Staff Report
Public Arts Commission
To:
From:
Charlie Mc Clendon, City Manager
Stone James, DPPD, Director of Economic Development
Date: December 29, 2021
Title: Public Arts Commission 2022-2026 Goals
During the January 2021 City Council annual goal setting retreat the Public Arts Commission (PAC) presented their five-year plan. This plan outlined over 30 initiatives to be accomplished by 2025. By December 8, 2021, PAC has completed or is close to accomplishing 12 initiatives or 200% above goal.
Below is a summary of what has been (i) accomplished, (ii) is a work in progress, (iii) is pending, or (iv) has been evaluated and is on hold:
1) Projects which have been completed include:
a) Downtown Utility Boxes: Four of five boxes completed before the November 2021 40 th birthday party celebration. The fifth box will be wrapped following the installation of permanent utility box.
b) Passages Sculpture within Panorama Park
c) Swiss Cheese Sculpture within Panorama Park
d) David Vasquez Memorial Park beautification project: The main park features (bench and trash receptacle) were painted.
e) 9/11 Sculpture: This project was finished in time for the 20 th Anniversary memorial of September 11th.
f) Library Bench Beautification Project: Fourteen park benches were painted. g) Library Media and Book Return Box Murals: Two book return boxes and one media return box were painted.
h) Patriot Park Utility Building Murals: The two remaining walls of the utility building were painted.
2) Projects which are works in progress include:
a) Ofilia Bringas Bridge Project: PAC anticipates artworks will be installed following the completion of the bridge in 2022.
b) Downtown Amphitheater Kinetic art: Installation is expected to be finished by Q2 2022
c) Council has approved the funding of arts education events at the CV Rep Theater;
2 d) Grocery Outlet mural(s) are being evaluated.
3) Projects which have been evaluated and are on hold include:
a) The Commission evaluated the benches and tables within the Downtown Fountain of Life Park (FOL). To ensure equity among the four other districts, the painting of the FOL park benches has been put on hold until more art projects in other districts have been completed.
4) Projects which are pending further work include:
a) Century Park was evaluated for bench and trash receptacle opportunities. Due to the type and disrepair of the park benches, Century Park painting projects were postponed. PAC anticipates working with the Parks and Community Events Commission to acquire (and ultimately paint) new benches. This has been listed as a 2023 and 2024 goal.
b) The Commission evaluated painting the exterior walls of the restroom and the wall surrounding the retention basis. Given the material type and size of the walls, this is a complex project which will require additional focus and expense.
Improving one or both park features is listed as future goals. c) Dream Homes Park: The Commission will be evaluating potential art projects within the recently approved Dream Homes Park project.
d) Painting Panorama Park benches: Postponed due to the paint’s inability to durably adhere to the plastic composite anti-graffiti bench slats.
During the December 13, 2021, PAC meeting, the Commission established the below goals. These goals were set in accordance with the Council’s direction to weave public art into the fabric of all city districts. In addition to these stated goals, the Commission will continue looking for additional opportunities to add public art across all districts.
The following are goals, by year:
1) 2022:
a) Wrap the last utility box within the Downtown District b) Finish installation of Downtown Amphitheater Kinetic art globes. c) Complete CV Rep’s 2021/2022 art education funding approval. d) Finish the Ofilia Bringas Bridge Project.
e) Install a mural on the Grocery Outlet building.
2) 2023:
a) Finish a bench beautification project within Ocotillo Park. b) 2023 and Q4 2024:
i) Century Park (CP) beautification ideas include:
(1) Locating artwork on the northwest corner of Century Park Drive and De Vall Drive between the hard corner and the baseball diamond backstop. (2) Mural(s) may be located on the external wall(s) of the public restroom.
This could be challenging due to texture of the exterior walls. (3) Work with the Parks commission to acquire, paint, and place new benches and tables.
3 (4) A large community-themed mural along the wall surrounding the retention basin. This item will require (i) removing turf, (ii) relocating the irrigation system away from the wall to ensure water will not routinely splash up on the wall and degrade the mural, and (iii) multiple community meetings to identify appropriate design themes.
c) Look for an opportunity to install one Native American-oriented art project. 3) 2024:
a) Collaborate with the Engineering Department to ensure there is at least one opportunity for public art within the new Dream Homes Park. 4) 2025:
a) Look for an opportunity to install one Native American-oriented art project. 5) 2026:
a) Locate a sculpture within the Date Palm Drive center median south of 30th Avenue.
b) Reevaluate a bench beautification project within the Downtown Fountain of Life Park.
6) Potential annual projects:
a) Arts Education funding benefiting CV Rep, the Library, etc.,