HomeMy WebLinkAbout 02-02-2006 Public Art Advisory Committee
Agenda
Public Art Advisory Committee
Thursday, February 2,2006
3:30PM
Lobby Conference Room
A. Call to order
B. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda
C. Consideration of the minutes of the January 5, 2006 meeting
D. Neighborhood Art Projects:
. Wetherby Friends and Neighbors- reed. to Council
. Melrose Neighborhood Assn.
E. Update on Sculptors showcases.
F. Committee time/Other business
G. Adjournment
MINUTES
IOWA CITY PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5,2005,3:30 P.M.
LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
PRELIMINARY
Members Present:
Charles Felling, Rick Fosse (arrived at 4:05), Emily Martin, Mark Seabold,
Terry Trueblood, De Layne Williamson
Members Absent:
Emily Carter-Walsh
Staff Present:
Karin Franklin, Marcia Klingaman
Call to Order
Seabold called the meeting to order at 3:38 p.m.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL:
By a vote of 5-0, the committee recommended selection of Birds in Flight by Mark LaMair for placement in
the South Sycamore Greenway subject to resolution of the committee's concerns regarding the strength
of the supporting poles.
By a vote of 6-0, the committee recommended the acceptance of the Art in Non-Public Spaces
Recognition Program as amended.
Public discussion of anv item not on the aaenda
There was no discussion.
Consideration of the Minutes of the December 1. 2005 Meetina
Felling said the vote count given in the recommendation to the city council was incorrect.
MOTION: Trueblood moved to accept the minutes as amended, Martin seconded. The motion passed on
a vote of 5-0.
Review proposals for South Sycamore Greenway
Klingaman reported that Clark submitted a proposal, though he did comment on the limited budget
allowed for the project. She also received additional information from LaMair about his proposal. Clark
was not able to create a maquette of his proposal in the available time frame, so he submitted sketches
along with slides showing examples of other work he has done.
Klingaman said the proposed piece is aluminum, and noted that having quotes from stories inscribed on
the piece is intriguing. The committee members viewed Clark's slides. Franklin said the piece is 12 feet
high, 8 feet wide, and 10 feet long. Klingaman said increasing the budget might allow for the piece to be
hinged, which would give it more movement.
Franklin explained to Williamson that the Greenway is a wetland area that was created for storm water
management, which has a path running through it to Kicker's soccer park. Felling added that the path
begins directly south of Grant Wood School. Franklin said the committee decided the pathway was a
possible location for a kinetic piece after taking a tour of various city parks in 2005.
Franklin noted that the script would be unreadable if the piece is sited a distance from the path in a
swampy area. Klingaman said the artist was not given specific site information, so may not be aware of
this. Martin said that being able to read the words might not be important, as they might be intended to
give the piece patterning and texture.
Trueblood said he likes Clark's submission, but is also disappointed in it, given what he has seen of the
artist's other work. His other pieces were corten steel, which would fit in the surroundings better than a
shiny aluminum piece. Also, other pieces had cutouts that were related to nature, such as birds, that
might fit in better. Martin said she thought the LaMair piece was more interesting.
Klingaman showed the committee additional pictures of the birds submitted by LaMair. Seabold said the
birds are 6-8 feet long, and 12-14 feet up. Martin agreed they are bigger than she remembered, but
added that the size is a positive aspect that will allow a long view of the piece. The Greenway is such a
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
January 5, 2006
Page 2
large space that it would be easy for things to get lost. Seabold asked for confirmation that there are
seven birds. Klingaman said yes, and they all move and rotate.
Trueblood said he prefers the LaMair piece, but said he was concerned about the strength of schedule 80
poles. Seabold said the walls of the pipe are quoted at 3/8 of an inch thick. Trueblood said the posts used
for chain link fences are typically schedule 40, so these would be lighter weight but also be much taller.
Seabold agreed he would like to hear from Fosse about the strength of the poles. [Ed. Subsequently it
was found that the schedule 80 pole would be stronger than a schedule 40 pole.]
Trueblood said LaMair might have designed it with a lightweight pole to give the piece more movement.
Klingaman said LaMair stated it would be difficult to sway the poles more than a few inches. Seabold
noted that the poles would have a pretty good base, since a quarter of their length would be under
ground. He said he also likes LaMair's piece more than Clark's. Martin agreed.
