Collection Maintenance - Staff recommends the allocation of funds for the recoating of
Albuquerque by Gale Wagner in the amount of $9,150.
NON-ACTION:
4. Teen Arts Council Mural – Informational update on the teen mural at the Mitchell Park
Community Center.
5. Collection Maintenance/Deaccession – Discussion regarding the seven artworks identified by
ARG Conservation Report as most in need of restoration or de-accession and staff timeline to
return to the Commission with specific recommendations for each artwork.
6. Code:ART Updates
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – 7 PM, July 21, 2017
PUBLIC LETTERS TO THE COMMISSION
City of Palo Alto Staff Report to Public Art Commission
May 9, 2017
RE: Agenda Item 1
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Public Art Commission approve artist Charles Sowers as the project
artist for the Junior Museum and Zoo with an estimated public art budget will be between
$150,000 and $200,000.
Background:
The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) is a place where children, ages 0-9 years old, and
families explore, wonder and make discoveries about the natural world. Their mission is to
engage a child’s curiosity for science and nature. As the Junior Museum and Zoo approaches
its 83rd year, the museum and zoo are constrained by a facility that no longer reflects the
needs of its visitors, collections, and operations. A new facility will be built to “right size” the
Junior Museum and Zoo to better serve their audience.
The proposed new JMZ construction project would demolish the existing 9,000 square foot (SF)
Junior Museum and 13,000 SF Zoo, except the existing 500 SF bobcat exhibit, which would be
preserved. The proposed design for the JMZ includes constructing a new museum and
education building, outdoor zoo with netted enclosure, and perimeter site improvements on
the site of the current facilities. The 40,000 SF proposed museum and zoo project scope has
been developed in coordination with the Draft Rinconada Master Plan for the surrounding park,
parking lot, and adjacent public facilities. The design of the new JMZ was recently revised from
a two-story building to a single story building, due to the escalation of costs over the last three
years. The result has been a decrease in size of 4,422 square feet. The proposed project scope
has been developed in coordination with the Rinconada Park Master Plan for the surrounding
park, parking lot and adjacent public facilities.
There are multiple opportunities for an artist to integrate into the project. Among the spaces
identified for the integration of art are: the Entry Plaza area; the 450 foot wall facing Rinconada
Park; the Tunnel from Middlefield Road to the entry plaza; the building façade of the ticketing
area; and Dawn Redwood Courtyard
The Art Selection Process:
An open call to artists launched in December 2016 yielded over 250 applications. Of the 181
qualifying artists, staff conducted three pre-panels that narrowed the list to the final 20 artists
to be considered by the selection panel.
The selection panel was made up of:
1. Steven Huss – Public Art Manager, City of Walnut Creek
2. Shelly Willis – Former Executive Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission
3. Sarah Vaccaro – CAW Architects
4. Loren Gordon – Commissioner, Public Art Commission
5. Lauren Angelo – Community Member, Friends of JMZ Board Member
6. Tina Keegan – Director of Exhibitions, Junior Museum and Zoo
7. Rhyena Halpern – Director, Arts & Sciences Division / Assistant Director, CSD
The selection panel chose four artists and artist teams to give presentations about their
previous work and design development process to the panel April 27, 2017. Panelists were
asked to score the artists in three categories: 1- Strength of previous work in similar
environments; 2- Suitability to the Junior Museum and Zoo; 3- Durability of Materials; and 4-
High degree of audience engagement. After the interviews, the panelists scored the artists, and
Charles Sowers was the highest ranked artist.
Timeline:
The artist will enter into the design development contract with the City. Charles Sowers will
visit Palo Alto to meet with the design team in summer 2017, and then begin his design
process. The project construction will begin in 2018 the new facility which is expected to open
in the fall of 2019 pending permitting and available funding.
EXPERIENCE DIAGRAM
EXPERIENCE DIAGRAM
PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN
10
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-
3
"
24'
-
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10
'
-
3
"
24'
-
3
"
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A
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JMZ SIGN
4'-6
"
6'-0
"
6'-0
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EXHIBITS
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EXHIBIT
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COR
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INTERACTION
ZONE
RAINBOW
BRIDGE
FLAMINGO &
DUCK POND
INTERACTIVE
EXHIBIT
ENTRY TO
'UNDER'
RACCOON
EXHIBIT
RABBIT
MEADOW
TORTOISE HILL
MEERKAT OR
PRAIRIE DOG
EXHIBIT
TURTLE &
CICHLIDS
EXHIBIT
KITTEN'S DEN
COVERED
UNDERWATER
VIEWING
SERVICE
CORRIDOR
LOOSE IN THE ZOO
OUTDOOR ZOO
ANIMAL
MANAGEMENT AREA
STROLLER
PARKING
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LIB
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0
"
01
02
32'-
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"
03
04
55'-
0
"
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48'-
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A
B
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C
16'
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F
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28'
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06
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LEGEND:
LOBBY AND TICKETING PROGRAM AREAS
MUSEUM EXHIBIT AND SUPPORT PROGRAM
AREAS
STAFF OFFICES AND SUPPORT PROGRAM
AREAS
PROGRAM ANIMAL AREAS
BUILDING SUPPORT PROGRAM AREAS
FULL HEIGHT REFRIGERATOR
FULL HEIGHT FREEZER
UNDERCOUNTER DISHWASHER
LAUNDRY MACHINES
OUTDOOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
EDUCATION AND COLLECTION HUB
PROGRAM AREAS
R
F
DW
L
PROPOSED FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/16" = 1'1
STAMP
CONSULTANTS
MILESTONE DATE
PROJECT NAME
SHEET TITLE
SHEET
NEW CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT NO.
