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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/20/1996, 1 - CHINATOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC ART PROJECT. Council zo j acEnaa nEpoizt �� i CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Arnold o PREPARED BY: Jeff Ho# --__� SUBJECT: Chinatown Historic District Public Art Project. CAO RECONEM ENDATION: 1) Accept the recommendation of the Chinatown Public Art Committee to retain artist Peter Ladochy; 2) endorse the concept design and refer it to the Architectural Review Commission for final review and approval; 3) authorize use of$10,000 from the Parking Transportation Fund and$5,000 from the Public Art Fund to cover the project's costs; and 4) authorize the CAO to execute an agreement with Mr. Ladochy following ARC approval. DISCUSSION Chinatown Public Art Committee Recommendation The Chinatown Public Art Committee, chaired by Alice Loh of the Cultural Heritage Committee, has met regularly during the past six months to prepare a Request For Proposals, review artists' proposals, and to interview artists, as described in the attached Request For Proposals (RFP). After carefully reviewing the artists' qualifications and art proposals, the Committee unanimously recommends the selection of Peter Ladochy to install the Chinatown public artwork. The Committee's recommendation is being referred to the City Council for two reasons: 1) to allow Council to review the artwork's design concept; and 2) to consider the Committee's request for additional funding for the proposed artwork and designate a preferred funding strategy. Background When the Palm Street parking structure was built in 1987, Council allocated $10,000 for the installation of public art, in keeping with the City's policy of allocating one percent of construction costs of most public facilities for public art. After the structure was completed, a public art proposal to install decorative Palm trees on the newly-built parking structure was rejected due largely to neighbor objections that the artwork did not reflect Chinese-American culture. Subsequently, public art funds were reallocated for other purposes and public art was not installed at the parking structure. In September 1995, as part of its action creating a new Chinatown Historic District, the City Council reinitiated efforts to install public art on the Palm Street Parking Garage. Council set a tentative budget of$10,000, and authorized the CHC to solicit artists' proposals. Following the Council's action, the Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC) organized a 10-member ad-hoc committee to help select the artist and artwork and to help coordinate installation. Citizens serving on the committee are: Alice Loh, CHC Chair/Chinese-American community representative; Jeanne La Barbara, Art Historian; Susan Beatty, SLO County Arts Council; Craig Smith, Architect; Bruce Fraser, Architect; Paula Carr, Citizen/Historian; Margot McDonald, Architect; Howard Louis, Property Owner/Chinese-American community representative; and Staff Report Page 2 Dave Garth, Chamber of Commerce. Artist Selection The Committee received six proposals, evaluated and ranked the proposals based on their design quality, presentation, and consistency with the RFP. The Committee then interviewed the artists for the three top-ranked proposals. Committee members felt that Mr. Ladochy's proposal was the most unique and creative design, and best reflected the Chinatown cultural theme. In particular, the use of mosaic tile was considered a high-quality, long-lasting medium for this highly visible, southwest facing location. Mr. Ladochy, MFA, a resident of Cayucos, is an experienced sculptor, painter, and muralist who has completed public artworks in Morro Bay, Encinitas, Palm Desert, Los Angeles and Copenhagen. Other qualified artists interviewed were Benjamin Bottoms of Santa Barbara and Betty Field-Haley of Los Osos. Renderings of the top-ranked proposals will be available at the Council office and at the Council meeting. Artwork Description The recommended artwork is described in the attached letter from the artist. It is a three-piece, mosaic mural covering about 600 square feet. It blends traditional Chinese characters and symbols to commemorate Chinese-American culture and contributions in San Luis Obispo. The mural would be mounted on rigid panels which in turn, would be installed on the west elevation of the Palm Street parking structure, visible from Palm and Chorro Streets. Once installed, the mural could be removed in sections if necessary for cleaning, repair, or relocation. Artwork Cost The recommended artwork exceeds the budget identified in the RFP by $10,000. The Committee discussed design alternatives to reduce the cost to within the original budget (smaller mural size, different materials); however committee members felt that quality represented in the artist's rendering should be preserved, even if that meant seeking additional private and/or public funding. With an offer of a private donation of$5,000 for this specific artwork, committee members were optimistic that the additional $5,000 needed could be secured. The other two top-ranked proposals came in at $10,000, and consisted of acrylic paint on plexiglas or Suntex canvas panels. The Committee feels the additional cost is warranted because: 1) the$10,000 "percent for art" fee in 1987, when the parking structure was built, equates to $13,800 in 1996 dollars. In short, it is more expensive to develop public art today than it was nine years ago; 2) the use of mosaic tile is a more expensive, but longer-lasting, medium than paint. 