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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-19 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 Hsinya Shen, 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, October 19, 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: PAC Regular Meeting – September 21, 2017 ATTACHMENT STAFF COMMENTS ACTION: 1. Charleston-Arastradero Corridor – Final approval of artwork by Susan Zoccola for the Charleston-Arastradero corridor. ATTACHMENT 2. California Avenue Parking Garage-Approval of Ball-Nogues Studio as artists for the project. ATTACHMENT NON-ACTION: 3. Joint Meeting with Council – Brief discussion and strategy for the presentation to Council. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – November 16, 2017 MINUTES PUBLIC ART COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Thursday, September 21, 2017 City Hall Community Meeting Room 250 Hamilton Ave 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Present: Ben Miyaji, Hsinya Shen, Loren Gordon, Mila Zelkha Commissioners Absent: Nia Taylor, Amanda Ross, Jim Migdal, Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Miyaji called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Staff requested to move Action Item 2 forward. Vice Chair Miyaji granted the changes. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – none. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 17, 2017 PAC Regular Meeting Minutes Moved: Loren Gordon, Second: Hsinya Shen. All in favor. September 8, 2017 PAC Retreat Minutes Moved: Loren Gordon; Second: Hsinya Shen. All in favor. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff updated the commissioners on the upcoming removal of Murmur Wall by Future Cities Lab. The artwork is scheduled to come down on October 3, 2017. Staff also provided a summary of the Commissioner Recognition Event that took place on Saturday, September 16 in Mitchell Park. Staff thanked the commissioners for their service. ACTION: 2. De-Accession of Artworks - Staff recommended that the PAC initiates deaccession evaluation process for California Avenue, California Native by artist Susan Leibovitz Steinman sited at California Avenue at El Camino Real, based on the process and conditions outlined in the City’s Deaccession of Artwork Policy adopted in December 2016. Staff provided a detailed overview of the artwork commissioning and maintenance history and presented considerations for the deaccession of the environmental streetscape-integrated artwork by Steinman, including the condition or security of the Artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed; the Artwork is not, or is only rarely on display because the City lacks location for its display; and no suitable site is available for relocation or exhibition, or significant changes in the use, character, or design of the site have occurred which affect the integrity of the Artwork. Staff recommended that PAC proceed with the deaccession process and open the public comment period, notify the artist officially of the deaccession, and agendize the final vote for December or January. Commissioners clarified with staff on the removal options for some of the elements of the artwork and commented on maintenance challenges with integrated landscapes and living plans in areas with a high pedestrian and car traffic. Moved: Commissioner Zelkha moved to initiate the deaccession evaluation process for California Avenue, California Native by Susan Leibovitz Steinman. Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in favor. 1. 450 Bryant St – Final Review for Public Art in Private Development by artist Martin Webb for the Avenidas project at 450 Bryant Street. Staff presented the project background, its goals, initial input from the Commission and the Avenidas stakeholders meeting, and spoke about the artist selection process. Staff then presented some examples of the previous work by Webb and his site-specific proposal for the new addition of the Community Center. Some of the PAC feedback included: the proposed artwork looks elegant, welcoming and appealing, the piece will have great visibility from both the exterior and interior of the building, and it would be a great fit for this rather challenging space. Moved: Commissioner Gordon moved to approve the artwork proposal by artist Martin Webb for the project. Second: Commissioner Zelkha. All in Favor. 3. Temporary Public Art – Staff briefed the Commission on the estimated timeline for a series of upcoming temporary installations for King Plaza in downtown Palo Alto over the next two years. Staff presented an overview of the Blue Tree Project, shared images of some previous installations across various locations in the US and abroad, talked the Commissioners through the environmental and community engagement of the project, and provided more details about the non-toxic organic pigment that developed and patented by the artist. Staff earlier obtained approval from the City arborist team and is currently working with the Storm Water manager to secure department approval. Staff recommended the allocation of funds for Konstantin Dimopolous’ installation on King Plaza Spring 2018- Spring 2019. Moved: Commissioner Zelkha moved to allocate funding in the amount of $23,000 for the project. