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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/21/2007, BUS. 4 - APPROVAL OF PUBLIC ART FOR THE SAN LUIS OBIPSO LITTLE THEATRE councilb-7 j acEnba Report 1�Nd. CITY O F SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Betsy Kiser; Director of Parks and Recreation Prepared By: Ryan Betz, Special Projects Coordinator SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PUBLIC ART FOR THE SAN LUIS OBIPSO LITTLE THEATRE CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. As recommended by the Public Arts Jury, and the Architectural Review Commission (ARC), approve the public art piece entitled Bee Bee Works His Magic for San Luis Obispo Little Theatre; 2. Authorize the CAO to execute an agreement with the artist for completion of the project. DISCUSSION Back rg ound In 2005, the Council approved $10,000 from the City's Public Art In-Lieu fund to match the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council's Bill Beeson Memorial fund for the selection; acquisition and installation of a piece of public art honoring the life of Mr. Bill Beeson. Mr. Beeson, a"pillar of the local arts community" passed away in 2004 after a brief illness. In March, 2007 a request for proposals (RFP) was released, resulting in the eventual selection of a piece of artwork by a public art jury, and the subsequent approval of that piece by the Architectural Review Commission (ARC). Public Art.Jga Review Six artists responded to the RFP. A public art jury consisting of Ann Ream (Arts Council), Lande Fike (Art in Public Places), Wilda Rosene (SLO Little Theatre), Dick Delong (Artist), and Deborah Cash (Downtown Association) convened on May 9th, 2007 to judge the merits of the proposals using the Guidelines for Public Art. The jury evaluated the projects for: 1. Artistic excellence. 2. Appropriateness of scale, form, material, content and design relative to the environment. 3. Relationship to the social, cultural and historical identity of the building. 4. Appropriateness of materials relative to structural and surface integrity,protection against theft, vandalism,public safety and weathering. 5. Ease of maintenance. 6. Appropriateness of proposed method of installation of artwork, and safety and structural factors involved in installation. I Approval of Public Art for SLO Little Theatre Page 2 The jury then invited four artists to a final review, held May 24th, 2007. After presentations by each of the artists, the jury unanimously selected the piece Bee Bee Works His Magic by local artists Carol Paulsen, and Stephen Plowman, feeling that the piece was "colorful and whimsical", "representative of Bill,theatre and fun", and `very unique and creative." Project Theme To provide a basis for the Council's review of the proposed piece, the following is an excerpt from the RFP relative to the theme of the project: "In 2004, Mr. Bill Beeson, a "pillar of the local arts community" passed away after a brief illness. Mr. Beeson was a highly respected art critic who tirelessly supported public art and served for years on the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council's Art in Public Places Committee. Mr.Beeson suffered from a number of life limiting disabilities including emphysema, diabetes, and alcoholism. His ability to these physical limitations and still live his life to the fullest was an inspiration to everyone he met. During his eleven years in San Luis Obispo, he was active in the local chapter of AA, the County Arts Council, the San Luis Obispo Art Center, and many other community organizations. He served as a columnist and arts critic for the Tribune, New Times and Santa Maria Sun newspapers. He arrived in San Luis Obispo by train, knew no one and had extremely limited finances. During these last eleven years of his life, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those with disabilities. The suggested theme for this piece is therefore in recognition of these efforts and is contained in the following quotation written by Mr. Beeson prior to his death: `I'm hauntingly aware of others, of what it's taken them to walk, to hear, to count to ten. We are surrounded, you and I, by hundreds of small victories like these, like mine, that will go unheralded and unsung, spinning out into the dark'." Project Description Bee Bee Works His Magic is a 3' x 3'6" x 12' tall sculptural presentation that embraces the spirit of Bill Beeson's life and his boundless energy as an advocate and mentor for the arts in all forms. The sculpture features three figures balancing on each other. The figure on the bottom lends his strength to his fellow artist (Mr. Beeson