'It is the only one of three top-ranked proposals which uses this technique; and 3) a total City contribution of$15,000 is a relatively small cost to complete an artwork of this size and design (600 square feet, approx.). A $5,000 additional City contribution would match a private donation offered for this artwork. Committee members will be present at the Council meeting to explain and support their recommendation. �'oz Staff Report Page 3 Funding Strategy/Facal Impact The recommended artwork is estimated to cost $20,000, installed. Council has already budgeted $10,000, and $5,000 has been donated toward the artwork (the donor wishes to remain anonymous). An additional $5,000 is needed to fabricate and install the piece. If Council supports the artwork as proposed, the request for additional funding could be met two ways: 1) by using Parking Funds to cover all or a portion of the funding shortfall; or 2) by using Public Art funds. The first approach would use Parking Funds to cover all or a portion of the $5,000 shortfall. In support of this approach, the Committee noted that if the original $10K had been set aside and earning interest since it was originally budgeted in 1987, the amount available for public art would now be considerably greater than $10,000 due to accrued interest. Moreover, construction costs have increased since 1987, and allowing for inflation, the "one percent for art" for the parking garage in 1996 dollars would be approximately$13,800. The Parking Fund has a current balance of approximately $1.5 million. The second approach would use citywide public art funds to cover the $5,000 shortfall. There is a balance of$14,100 in 1995-97 Public Art in-lieu funds account (# 400-9626-532-553). These funds are available to use for any public art project, at Council's discretion, and could be used to supplement the original $10,000 budget. This is staff's recommended approach because it minimizes the impact to the Parking Fund, and utilizes available public art funds earmarked for this purpose. What's Next Under the City's public art guidelines, this artwork requires Architectural Review Commission review. After the Council indicates its preferred funding strategy, it should refer the item to the ARC for a public hearing. Following ARC action, the artwork would then normally go.to the City Council for approval, due to the use of city funds. However, since Council has already seen the artwork, it may choose to shorten the approval process by deferring final approval to the ARC. ALTERNATIVE 1. Do not allocate additional funding beyond the$10,000 budget previously allocated, and direct that the artwork be modified through a reduction in size or change in materials to reduce cost to within the original $10,000 budget. The artist has indicated that such a design change is possible; however the Chinatown Public Art Committee recommends that the artwork be approved at the proposed size and with the proposed, high-quality mosaic tile. Committee members feel that given the visibility and importance of the artwork, it merits the relatively modest increase in city funding. Attachments: Chinatown Public Art Request For Proposals Artist's public art proposal Available in Council office: Artists' renderings REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PUBLIC ART IN SAN LUIS OBISPO: A WORK OF ART FOR HISTORIC CHINATOWN INVITATION TO SUBMIT The City of San Luis Obispo is commencing a new phase of Public Art as an important civic investment. Interested artists are invited to submit proposals for a work of art commemorating the historic Chinatown district in downtown San Luis Obispo. The work of art will be installed on the Palm Street Parking Garage. PUBLIC ART FOR CHINATOWN The public art for the Palm Street Garage should reflect the historical character of the district recognizing the past Chinese participation in the local community. The Chinatown District preserves numerous remnants of historic structures as well as architectural ornamentation(e.g.,Ah Louis Gift Store). BUDGET The historic Chinatown district(Palm Street from Chorro to Morro)was approved in September 1995 and at the same time funds were given preliminary approval for the public artwork to commemorate the district. The current budget for the project is$10,000. The budget will include the artist(s)fee,engineering fees,all labor and materials,transportation, installation,documentation,professional liability and other insurance. DESIGN CRITERIA The project is intended to: • commemorate the presence of the Chinese community • reflect the meaning and value of the historic district • display local civic pride and creativity • celebrate public art in San Luis Obispo MEDIA & METHODS The artwork: • may be of any media as long as it is durable(resistant to weather,color fading,and ultraviolet light)and does not require excessive maintenance • must be removable(if ever a structure is built adjacent to the existing parking age) • must be vandal-resistant SELECTION Semi-finalists will be selected from this Request for Proposals. Based on their subsequent submittals,a finalist and alternate will be chosen by a jury of local design professionals,artists,arts organizations and citizens. The City reserves the right to refuse all entries. DATES (Revised 5/10/96) May 29, 1996 Deadline for proposal submission. June 6, 1996 Notification of short list candidates. July 17, 1996 Submittals due from semi-finalists. July 1996 Review of submittals. July 22-26, 1996 Interviews of candidates. August 6, 1996 Finalist notified. Nov.20, 1996 Artwork installation completed according to contract with City. 14 Peter Iadochy, m fa 805 - 995-3579 Proposal for The. Chinatown Mural " A Love Story " Like floating "continents", the Chinese characters "Al" and"HAI" are traversed with the help of the Life-force,Dragon. In the character for Love, "AI", the young swain,Ah is seen looking west- ward,and is seen holding a symbol of his desire. A boat waits upon him in the roiling surf; while the symbols of his Old World traditions pull to the East. In "HAI",the Character for Twin .Toys, the New World is depicted thru Ah's life: with his bride; in the service of commerce; of the rail- road labor; mission; and buildings of his Chinatown in SLO. Beneath are to be found the scattered remnants of Indian and Mexican cultures. The free-form relief,supplanting the grilles,attemps to convey a story uniquely while maintaining the integrity of the strength of its ambience,as well. The red tile-delineated characters,with fields of neutral 2x4 tiles running in courses are inlaid with several "scenes" in mosaic glass, tile,pottery and shells. The inlaid "scenes" also attempt to suggest tones of indigenous art forms,such as, stone for effigies; inked figures; tintype;etc. ,which are integrated texturally and with use of grout lines. The dragon shape suggests carved red lacquer, subtly shaded as counter- point to its dynamic form. Overall size of 3-piece mural is ca. 20x3Oft.x6 inches; fabricated on cementitious board, in sections for convenience; and are "portable". The Dragon (A) is to be anchored to brick wall thru 2x12s with lags, & (r; the Characters are "hung" over it and bolted for security. at far corners, spacers and simple anchors prevent warpage or sagging in a tsunami. Approx. weight per sq.ft. is 5. pounds. The installation ideally requires a week-end on a cherry-picker with assistant, builder,Peter Doyle, who is self insured. Upon approval of final design, the mural may be completed in ca. 4-5 months with a suggested cost of twenty thousand dollars. Budget & time break-downs on request. Thank u for your interest and consideration. I await the glad tidi s g7 ocean front cayucos , ca. 93430 /5 MF`TING *'*' AGENDA Df,. _—Z-1 ITEM #Lr., IIIIIIIIIII IIII II t City Of SAn tuts OBISPO August 13, 1996 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Allen Settle and City Council VIA: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer FROM: Cultural Heritage Committee Mayor and Council Members: On August 20, 1996, the City Council is scheduled to consider a funding request from the Chinatown Public Art Committee (CPAC) for a new mural. As sponsor of the proposal, the Cultural Heritage Committee has reviewed CPAC's proposal and supports its recommendation. We urge the City Council to add its support to this excellent project and to provide the additional resources needed. At its July 22, 1996 meeting, the CHC unanimously agreed with CPAC's recommendation to retain artist Peter LaDochy. The Committee also supported their request for an additional $5,000 in City funding to install the proposed Chinatown mural. Committee members felt that additional funding, beyond the original $10,000 budget, was warranted due to the high quality and durability of the proposed design and materials. They felt that the proposed mosaic the mural would look good longer and require less maintenance than the other artwork proposals which used acryllic paint. In support of the request, CHC members noted that had the original art allocation been invested in an interest-bearing fund in the late 1980s, the earned interest would probably have been sufficient to fund the proposed artwork. If you have questions regarding the CHC's discussion or action, please feel free to call me at 543- 6680. Sinc ` 6vL� _ Garth Kornr ch, Vice-Chair COUNCIL CDD DIR Cultural He age Committee rl W AO ❑ FIN DIR I• CAO ❑ FIRE CHIEF TTORNEY ❑ PW DIR ® CLERIVORIG ❑ POLICE CHF ❑ MGMT TEAM ❑ REC DIR ❑ READ FILE ❑ UnLDIR RECEIVED t ❑ PERS DIR �Noar AUG 1 4 19Vo CITY COUNCIL The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to inclu SAN t ° OOIS�O. CA tf the disabled in all of its services, programs arlli activities. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805) 781�g10.