STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Stephanie Harris, Director of Community Services
Patty Acuna, Assistant Director of Community Services
Subject: Recommendation by City Council Arts and Culture Liaisons and Arts and Culture Commission to Purchase Trinity by Judy Chicago Attachments: 1. Photo of Trinity by Judy Chicago
2. Rendering of the Artwork at Recommended Site for Installation
INTRODUCTION
On March 27, 2023, the then Beverly Hills Arts and Culture Council Liaisons Bosse and Nazarian reviewed the Arts and Culture Commission recommendation for the acquisition and installation of the artwork, Trinity, by world-renowned artist Judy Chicago. The “all in” cost of the acquisition is $550,000 including the purchase of the artwork, fabrication, engineering, inspections, permits, installation and transportation, creation of the base, and lighting. The Liaisons supported the recommendation of the purchase and supported the preferred location for installation of the artwork. The selected location is at the Northwest corner of Crescent Dr. and S. Santa Monica Blvd. adjacent to the Crescent Dr. parking garage elevator structure at City Hall.
DISCUSSION
Judy Chicago is a world-renowned artist whose work has been internationally exhibited in galleries. The Arts and Culture Council Liaisons (March 2023) Bosse and Nazarian recommend the acquisition and installation of the artwork. As a part of the Arts and Culture Commission’s Priority Exercise, held at their meeting on May 10, 2022, the commission selected the artwork, Trinity, by world-renowned artist Judy Chicago.
At the December 20, 2022, Recreation and Parks Commission meeting an alternate installation location was presented and supported should issues arise with the preferred location of the City Hall campus. The Liaisons support the alternate location located at Beverly Gardens Park on the Canon block adjacent to the restrooms closer to Park Way.
To ensure longevity and success for outdoor art installations, it is required to install the artwork on a concrete platform to protect from landscape maintenance and excessive moisture. The base will be constructed on integral color concrete to ensure that if in the Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
future the concrete base suffers chipping, the color would carry throughout the base and be less noticeable. The artist has selected Sika Musky Mulberry as the color to be used for the concrete base to complement the artwork.
The purchase price of the artwork is $450,000, Jeffrey Deitch Art Gallery has offered the City a discounted price for acquisition of the artwork at $400,000. The Arts and Culture Commission approved at their March 14, 2023, meeting the “all in” cost of the acquisition of Trinity by Judy Chicago of $550,000. This allocation will cover the purchase of the artwork, fabrication, engineering, inspections, permits, installation and transportation, creation of the base, and lighting. The anchoring system that will be used will allow for the artwork to be de-installed should future restoration efforts be required without impact to the concrete base.
The Arts and Culture Council Liaisons (March 2023) Bosse and Nazarian requested that staff work with the gallery to address areas of concern such as maintenance protocols, warranty of fabrication as well as paint.
Maintenance:
The gallery will provide detailed maintenance instructions approved by the artist.
Maintenance will be performed by RLA Conservation of Art & Architecture 1-2 times per year depending on placement and frequency of public interaction. The maintenance of the artwork will become part of the City’s annual maintenance plan for our Fine Art collection and funded through the Fine Art Fund.
Warranty:
The gallery has indicated a 1-year warranty on the fabrication of the artwork, the gallery is working with Matthews Paint to confirm if a warranty will also be provided for the paint and protective coating. When the agreement is drafted, language will be included to reflect the warranties provided.
Arts and Culture Council Liaisons (March 2023) Bosse and Nazarian also inquired if similar work had been displayed outdoors. Artwork titled Zig Zag is a sculpture that has been displayed outdoors, located in New York. This work was made by the same fabricator with the same metal and paint and has done well in its elements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funding for acquisition and installation of the artwork is available in the Fine Art Fund, a restricted fund that can only be used for fine art related expenses. The current balance in the Fine Art Fund is approximately $1.6 million dollars with $700,000 available for artwork acquisition/installation through the Arts and Culture Commission Fine Art Priority Exercise process.
Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
The Arts and Culture Commission and the then Beverly Hills Arts and Culture Council Liaisons Bosse and Nazarian support the acquisition and installation of Trinity by Judy Chicago. It is requested that City Council provide direction on the acquisition and installation of Trinity by Judy Chicago.
Stephanie Harris,
Director of Community Services
Approved By
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 2