DRAWN BY
CHECKED BY
11011
06/10/2016
JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO
1451 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
PALO ALTO, CA, 94301
E. SEINGIER/ L. SCHULTZ
B. MCCLURE/ S. VACCARO
50% SCHEMATIC DESIGN
12/12/2016PRELIMINARY ARB PACKAGE
01/19/2017PRELIMINARY ARB PACKAGE
03/16/2017ARB STUDY SESSION
04/27/2017FORMAL ARB PACKAGE
PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN
POTENTIAL PUBLIC
ART INSTALLATION
(WIND)
10
'
-
3
"
24'
-
3
"
10
'
-
3
"
24'
-
3
"
SE
R
V
I
C
E
Y
A
R
D
JMZ SIGN
4'-6
"
6'-0
"
6'-0
"
HE
R
P
RA
C
K
(DR
Y
)
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P
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N
E
VE
S
T
.
CA
R
R
I
E
R
S
18
8
S
F
734
SF
87 SF
147
SF
SMA
L
L
EN
C
L
O
S
U
R
E
S
ANI
M
A
L
EN
C
L
O
S
U
R
E
S
8 x 10
TRE
N
C
H
DR
A
I
N
97 SF
TRE
N
C
H
DR
A
I
N
ANI
M
A
L
CAR
E
10 x 10
100
SFDRY
STO
R
A
G
E
8 x 10
8 x 10
ZOO
W
O
R
K
SPA
C
E
203
SF
209
SF
W/D
STO
R
A
G
E
CO
A
T
/B
O
O
T
S
5 x 8
5 x 8
RR
SHO
W
E
R
ROO
M
NE
T
T
E
D
E
N
C
L
O
S
U
R
E
EXHIBITS
FAM
I
L
Y
RES
O
U
R
C
E
ENT
R
Y
LOB
B
Y
CON
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
ROO
M
STO
R
A
G
E
DAWN
REDWOOD
COURTYARD
MUL
T
I
-
U
S
E
RO
O
M
TYP.
OUT
D
O
O
R
EX
H
I
B
I
T
ELE
C
.
905
SF
(INCLUDES LOBBY SF)
385
SF
102
0
SF
240
SF
LO
W
E
R
C
E
I
L
I
N
G
A
B
O
V
E
75 SF
CLI
M
A
T
E
CO
N
T
R
O
L
L
E
D
STO
R
A
G
E
COL
L
E
C
T
I
O
N
HU
B
900
SF
DAT
A
128
SF
BIK
E
114
SF
90 SF
90 SF
CLA
S
S
R
O
O
M
EXISTING
BOBCAT
EXHIBIT
SER
V
I
C
E
COR
R
I
D
O
R
INTERACTION
ZONE
RAINBOW
BRIDGE
FLAMINGO &
DUCK POND
INTERACTIVE
EXHIBIT
ENTRY TO
'UNDER'
RACCOON
EXHIBIT
RABBIT
MEADOW
TORTOISE HILL
MEERKAT OR
PRAIRIE DOG
EXHIBIT
TURTLE &
CICHLIDS
EXHIBIT
KITTEN'S DEN
COVERED
UNDERWATER
VIEWING
SERVICE
CORRIDOR
LOOSE IN THE ZOO
OUTDOOR ZOO
ANIMAL
MANAGEMENT AREA
STROLLER
PARKING
LON
G
TE
R
M
BIK
E
ST
O
R
A
G
E
TIC
K
E
T
I
N
G
AN
D
REC
E
P
T
I
O
N
4170 SF
MAI
N
EN
T
R
A
N
C
E
COP
Y
LIB
R
A
R
Y
$
PA
N
T
R
Y
10'-
0
"
01
02
32'-
0
"
03
04
55'-
0
"
05
48'-
0
"
A
B
12'
-
0
"
C
16'
-
0
"
14
0
'
-
0
"
33'
-
0
"
20
'
-
0
"
30
'
-
0
"
D
E
29
'
-
0
"
F
H
I
G
28'
-
0
"
06
07
49'-
0
"
53'-
0
"
10'
-
0
"
3'-
0
"
CLA
S
S
R
O
O
M
900
SF
STO
R
A
G
E
MEC
H
.
