DATE:
March 15, 2022
TO:
Christine Daniel, City Manager
FROM:
Charles S. Bryant, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
Public Art Committee’s Annual Report On Committee Goals, Principles And Accomplishments For Calendar Year 2021; And Proposed Committee Priorities For Calendar Year 2022 Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council accept this report on the Public Art Committee’s accomplishments in 2021 and proposed priorities for 2022.
Committee Goals and Principles
The Public Art Committee (PAC) provides input and recommendations regarding City policies, projects, and priorities regarding the City’s Art in Public Places Program (AiPP) and related matters Accomplishments for Calendar Year 2021
The 2021 year – the 30th anniversary of the Art in Public Place Program – saw the fruition of several projects celebrating local artists and their presence in City Hall including:
The installation of Ronald Davis’s photographs Christian Sands and Rueben Rogers in the first and second floor alcoves of the main lobby and mezzanine; A recording of the local artists with artworks featured in City Hall published on Otocast for a guided tour of the art, including the artists’ personal relationships with Emeryville, making for some fascinating history; Installation of Joe DeStefano’s donated work Cleave in the landing of the stairs from new City Hall to Old Town Hall; and 16 banners featuring 30 local artists in the lobby of City Hall and above cubicles and walkways on the second floor.
Phase VI of the Temporary Public Art Program at four bus shelters is contracted to run through August of 2023, with eight local artists installing four works for four months each. In 2021, the artists featured included:
Archana Horsting,
Lenore McDonald, and
Kazuko Watanabe.
On December 2, 2021, the 125th anniversary of the City of Emeryville’s incorporation, the Mayor and PAC members celebrated in City Hall’s courtyard with over 30 community members – mostly artists – gathered to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Art in Public Places program on this milestone. Ronald Davis spoke about his photographs Christian Sands and Reuben Rogers. Prabin Badhia took questions about Stucked, his 2020 Purchase Award.
On December 5, 2021, the Mayor introduced Nigel Sussman and his mural, “Emeryville Treasure Map,” as part of Emeryville’s Public Art Mural Program. An estimated 60-80 people joined by foot, bike and stroller. The mural reaches 30 feet tall and 76 feet wide and covers four panels on a manufacturing and distribution building at 1451 Sherwin Avenue, at the corner of the Horton Street Bike Boulevard. Attendees delighted in the Double Rainbow Ice Cream and Petit Pot pudding donated by the building’s tenants for the event.
The Art in Public Places Ordinance is anticipated to generate $6 million in art from 20 current development projects.
Top Priorities for Calendar Year 2022
The PAC remains committed to incrementally addressing the ambitious goals and objectives of the 2016 Public Art Master Plan. 2022 is expected to see the continuation of the Bus Shelter and Purchase Award programs, and the support for the Emeryville Celebration of the Arts Annual Exhibit, using Art In Public Places funding. New in 2022 is the continuation of the Public Art Mural Program and a pilot program for Visual Art Community Grants First Highlighted Priority
Commissions in 2022 are the PAC’s Top Priority. These include possibly:
The Request for Proposals for the mural at 1451 Sherwin Avenue generated a second proposal by Guillaume Ollivier that the Selection Panel recommended for commission, should another mural site be found. The PAC is evaluating potential sites for the installation.
A Ned Kahn Commission at either City Hall or Point Emery pending site conditions and potential Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) approval A mural with environmental cleanup messaging at the Joseph Emery Skate Park if a Caltrans Cleanup Grant is received.
Second Highlighted Priority
The PAC is evaluating processes and procedures for augmenting Community Grants for Visual Arts, pending City Council approval in time for summer release of five new grants of $10,000 each for new and innovative visual art installations. These Community Grants will augment other ongoing programs and maintenance of existing art works.
Conclusion
The PAC remains an engaged and productive committee. In addition to the top priorities the PAC has designated, the PAC will be reviewing the revised Public Market Public Art Master Plan, considering locations for the 2022 Purchase Award, and periodically reviewing maintenance requirements for existing pieces.
PREPARED BY: Amber Evans, Community and Economic Development Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Chadrick Smalley, Economic Development and Housing Manager Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Christine Daniel, City Manager
Public Art Committee Annual Report
City Council Meeting | March 15, 2022
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM