HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-07-2006 Public Art Advisory Committee
Agenda
Public Art Advisory Committee
Thursday, December 7, 2006
3:30PM
Lobby Conference Room
Iowa City City Hall
410 E. Washington St.
A. Call to order
B. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda
C. Consideration of the minutes of the November 2, 2006 meeting
D. Discussion with Gene Anderson regarding his proposal for the Grand
Avenue roundabout project.
E. Discussion of potential project to highlight Artsfest 20th Anniversary
in cooperation with the Summer of the Arts.
F. Discussion of 2007 Iowa Sculptors Showcase Call (downtown ped
mall)
G. Discussion of 2007 Peninsula Park Sculptors Showcase Call
H. Committee time/updates
I. Adjournment
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
Preliminary
Members Present: Mark Seabold, Chuck Felling, Terry Trueblood, DeLayne
Williamson, Emily Martin, Emily Carter-Walsh, Rick Fosse
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Karin Franklin, Brian Boelk
Others Present: Jean Walker, Howard Collinson, Rod Lehnertz, , Pam Trimpe
CALL TO ORDER
Seabold called the meeting to order at 3:33 PM.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
None
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
Walker mentioned that she thought the statue of Irving Weber on Iowa Avenue looked
diminished.
CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 5. 2006 MEETING
MOTION: Fosse moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Carter-Walsh seconded
the motion. Motion passed 7:0.
REVIEW OF SUBMITTALS FOR THE GRAND AVENUE ROUNDABOUT PROJECT
Franklin said that the committee has gone through a preliminary screening of the artists'
submittals. The committee sent the remaining proposals on to the University officials and
the Melrose Neighborhood Association after this meeting's review; the next step is to
select one to three artists as finalists for consideration.
Gene Anderson
Seabold said that the art is pretty organic. The second submitted proposal is more
typical of Anderson's work. Walker said that the stone proposal was Melrose
neighborhood's third favorite choice. The neighborhood was concerned that cars would
not be able to see pedestrians walking around. Franklin mentioned that the committee
could work with the artist to incorporate changes to the artwork if there were particular
things the committee disliked.
John Anderson-Bricker
Seabold said that the committee all liked this piece. The perimeter may need to be
modified to ward off leaves and garbage getting trapped in the art. Franklin said that the
inner circle is 8 feet tall and the outer circle is 5 feet tall. The middle portion is 12 feet
tall. Walker said that Melrose neighborhood thought that this piece of art is too busy.
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August 3, 2006
Page 2
David Black
Seabold said that this piece is totally different from other submissions. He really likes
that it has a lot of movement. Everyone seemed to agree that this piece would really
stand out on the hill. Seabold mentioned that there is always an opportunity for a berm
or a limestone wall around the art. Lehnertz brought up that the way the artwork is
landscaped can help to keep people off and downplay the maintenance required.
Pam Trimpe came in late and asked if the public art committee is set upon having
artwork in the roundabout. Trimpe mentioned that the area is already a very busy place
with a lot to look out for. Walker mentioned that Melrose neighborhood also had that
concern.
Franklin said that the group needs to keep in mind that the purpose for the roundabout is
to organize traffic and pedestrians that are currently passing through the area. The
pedestrian crossings will be pushed back and they will be clearly marked. The
roundabout will better organize the traffic. Walker mentioned that artwork with landscape
qualities may not be as distracting.
Ed Carpenter
Franklin said that Carpenter's pieces do not move. He does use light in most of his work.
Franklin said that if the committee is interested in this artist, the City would be looking at
something that is very much scaled down from his proposals of past work. Presumably,
the costs will be scaled down as well.
Robert Ellison
Walker said that Melrose was concerned that people would be drawn to the artwork and
want to climb on it. Carter-Walsh said that the colors make the piece look dated.
Collinson said that the upkeep on this piece would be very difficult and it would not look
good once it got dirty.
David Hale
Franklin said that David Hale is a University student. Walker said that this piece was the
neighborhood's first choice, but they were concerned about whether he had the
experience to pull it off. Walker said that the neighborhood felt that this piece fit the sight
well, the color would blend in, but not disappear, and they liked the feeling of motion
caused by the clouds on top. Seabold said that the piece is predominantly granite with
steel bars in between. Trimpe thought that people would climb on it as if it were a jungle
gym. Carter-Walsh said the piece is attractive. Seabold said that it is more inviting than
Gene's piece. Lehnertz wondered whether the group is looking for something that will be
a beacon drawing the driver up the hill. Seabold said that the site is probably one of the
most prominent sites in the city. Lehnertz said that something very large and prominent
would be very hard to take in as a driver is moving past the site.
Jon Barlow-Hudson
Walker said the neighborhood thought the first proposal was too tall for the width. Trimpe
said the shapes in this proposal were great.
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August 3, 2006
Page 3
Howard Kalish
Walker said that this proposal was not a favorite of the neighborhood. She thought it
would be referred to as pick up sticks. Martin said that it is not very substantial as far as
blocking the site. Williamson said that she liked it, but not for this site. Lehnertz said that
from a distance the colors would disappear. Fosse clarified that in roundabouts, it is a
design technique to include artwork that you cannot see through so that you do not see
oncoming traffic.
Mark LaMair
Seabold mentioned that LaMair just did a sculpture for the Sycamore Greenways Trail.
He said that it looks inviting. Lehnertz mentioned that it looks like a bench to sit on.
Fosse wished that all of the artists would have included the surrounding buildings in their
proposals.
Tuck Langland
Franklin said that this piece is three dancers that are all pointing in the direction of the
. streets. Walker said that the neighborhood did not think that the location was good for a
figurative piece. It would attract too much attention.
Mark Leichliter
Williamson said that duet is 12 feet tall. She pointed out that the sculptures show an 'I'
and a 'C' for Iowa City. Walker said that the neighborhood thought it was too thin.
Don Mitchell
Seabold mentioned that Mitchell recently created the sculpture at the Kicker's Soccer
Park. Fosse said that the purpose of the roundabout is to bring order, and this sculpture
is not calming. Walker said that the neighborhood felt that the second proposal looked
like a ferris wheel.
Steven Woodward
Walker said that the neighborhood thought that this piece would be the most polarizing.
People would either love it for being whimsical or hate it for being too obvious. Carter-
Walsh said that the piece is 6'9" feet tall. Fosse said that the piece would be a great
place to sit and would attract too many people to it.
Seabold suggested that the group make a short list of the proposals they like. Fosse
wanted to hear from the University. Lehnertz said that he wants the piece to stay
practical. The major concerns for the University are the idea of traffic order and calming.
He thinks that no matter what is done at the intersection, it will still be a challenging
intersection. Almost all of the traffic is coming from one direction, so people on the other
sides are not used to people coming from other directions. Lehnertz said the piece
should be centered in landscaping and less-visually impressive. He mentioned creating
a prairie, or something similar, to landscape the roundabout. He mentioned that Gene
Anderson's pieces would fit the site without distracting drivers.
Collinson said that he likes Gene's second proposal. He thought that the group should
ask the artist for a couple of other proposals. He likes the idea of some interesting
artificial boulders. Lehnertz said that the artist could work with the University's
landscaper. Trimpe said that her first preference would be only landscaping. Her second
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August 3, 2006
Page 4
preference would be to go with Gene Anderson. She said that she does not want the
piece to look as random as Gene's first proposal and suggested bringing in the artist to
voice likes and dislikes.
Trimpe left the meetinQ at 4:22 PM to teach a class.
Boelk likes Gene's proposal as well. He wondered if blackening or engraving the art
could be a possibility to provide direction to drivers. Lehnertz said that the University
wants a 20 foot tall directional sign. He said that if people do not have enough guidance
there will be accidents. Walker said that she understands the practicality, but this is
meant to be a work of art. Lehnertz said that preparatory signs could get the signs off the
island. He said the University's biggest concern is people coming from Melrose.
Fosse said he likes the idea of working with Gene and asking him to come back with
additional options. Lehnertz said that he would encourage Gene to think about the island
from a landscape perspective. He said that Bob Brooks would be happy to work with
him. If he wants a landscape consultant, Brian Clark is usually the University's first
choice. Seabold asked if the group wants to work with anyone else, or if they would like
to select Gene Anderson. The group seemed to agree that everyone would be happy
with Gene Anderson. Fosse said ornamental grass would be more effective than prairie
grass. Lehnertz said that if the group wants to go with Bob Brooks, since this project is
not too intensive, that he would be happy to meet with the committee to discuss
landscaping options.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 P.M.
Minutes submitted by Abby Attoun.
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