had a soft spot in his heart for women in the arts) and has his ear toward the book, representing his deep love for literature and story. The figure on the top, delicately balanced with the help of her friends, has her head tilted to the sky waiting to hear Mr. Beeson's infectious laughter bounce off the stars and back down to earth. With regard to construction materials, the sculpture will be constructed using an engineered structural steel armature, painted and covered with vera form (thermal plastic netting) then magic sculpt (a two part epoxy putty). The finished piece will be painted with nova color and acrylic mural paints. An engineered concrete base foundation will anchor the final piece. Lighting will G:\Staft\Betz\Current Projects\Parks&Rec\Bill Beeson Public Art 7 Approval of Public Art for SLO Little Theatre Page 3 be provided using two or three small flood lights located at the bottom of the sculpture and positioned to illuminate the colors of the piece at night. ARC Review On April 16th, 2007, artists Carol Paulsen and Stephen Plowman, presented Bee Bee Works His Magic to the ARC for discussion and approval.. Using the Guidelines for Public Art, the ARC found that the artwork meets the criteria for public art and recommended its approval to the City Council. CONCURRENCES The Public Art Jury, and the ARC reviewed Bee Bee Works His Magic and recommended that the piece be approved for the area in front of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre. FISCAL IMPACT $19,000 is available for this project. The remaining funds have been held in reserve for finalist's stipends, the identification plaque and the dedication ceremony. ALTERNATIVES The Council could reject the piece and direct staff to reissue the RFP. This is not recommended based upon the concurrences identified above. ATTACHMENTS 1. Vicinity Map 2. Guidelines for Public Art 3. Description and drawing of Bee Bee Works His Magic 4. Draft minutes from the July 16th, 2007 ARC meeting G:\Staff\Betz\Current Projects\Parks&Rec\Bill Beeson Public Art k ATTACHMENT 1 PEACH d O O O d M a MILL i Project Location Pac Bell # }} 7 i City Hall Public Parking Garage llllj Little m j� L----- 13heatre PALM t m Libr ry l r rn j r-j I j U Y County�Govemment a a Offices'_2 � � I r MONTEREY 888 Morro Street Public Art HIGUERA ATTACHMENT 1 -Location Map of us OI Public Works Department 919 Palm Street San Luis Obispo,CA 93401 .JUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC ART Architectural Review Commission Criteria ATTACHMENT 2 I. Publicly funded public art shall be located within the public right-of-way, or shall otherwise be easily visible or accessible from a public right-of-way. When privately funded, art shall be clearly visible in an area open and freely available to the general public on a consistent basis, or public accessibility shall be provided in an equivalent manner based on the characteristics of the artwork or its placement on the site. 2. Interior locations for public art shall be freely open and accessible to the public. 3. Consideration shall be given to the size, massing, location and scale of the proposed piece and to potential conflicts with present or future vegetation or construction. 4. Public art shall be compatible with the immediate site and neighborhood in terms of historic, social and cultural characteristics, architectural scale, materials, land use, and geographical and environmental context. 5. The design and placement of public art shall not impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or conflict with public or private easements. 6. Consideration shall be given to any public safety or public health concerns created by the artwork. 7. Public art shall be integrated with the site and/or building, and include landscaping, lighting, interpretive information and other amenities where appropriate. 8. Public art shall be securely installed. Public Art Jury Criteria 1. Public artwork shall be original and of high artistic quality and shall not include any signage or other advertisement or logo, literal or abstract. 2. Public art should be considerate of the immediate site and neighborhood in terms of historic, social and cultural characteristics, architectural scale, materials, land use, and geographical and environmental context. 3. Public art shall be integrated with the site, and include landscaping, lighting, interpretive information and other amenities where appropriate. 4. Permanent public art shall be constructed of durable, high-quality materials and require minimal or no maintenance. Temporary public art shall be constructed of materials appropriate to its duration of public display. 