Klingaman asked how much maintenance would be needed for an aluminum piece. Trueblood said both
aluminum and stainless steel should be relatively maintenance free, except for vandalism. Seabold said if
the metal is treated before it is punched, it might get some rust at the edges, but that should not be a
problem with LaMair's piece. He said he would consult with outside sources regarding the expected
strength of the poles. Klingaman asked Seabold to send her that information.
Klingaman said LaMair might still be able to meet the original deadline if his piece is selected, which
would be June 1. Trueblood said it might be interesting to see the scale model of the piece. Franklin said
it was very positive in the past to bring the scale model of a proposal to show to the council. Klingaman
said the artist is willing to send it, and asked if the committee wants to wait on a decision until they see it.
Trueblood said he is ready to make a decision now, though it would be interesting to see. Martin agreed.
Seabold said it could also be put on display.
Seabold asked if the artist will be fabricating a new piece, or selling an existing one. Klingaman said she
believes the pictures are of a scale model, and LaMair will be creating a new one. Seabold asked since
the piece needs to be fabricated, if a heavier pipe could be substituted. Trueblood said it would probably
be fine, though it also might drive up the cost, reduce the movement, and affect the look of the piece.
Franklin said that would just be a detail to be worked out if the committee chooses this piece.
Klingaman said a motion is needed to at least recommend the proposal with the condition that concerns
about the pipes be resolved.
MOTION: Martin moved to recommend LaMair's proposed piece "Birds in Flight" for the Sycamore
Greenway, pending resolution of the committee's concerns about the strength of the support poles.
Trueblood seconded.
Fosse arrived at this point.
Franklin asked Fosse if he had additional information about schedule 80 pipes. Fosse said they are not
used in his area. They are used more often for building interior use, rather than out in the public.
However, he said probably some deflection is desirable in this case. He added that the downside of
hollow versus solid pipes is that solid ones are more flexible; hollow pipes will dimple and bend under
stress.
Franklin said that the pipe walls are 3/8 of an inch thick, and the pipes are 2 inches across. Fosse agreed
that is a pretty stout pipe, though he does not know how well it would stand up to being climbed on.
Martin said they would be put in a wet area. Fosse noted that if the pieces were sited in water, the metal
would need to be treated so it doesn't rot at the water level.
The motion was passed on a vote of 5-0, with Fosse abstaining.
Recommendation on Art in Non-Public Spaces Recoanition Proaram
Klingaman reported that the recognition program document was revised as discussed at the last meeting,
and reformatted to comply with the PAAC procedures. Franklin said the program procedure needs to be
formally recommended to the council.
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
January 5, 2006
Page 3
Felling said he would like clarification on the process and policy for notifying the nominees. Franklin said
some guidelines should be included, that the owner of the piece would be notified of its consideration
when the nomination is received. Williamson added that is only a concern if someone other than the
owner nominates the piece. Klingaman said that not everyone would wish to participate. Martin said that
people should have the opportunity to opt out of the nomination as soon as possible.
Klingaman suggested adding a statement that permission from the owner is needed for the piece to be
considered. Williamson said a database should be built up so. that if a piece receives multiple
nominations, the owners are not receiving numerous letters. Martin said the notification letter should
outline exactly what being recognized will mean in terms of publicity and public information as well.
MOTION: Martin moved to accept the Art in Non-Public Spaces Recognition Program procedure as
amended. Trueblood seconded, and the motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
Discussion of any Community Initiated Art Proposals
Franklin said no proposals were submitted. She received inquiries from two people, but there has been
no follow up.
Fosse confirmed that the last community-initiated project was Irving Weber. Franklin said yes. Fosse said
that is a good example of a project that went well. Franklin said the Lions Club was responsible for that
project. Trueblood asked if the mural downtown was also from the community. Franklin said yes, Dulcinea
initiated that one.
Committee time/Other business
Klingaman distributed hard copies of the open meeting information. Franklin said it is good information for
all of the committee members to know. Trueblood said even informal discussions with a minority of the
committee members can be problematic, and the committee should avoid holding meetings at members'
houses. He said concerns are often more strongly related to policy-making bodies.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the committee, Martin moved to adjourn. Fosse
seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
s:/pcdlminutes/PublicArtl2006101-05-06. doc
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