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor. 4. Adoption of Priorities for 2017/2018 – Staff presented the overview of the PAC priorities developed during the PAC Annual Retreat held on September 8, 2017. The five priorities included 1: Completing the murals and percent for art in private development policy revisions. 2: Increasing staff capacity by hiring Project Manager to provide support with the oversight of municipal public art projects; 3: Commissioners to act as active ambassadors for the program; 4: Focusing on increasing public art collection awareness by exploring mobile applications; and 5: Expanding the locations and scope of temporary public art installations to new locations and, when possible, incorporating interactive (light and sound) and performance-based projects. Vice Chair Miyaji proposed to hold PAC retreats semi-annually and suggested that commissioners are provided with PAC name tags with the new logo. Moved: Commissioner Shen moved to adopt the PAC priorities for 2017/18 Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in Favor. ANNOUNCEMENTS – Staff notified the Commission about the changed date for the Joint Meeting with Council. The new date is Tuesday, October 10, 2017. FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – 7 PM, October 19, 2017 Joint Meeting with City Council - Tuesday, October 10, 2017. MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:44 PM by Vice Chair Miyaji. City of Palo Alto Staff Report to Public Art Commission October 12, 2017 RE: Agenda Item 1, Charleston-Arastradero Corridor Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Public Art Commission approve the artwork designed by Susan Zoccola associated with the Charleston-Arastradero Corridor Project. Executive Summary The City of Palo Alto’s Public Art Program manages the public art in municipal project funds transferred annually as part of the budget cycle in accordance with Ordinance Number 5301, Municipal Code 2.26.070 (Public Art for Municipal Projects). Due to the high visibility of the Charleston-Arastradero Corridor Project and multiple opportunities to incorporate artwork, staff initiated the artist selection process in March of 2016. After reviewing the qualified artists in the Public Art pre-qualified pool, staff presented the work of twenty different artists to a selection panel composed of the project Landscape Architect Linda Gates, Cubberley artist Charles Coates, community member Lynda Lumish, Assistant Director of Community Services Rhyena Halpern who oversees the Arts & Science Division, and Public Art Commission Chair Jim Migdal. From that selection panel, five artists were selected for an interview. Once the interviews were completed, Susan Zoccola was selected as the artist for the project. The Public Art Commission approved Susan Zoccola as the project artist at its September 15, 2016 meeting. The contract was approved by City Council December 12, 2016. Zoccola traveled to Palo Alto in January 2017 to meet with the design team and initiate her design development. Background The Charleston-Arastradero Corridor is a high volume, 2.3 mile roadway serving 11 schools, several parks, shopping centers, commercial uses, a library, day care centers, non-profit organizations, and two community centers. The corridor extends from East Charleston Road at Fabian Way to Arastradero Road at Gunn High School. Trial striping plans were previously implemented on Charleston Road in 2006 and on Arastradero Road in 2010 and were approved for permanent retention in 2008 and 2012 respectively. The final phase of the project will install new landscaped medians, corner bulb- outs, green bike lanes, and other enhanced bicycle and pedestrian improvements consistent with the concept plan line approved by the City Council in September 2015 . The final phase will also include the construction of green infrastructure - storm water features that filter pollutants from storm water and reduce the amount of storm water runoff. Extensive public outreach was done to develop the preferred concept plan line to add the landscaping and pedestrian/bicycle improvements to the corridor. The City hosted four community workshops and presented the plan twice to the Palo Alto Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee while developing a preferred plan line concept that was unanimously approved by both the Planning and Transportation Commission and the City Council. Following