5. A wide variety of artistic expression is encouraged. However, expressions of profanity, vulgarity or obvious poor taste are inappropriate. 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'� St.n`t 1. �G'•41f�`•`�_� r� 9\7J _ r�U i�_f�(,t�{�y�.,��y6i ifrZj A4"Tx�IP'y ATTACHMENT 3 M1 s t,., � r� �}�G f� of � '1✓'.. fly .. - - - ..wai' -^T'^�".ly .a-•��-ewe.J � `�.r.` ix�r'�"iS ') tap-��.t e , �i,'E", ..._. .. a'++...���''•.,"y�yj-w t.q�x'�'rc 7'�I � � ��§.1i ':�t "L 1.4 � g,�F,�L�� ; f f ��1���111YYYYYY 5 J w s: ✓ w �7 • 't r Fmy" _ .ti, l�JJ "rte'' .H .. ' r• w �z �w S ,"�j`T f ,p�,P✓ i , P 1 a 5 7•* it .,;amu i..`� �'.'.. . ..,�� 4 yr+v Y 1 I T'I R A y.A9r�il� ( •� D�. (� �I _ , ATTACHMENT 4 a J Y� DRAFT ' `. ... SAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 16, 2007 ROLL CALL: Present: Commrs. Jason Kambitsis, Zeljka Howard, Anthony Palazzo, Steven. Hopkins, Vice-Chair Allen Root, and Chairperson Michael Boudreau Absent: Commr. Greg Wilhelm Staff: Senior Planner Pam Ricci, Betsy Kaiser Public Art Coordinator, Special Projects Coordinator Ryan Betz, Deputy Director Kim Murry, and Jill Francis ACEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments made from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 888 Morro Street. ARCPA 93-07; Review of public art in front of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre; PF-H zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jaime Hill) Pam Ricci Senior Planner presented the staff report recommending, as did the public art jury, that the Commission find that the public artwork proposed for the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre "Bee Bee Works His Magic" meets the City's Guidelines for Public Art, based on findings and subject to conditions, and recommend City Council approval of the project. Ryan Betz, City of San Luis Obispo Special Projects Coordinator, introduced project artists Carol Paulsen and Stephen Plowman who explained the impetus for the_project design as a tribute to Bill Beeson, and noted how the piece would be constructed. In response to questions from the Commission, they acknowledged that people would attempt to climb the piece, but that the hard plastic materials would make maintenance and repairs straightforward. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Richard DeLong from the Arts Council spoke in support of the art piece and introduced Bill Beeson's daughter, Avery. y-9 m Draft ARC Minutes July 16, 2007 ATTACHMENT 4 Page 2 COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commission comments focused on the safety and size of the project; the Commission liked the whimsical design given its proposed location Commr. Palazzo suggested that there be a walkway around the art piece so it could be viewed from all sides. Commr. Root recommended that the base of the project be high enough to accommodate on-going trimming of grass or other plants around it. On motion by Commr. Howard to find that the proposed art piece meets the City's criteria for Public Art, and recommended City Council approval of its installation. Seconded by Commr. Root. AYES: Cornmrs. Kambitsis, Howard, Palazzo, Hopkins, Root, and Boudreau NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commr. Wilhelm The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. 2. Citywide. GPI and ER 49-06; Review of general regulations and further discussion of form-based codes proposed for the South Broad Street Corridor Plan area; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jeff Hook) Kim Murry, Deputy Director, presented the staff report, recommending the Commission review the proposed South Broad Street Corridor Plan's General Regulations (11.15-1 through 53), compare them to the existing Community Design Guidelines and provide direction to staff, and review the proposed "mock project" standards and process and provide direction to staff. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Tom Swem, SLO, owner Valley Mazda, asked the Commission to look at circulation issues for properties that can't be reached when a median or cul-de-sac is present in front of the property. He gave testimony that the proposed cul-de-sac at Caudill and Broad had caused a property sale to fall out of escrow, and presented the Commission with a memo regarding his concerns. Input was also given that if parking credit for on-street spaces was going to be given to adjacent properties, additional public parking needed to be'available nearby in a lot or structure. Testimony also included a request to insure that endorsement of mixed-use projects required development of more of a commercial component rather than a predominately residential one.