HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-04-2008 Public Art Advisory Committee
Public Art Advisory Committee
Thursday, September 4, 2008
3:00PM
Lobby Conference Room
City Hall
410 E. Washington
A. Call to order
B. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda
C. Consideration of the minutes of the August 7,2008 meeting
D. Community Initiated Art proposal - Tate High School/Wetherby Park
Shelter
E. Continued discussion regarding future Waterworks Prairie Park artwork
F. Committee time/updates
G. Adjournment
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7,2008
LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM - CITY HALL
PRELIMINARY
Members Present: Patrick Carney, DaLayne Williamson, Annadora Khan, Terry
Trueblood, Rick Fosse
Members Absent: Mark Seabold, Jan Finlayson
Staff Present: Marcia Klingaman, Jeff Davidson, Nate Kabat
Public Present: None
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
Recommend approval of the Robert A. Lee Center Artwork Lighting at a funding
level not to exceed $14,600, contingent upon satisfying the procurement process.
Moved by Fosse. Seconded by Williamson. Motion passed 5:0.
CALL TO ORDER
Williamson called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 5. 2008 MEETING
MOTION: Trueblood moved to approve the minutes; Fosse seconded. The motion
passed 5:0.
ROBERT A. LEE RECREATION CENTER ARTWORK - UPDATE AND REVIEW OF
LIGHTING INSTALLATION ESTIMATE
Klingaman updated the committee to the current status of the art piece. All pieces of the
project were found in storage and successfully transported to the permanent site. The
tracking system, wires, and hangers are in place. The lift was removed by the contractor
due to oil leaking but will bring it back 1-2 weeks before the dedication to finish
installation.
Klingaman informed the committee the dedication will take place on September 18th at
Noon. The Parks and Recreation Commission, City Council, and BJ Katz will be in
attendance and the event will be open to the public. Formal invitations will be sent out.
Total installation cost is at $17,400 and lighting has been quoted at an additional
$14,600 from Apex. Klingaman informed the committee the lighting cost needs to be
approved in order for the project to move forward. Fosse was concerned that only one
bid was received and wondered if this would satisfy the city policy requiring multiple
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August 7,2008
Page 2
quotes. He asked if the lighting was essential for the dedication. Klingaman said the
lighting is not essential, but it would be nice to complete the project. Trueblood explained
the lighting is meant to make the project stand out from its surroundings. Fosse
recommended the committee approve the lighting cost not to exceed $17,400 contingent
upon satisfying the city's procurement process.
MOTION: Fosse moved to recommend approval of the Robert A. Lee Center Artwork
Lighting at a funding level not to exceed $14,600, contingent upon satisfying the
procurement process. Seconded by Williamson. Motion passed 5:0.
FUTURE WATERWORKS PRAIRIE PARK TRAIL ARTWORK DISCUSSION -IDEAS
Trueblood showed the committee a concept plan for the Waterworks Prairie Park site.
He explained to the committee a fishing pier is to be added to the large pond and an
amphitheater is to be installed. Klingaman asked how big the amphitheater would be.
Trueblood said it would be 16x20' square and is not meant to hold large scale events.
He also explained the park is mostly prairie grasses with the large pond always being
filled. The northern wetland area is always wet, sometimes more wet than others, and
the southern wetland dries up at times. He showed the committee where a sculpture
meadow was at one time proposed and where the relocation of the old downtown
fountain was proposed as well. Near the lagoon area a sculpture was proposed at one
time, but was never placed as well as a sculpture area near the treatment plant that was
never completed. Trueblood also pointed out a hospice area has been approved for the
central area of the park and thought sculpture might be a good addition to that project.
Davidson asked if the hospice was budgeted. Trueblood said it was, but would happen
in a few years.
Fosse pointed out to the committee that burns are used to maintain the prairie grasses in
the park, so this would need to be considered in the placement and materials used for
the sculpture. Trueblood agreed and added that the burns are controlled so the
sculptures would be protected to some degree. Fosse asked how much was available in
the budget for a project. Marcia said it was between $20-50,000, but said she would get
a more exact figure for the next meeting.
Fosse suggested the entrance of the park might offer a larger audience for an art piece.
He also thought art could be incorporated into the supports for the amphitheater. Fosse
thought a project similar to the scope of the Cedar Rapids Airport artwork would be
appropriate for the wetlands area of the park. Carney explained the sculpture looks like
large windmill paddles and can be seen from the air. Kahn agreed that a large project in
the wetlands would be attractive and thought something with movement would be a
good idea, this would allow the project to be seen all over the park. She also thought the
entrance would be a good location; Trueblood agreed and encourage the committee to
consider where people are most likely to see artwork. Davidson asked if visibility from 1-
80 would be good. Fosse pointed out the large stand of trees at the southern edge of the
park would prevent visibility from the highway. Trueblood agreed and said such a project
might cause an unnecessary distraction for drivers.
Fosse explained to the committee there is a problem with invasive willow plants in the
wetlands that grow to a large size and this would compete with the art project for visibility
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August?,2008
Page 3
if placed in the wetlands. Davidson asked what size the project should be. Fosse thought
if the project was located in the wetlands, it should be big. He brought up the idea of a
whale tailor something similar sticking out of the water. Klingaman said the size might
be partially determined by the project budget. Trueblood asked what material might be
good for that area. Fosse thought a metal like aluminum or stainless steel might be good
in the wetland. Klingaman offered to check on pricing for materials and sizes of projects.
Fosse asked the committee what they thought about a project incorporated into the
columns of the amphitheater. Kahn recalled a project like that with faces carved into
columns that incorporated reflections as well. Klingaman asked how high the columns
would be. Trueblood said they are 10-12' at the front and shorter in the back. Davidson
asked how accessible the amphitheater is. Trueblood said a trail goes right by it.
Trueblood referred to the artwork by David Dahlquist (who was the artist for the Court
Street Transportation Center) at the Iowa rest stop where he created stacks of books for
the project. Fosse brought up some metal sculptures he saw that were done with torches
that created very earthy tones and thought that might fit in well with the surrounding
area.
Carney said he thought it would be good to incorporate multiple projects that progress
throughout the park as people walk on the paths. He thought something similar to the
ducks taking off in Coralville's city square would fit well in the park. Carney thought the
art should be natural to fit in with the surroundings. He thought the art should appear to
be part of the park and not just put there for the sake of putting art somewhere. He
thought something with moving water might be good. Fosse explained moving water
might be hard since that would require an energy source that is not present in the park.
Davidson told the committee a pedestrian bridge is to be installed on Dubuque Street
just north of the park entrance in 2009 next to the current auto bridge. He thought that
would be a good opportunity to incorporate art. Klingaman mentioned an archway
project she saw in Milwaukee that was done on a bridge where multiple artists
contributed to the many arches. Davidson said it might be a good idea to incorporate art
into the railing or the lighting of the pedestrian bridge.
Kahn asked if there is an artist list that might help to get ideas. Klingaman explained
there is a database that the department has been maintaining for a while that could be
used. She said the committee is welcome to look at it if they would like. Kahn offered to
look through it for the next meeting. Klingaman told the committee she would gather
samples to help the committee come up with ideas for the project for the next meeting.
She also said she would provide a more solid dollar figure for the project as well. Fosse
encouraged the committee to take a walk around the park before next meeting.
RECOGNITION OF ART IN NON-PUBLIC PLACES - 2008
Klingaman explained this program was suggested a few years ago to solicit nominations
that would recognize Iowa City residents who choose to display are on their property for
the public to see. This program gives individuals recognition for adding art to the city.
She explained this program takes a lot of encouragement to gather nominations.
Fosse asked if the program is worthwhile since it takes a lot of effort to get nominations.
Klingaman explained the effort is worthwhile since people are very excited when they get
Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes
August7,2008
Page 4
recognized for their art and the project works to raise awareness of art in the community.
Fosse asked who has been recognized in the past. Williamson said Kent Angerer was
recognized in the past for the piano man sculpture. Kahn said she doesn't take time to
notice art on people's properties and thought this might help encourage that.
Kahn said in Chicago artists sometimes open their homes to other people who can come
in and view the artists' work. She wondered if this might be a good thing to do in Iowa
City. Klingaman said the Longfellow neighborhood did a studio tour like that about 10-12
years ago. She also said Garry Klein produced an "art in the yard" proposal a few years
ago where people would put their art outside for people to view. Kahn wondered if
people would be willing to let strangers into their homes to view art. Williamson agreed it
might be hard to get people to open up their homes. She mentioned the Alley Walk in
Northside Neighborhood on August 23rd and wondered if art could be incorporated into
that to make "Art in the Alley".
Klingaman said she would go ahead with the Recognition of Art in Non-public Spaces
program to get nominations by October. Williamson suggested a brochure could be
made that would include pictures of past winners, so people would have an idea of what
should be nominated. Kahn asked if the art needs to be visible from the road. Klingaman
said it does.
COMMITTEE TIME/UPDATES
Klingaman asked Carney about the cigarette machine art project he has been interested
in. Carney said he is still interested in pursuing that. Klingaman said she has found the
vendor that does this project and the machines can be found all over the world. She
believed the machines are filled with art supplied by the vendor which can be selected
from a large list of options. Klingaman had not contacted the vendor yet, but was willing
to do so. Carney was hoping the machines would have a more local focus than what it
sounded like the vendor in charge supplies. Carney said he would contact the vendor
and follow up on the project. Williamson asked if there were any machines like this in
Iowa. Carney did not think so; he said they are mostly in larger cities.
Trueblood told the committee the park bench for the Pheasant Hill park project has been
ordered. Klingaman said the contract has been signed with the artist and the project will
move forward.
Trueblood told the committee no artwork has been lost from the flood.
ADJOURNMENT
Fosse motioned to adjourn; Carney seconded. Meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm. Next
meeting scheduled for September 4, 2008.
Minutes submitted by Nate Kabat
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