ELE
V
A
T
O
R
LEGEND:
LOBBY AND TICKETING PROGRAM AREAS
MUSEUM EXHIBIT AND SUPPORT PROGRAM
AREAS
STAFF OFFICES AND SUPPORT PROGRAM
AREAS
PROGRAM ANIMAL AREAS
BUILDING SUPPORT PROGRAM AREAS
FULL HEIGHT REFRIGERATOR
FULL HEIGHT FREEZER
UNDERCOUNTER DISHWASHER
LAUNDRY MACHINES
OUTDOOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
EDUCATION AND COLLECTION HUB
PROGRAM AREAS
R
F
DW
L
PROPOSED FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: 1/16" = 1'1
STAMP
CONSULTANTS
MILESTONE DATE
PROJECT NAME
SHEET TITLE
SHEET
NEW CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT NO.
DRAWN BY
CHECKED BY
11011
06/10/2016
JUNIOR MUSEUM & ZOO
1451 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
PALO ALTO, CA, 94301
E. SEINGIER/ L. SCHULTZ
B. MCCLURE/ S. VACCARO
50% SCHEMATIC DESIGN
12/12/2016PRELIMINARY ARB PACKAGE
01/19/2017PRELIMINARY ARB PACKAGE
03/16/2017ARB STUDY SESSION
04/27/2017FORMAL ARB PACKAGE POTENTIAL PUBLIC
ART INSTALLATION
(LIGHT, RAINBOW)
POTENTIAL PUBLIC
ART INSTALLATION
(SCULPTURES)
AERIAL RENDERING
AERIAL RENDERING
Charles Sowers
Professional Experience
1998-Present Exhibit Developer, Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
1995 –1998 Exhibit Director, Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC), Eugene, OR.
Public Art Commissions
2011 Windswept, San Francisco Arts Commission for the Randal Museum, San Francisco, CA
2011 Butterfly Wall, San Francisco Arts Commission for San Francisco International Airport,
Terminal 2, San Francisco, CA
2006 Wave Wall, Science Education Center, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (LIGO), Livingston LA (with Shawn Lani, Peter Richards and LIGO scientific
staff)
Group Exhibitions
2007 Phenomenon, 2501 Bryant St., San Francisco, CA
2007 Maker Faire, San Mateo, CA
2006 Reconsidered Materials, Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
2001 Chain Reaction, Exploratorium
2001 1° Below Zero, Exploratorium
2000 Moth Light, Exploratorium
2000 Chain Reaction, Exploratorium
Residencies
2005 Artist in Residence, with Shawn Lani at Materials Research Science
and Engineering Center, James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, IL
2008 Art/Science Lab Residency, Deegan Nonlinear Science Laboratory, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Awards
2007 Design Award, Wave Wall. New Orleans chapter American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Talks and Publications
2010 Sowers, C., Hesse-Honegger, C., Thys, T. (2010) Visualizing Science, Panel Discussion,
Swissnex, San Francisco, CA
2007 Sowers, C. (2007) Delight, Wonder, and Curiosity: Engaging Visitors at the
Exploratorium. Colloquium, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of
California, Irvine, CA
2007 Sowers, C., Lani, S. (2006) Chasing Down Phenomena, guest lecturer for T. Humphrey’s
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Science 110, Art and Phenomena
2006 Sowers, C. (2006) Exploring Emergence. Presentation at the 2006 Annual Workshop,
Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter, Santa Fe, NM
2006 Sowers, C., Lani, S. (2006) Chasing Down Phenomena, guest lecturer for T. Humphrey’s
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Science 110, Art and Phenomena
2005 Sowers, C., Lani, S. (2005) Exploring Wonder, talk given at Chicago Materials Research
Center, James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Hyde Park, IL
2005 Sowers, C. (2005) Playing APE: Debating the Role of Play in an Inquiry Exhibit
Development and Research Project, presentation as part of a workshop titled, Designing
Exhibits for Exploratory Play, at The Bay Area Institute, Center for Informal Learning and
Schools, San Francisco, CA
2005 Sowers, C. (2005) Contributing author, Gutwill, Humphrey et. al., Fostering Active
Prolonged Engagement: The Art of Creating APE Exhibits. San Francisco:
Exploratorium. ISBN 0-943451-59-0
2005 Sowers, C. (2005) Spinning Patterns: An APE Tale, ASTC Dimensions. Washington, DC:
Association of Science and Technology Centers, November/December 2005.
2005 Sowers, C. (2005) Shifting Authority. Presentation at Designing for Active Prolonged
Engagement Exhibit Development Workshop, Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
2004 Sowers, C. (2004) Thermal Impressions, in Orselli, P. (2004) Cheapbook 3: A
Compendium of Inexpensive Exhibit Ideas. Washington, DC: Association of Science and
Technology Centers
Education
Oberlin College, Oberlin OH. B.A. Anthropology, 1989