the approval of the concept plan line by City Council in September 2015, the design team began working on the final design for implementation in the spring of 2017. A community workshop was hosted in March 2016 to gain public input on the proposed landscaping plans and planting palette. The landscaping plans presented for comment at the meeting c an be can be accessed here:http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/51412. Comments received at this most recent meeting mostly were to focus on the plants as th e aesthetic part of the project and to not clutter the corridor with unnecessary signage. Residents also expressed concern about sight triangles that need to be improved at key intersections. Artwork Concept Development: After meeting with the design team in January and touring the corridor, Zoccola began exploring a number of potential concepts, including light pole mounted artworks and freestanding concepts. The pole mounted concepts were not feasible due to the diversity of pole types and age of the poles not engineered to support the additional load of artwork. Due to the many constraints of trees, underground utilities, fire department access needs, and rights of way, and a desire to spread the artwork elements throughout the corridor, the final five sites were determined as the best for siting artworks. Susan Zoccola says: The concept here came out of my visits to the City, driving up and down the Arastradero Charleston corridor, meetings with City planners, as well as research into Palo Alto’s history and who lives and works there. Since my work is fundamentally inspired by natural forms and systems, I was initially intrigued by the aspects of water and natural water filtration in the corridor landscape design. Thinking about water and how to bring attention to that part of the project with the artwork, my mind then went to diatoms: Diatoms are single-celled algae that form a silica-based cell wall. They are broken up into two major groups, the centric diatoms and the pennate diatoms, based on the form of their frustule. Diatoms live in all aquatic environments, including the ocean, freshwater lakes, and moist soils. Then from the shapes of diatoms came the confluence of roads and trails with biology: wheels. The sculptural forms that have evolved out of this long collaborative process are clearly wheels - in motion, collaged, different sizes and colors. The number of bicycles at the schools I drove by blew my mind - very cool. Each of the 5 particular sites' limitations and opportunities have inf ormed the shape and scale of the artworks. My hope is that the series of sculptures will help to create a welcoming episodic experience of discovery along the route. They will be seen differently from many angles and directions of travel, and will hopefull y help to define this as a distinct and cared for path for bicyclists, cars, and pedestrians, which has been made more beautiful by the addition of good design, trees, plants and some art. Informed by the intent of the project – a heavily trafficked corridor in which the streetscape project is intended to enhance bike and pedestrian safety, Zoccola set out to create wheel based compositions marking entrances and key places along the corridor that would be dynamic for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike while marking a few places along the corridor for drivers to pay extra attention looking for cyclists. Discussion: The estimated construction budget is $9 Million, with construction forecast for fiscal years FY 2017- FY 2019, creating an estimated public art budget of $90,000. Although the construction is planned to be phased, the final design for the entire corridor is complete. Timeline, Resource Impact, and Policy Implications Upon Public Art Commission approval of the concept, Zoccola can begin detailed design and fabrication of the sculptures. Construction of the corridor will begin in Spring 2018. The artwork(s) will be installed in coordination with the overall construction project. The funds in the amount of $90,000 for the contract came from the pooled percent for art funds allocated to the Public Art Program associated with the Public Art for Municipal Projects Ordinance. The Ordinance Number 5301, Municipal Code 2.26.070 (Public Art for Municipal Projects) requires that 1% of the CIP budget for municipal projects is allocated for the commission of public art. City of Palo Alto Staff Report to Public Art Commission October 12, 2017 Recommendation: Staff recommends the approval of Ball-Nogues Studio as the artist team for the California Avenue Area Parking Garage Background The City intends to construct a new Public Safety Building at 250 Sherman Avenue and a new California Avenue Area Parking Garage on 350 Sherman Avenue. Under the California Environmental Quality Act, these are considered as a single project as the garage will mitigate the loss of approximately 310 existing public surface parking spaces on both sites. On April 3, 2017, Council directed staff to proceed with full preliminary design of a new 636 - space parking garage concept with four levels of above-ground parking, two levels of basement parking and no retail space, and to design enhancements to the Birch Street frontage, creating an appealing interface between the garage and pedestrian sidewalk. Discussion On April 18, 2017, staff submitted a preliminary application to the Architectural R eview Board (ARB) for the project. The ARB held a study session on the preliminary application on June 1, 2017. A formal ARB application was submitted on July 19, 2017. Because the project is comprised of two physically separate properties, two applications were required. Application number 17PLN-00256 was for the PSB at 250 Sherman Avenue, and application number 17PLN- 00257 was for the new garage at 350 Sherman Avenue. Additional application information is available through the “Building Eye” website at https://paloalto.buildingeye.com/planning. The California Avenue Parking Garage was presented to the Public Art Commission July 20, 2017 to initiate the artist selection process. Art Budget and Art Selection Process Staff utilized the prequalified pool of artists to select twenty artists that were brought to the panel for consideration. The panel consisted of project architect Mallory Cusenbery, Public Art Commissioner Hsinya Shen, artist Michael Szabo, Cal Ave Business Association member Jack Morton, Midtown Community Member and PAMP Advisory Committee member Shagorica Basu, Public Works Assistant Director Brad Eggleston, Former Public Art Commissioner Larisa Usich. The panel met September 18 to review the qualifications of the artists and rank them according to: - Artistic Excellence - Demonstration of previous projects that are well integrated into the site - Experience working with projects of similar budget and scope Five finalists were asked to give a presentation to the panel September 25 detailing more about their previous work, their design development, and their interest in this particular project. Panelists were asked to rank the artists based on Artistic Excellence and their de sign development process. Ball-Nogues Studio was the highest ranked artist team. Self-described as: Ball-Nogues Studio is an integrated design and fabrication practice operating in a territory between architecture, art and industrial design, led by Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues. Their work is informed by the exploration of craft. Essential to each project is the "design" of the production process itself, with the aim of creating environments that enhance sensation, generate spectacle and invite physical engagement. The Studio has exhibited at major institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Guggenheim Museum; PS1; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Venice Biennale; the Hong Kong | Shenzhen Biennale; and the Beijing Biennale. With more than twenty years of experience, the studio has prominent public artworks in Santa Monica, Nashville, LAX, San Francisco, Alberta, Canada, and even at the VA hospital in Palo Alto. (See Attachment A for full CV). Timeline The Parking structure must be completed prior to beginning construction on the new Public Safety Building. The tentative timeline for the parking structure is to begin construction in summer 2018 and construction lasting approximately one year. Since the design process is already underway, it is important to get the artists working with the d esign team as soon as possible. With the approval of Ball-Nogues Studio as the artist team for the project, the artists will enter into a design contract with the City to travel to Palo Alto, meet with the design team and key stakeholders, and develop a conceptual design. That design will come back to the Public Art Commission for approval prior to awarding them the fabrication and installation contract in the amount of approximately $225,000 to $260,000. Funding Impacts The final public art allocation will be based on the construction costs for the project. The funds will come from the pooled percent for art funds allocated to the Public Art Program associated with the Public Art for Municipal Projects Ordinance. The Ordinance Number 5301, Municipal Code 2.26.070 (Public Art for Municipal Projects) requires that 1% of the CIP budget for municipal projects is allocated for the commission of public art. PERMANENT COMMISSIONS 2016 Suspension #13, University of Colorado, Pueblo, CO Healing Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA 2015 Proscenium, Lincoln Hall, PSU, Portland, OR Orchard, El Cariso Park, Sylmar, CA 2014 Sundial, Jeffco-Golden Station, Golden, CO Not Whole Fence, Southwest University Park, El Paso, TX Stud Wall, and Corner Glory, Two public art commissions, West Hollywood, CA The Apparent Junction of Earth and Sky, and The Fact of Seeing without Sense, Two public art commissions, VA Aquatic Center, Palo Alto, CA Donor Wall, Del E. Webb Performing Arts Center, Wickenburg, AZ 2013 Air Garden, Bradley West Terminal, LAX, Los Angeles, CA Euphony, Music City Center, Nashville, TN 2012 Waterline, SD County Operations Center, San Diego, CA 2011 Talus Dome, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2010-2011 Cloud, Screen, Veil. Three public art commissions, Mercy Housing, San Francisco, CA 2010 Cradle, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Drop-In Distraction, LA County Permit Office, Los Angeles, CA 2008 City Wall, Setai Hotel, San Diego, CA TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS, EVENTS & OTHER COMMISSIONS 2015 Pulp Pavilion, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, CA 2013 Transamerica, Modernist Icon, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV 2012 Yevrus 1, Negative Impression, SCI-Arc Gallery, Los Angeles, CA Pavillon Speciale, Ecole Speciale d'Architecture, Paris, France 2011 Yucca Crater, High Desert Test Sites, Near Joshua Tree National Park, CA 2010 Gravity's Loom, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN Table Cloth, Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA Double Back-to-Basics, LACMA gallery at Charles W. White School, Los Angeles, CA 2009 Elastic Plastic Sponge, Coachella Arts Festival, Indio, CA Built to Wear, Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture, China Feathered Edge, MOCA Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA Exposed, Arts Council of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA Spock's Blocks, The Urban Art Biennale, Bordeaux, France 2008 Echoes Converge, Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice, Italy Copper Droopscape, Coachella Festival, Indio, CA 2007 Unseen Current, Extension Gallery, Chicago, IL Liquid Sky, PS1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY Store Window, Agnes B, Soho, New York, NY 2006 Rip Curl Canyon, Rice University Art Gallery, Houston, TX Tiffany and Company, Frank Gehry Jewelry Launch, Beverly Hills, CA Skin + Bones, Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture Fete, MOCA, Los Angeles, CA 2005 Maximilian's Schell, Materials & Applications, Los Angeles, CA SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2015 Xenotypes, Design Matters Gallery, Los Angeles, CA Constructions, Edward Cella Art & Architecture, Los Angeles, CA 2014 6018 Wilshire, Edward Cella Art & Architecture, Los Angeles, CA Almost Anything Goes, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, CA 2013 A New Sculpturalism, MOCA Geffen, Los Angeles, CA 2012 WILD CARDS, ACADIA 2012 Exhibition, Wattis Gallery, CCA, San Francisco, CA WBA3: Architecture in the Expanded Field, Wattis Gallery, CCA, San Francisco, CA 2011 Net Works, Architectural Association, London, England Self Structure, Le Lieu du Design, Paris, France 2010 London Festival of Architecture Event, Nous Gallery, London, England Contemplating the Void, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY CitÈ de l'architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris, France 2009 Urban Interventions, Boston Society of Architects, Boston, MA Flux, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA 2008 Beijing Biennale, Beijing, China 2007 Young Architects Program, MoMA, New York, NY SELECT AWARDS, HONORS AND GRANTS 2015 Americans For the Arts, PAN Year in Review - Air Garden R&D First Award, Architect Magazine - Pulp Pavilion World Architecture News (WAN), 21 for 21, 2015 Shortlist 50 Under 50: Innovators of the 21st Century, Images Publishing 2014 Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, Emerging Architecture Finalist - Maximilian’s Schell 2013 Edmonton Urban Design Award, Fragments Category - Talus Dome 2012 Fast Company Innovation by Design Award Finalist, Spaces - Yucca Crater Americans For the Arts, PAN Year in Review - Yucca Crater Work acquired by Los Angeles County Museum of Art permanent collection 2011 Americans For the Arts, PAN Year in Review - Table Cloth, Cradle 2010 Interior Design Magazine Best of Year - Built to Wear, Table Cloth LA AIA Design Award, Merit - Table Cloth 2009 Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale, Innovation Award, Built to Wear UCLA Arts Initiative Grant 2008 Graham Foundation Exhibition Grant 2007 United States Artists Target Fellowship Otis College of Art and Design, O Award and Grant Museum of Modern Art PS1, Young Architects Program LA AIA Design Award, Citation - Rip Curl Canyon Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Award - Rip Curl Canyon 2006 Durfee Foundation, Artist's Resource for Completion Grant LA AIA Design Award, Honor Award - Maximilian's Schell