DATE:
March 21, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, 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 2022; And Proposed Committee Priorities For Calendar Year 2023 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council accept this report on the Public Art Committee’s accomplishments in 2022 and proposed priorities for 2023.
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 2022
The major goals identified for 2022 were implemented successfully through the installation of a mural by Guillaume Ollivier and pilot of a Visual Art Grants Program.
The mural by Guillaume Ollivier was installed in August 2022 at 1456 63rd Street, directly across Hollis Street from Fire Station 35. In September 2022, additional mural components were added to cover the entire wall as a graffiti deterrent for the installed work. Over 40 members of the public and the Alameda County Fire Department attended a celebration of the work’s installation in August 2022.
A Visual Art Grants Program was initiated in 2022, awarding four artists $10,000 each for installation of art works in Emeryville at:
Fire Station 35 (6303 Hollis Street)
Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL, 1100 47th Street) The former Adeline Springs Building (3637 Adeline Street) 1475 Haruff Street
Steve Bronson installed one portrait in his series honoring local essential workers on Fire Station 35’s south frontage on 63rd Street. The work is highly visible to northbound traffic on Hollis Street. The remaining three Visual Art Grants recipients’ works will be installed by September 2023, including a community mural celebrating migration at 3637 Adeline, a shadow installation evoking a bird in flight cast across Haruff Street, and a mosaic celebrating the bay at ECCL.
Four approximately 2” by 3” copper sculptures crafted by Ken Kalman replicating bugs, including Ant, Grasshopper, Mosquito, and Stag Beetle, were selected as the 2023 Purchase Award from the annual Emeryville Celebration of the Arts exhibition, as has been done since 2009.
Phase VI of the Sharon Wilchar Temporary Art Program at four bus shelters is contracted to run through August 2023, with eight local artists installing four works for four months each. In 2022, the artists featured included Joey Rose, Jessalyn Aaland, and Nora Pauwels.
In 2022, the Art in Public Places Program website was updated to include:
A collection of the 45 plus murals now found in Emeryville Five City-Commissioned works – two added in 2022
15 PangeaSeed SeaWalls festival murals – all added in 2022 Murals installed in compliance with the Art in Public Places Program by private developers Murals installed by businesses or organizations independent of the City - a large “Spare the Air” mural was installed in 2022 A revised diagram of the art in City Hall allowing self-guided tours, with the 2021 Otocast smartphone guided tour including recordings from participating artists A current “What’s New” section consisting of images of works installed in 2022, to be revised in 2023 In 2022, notable public art installations by private developers included Sofie Ramos’ chocolate cake with sprinkles in Christie Park, the removal of prior art and installation of new works by Jenny Sharaf at the Hollis Business Center (6401 Hollis Street) and installation of 26 panels by local artist Mark Bullwinkle at Anvil Construction’s renovation of the former Pelco Building at 1550 Park Avenue.
Top Priorities for Calendar Year 2023
The PAC met in January 2023 to review the Visual Arts Grant pilot program and capital project priorities for the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program. Recommendations included alternating the Visual Arts Grants and Sharon Wilchar Temporary Art Bus Shelter application cycles such that each program falls every other year. This has the added benefit of allowing time for the Visual Arts Grants program to be modified to further assist artists prior to the next application cycle. In prior years, the PAC has recommended prioritization of the commission of works by Ned Kahn which remain on hiatus. While these may move forward in 2023, the PAC endorsed new capital projects contingent on the adoption of the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program.
First Highlighted Priority
One or more Public Art capital projects in 2023 will be initiated and completed as appropriate, given the projects with which the art is associated. The three possible projects for 2023 include:
Temescal Greenway Wayfinding Art Project (in concert with the bicycle and pedestrian wayfinding project in the Active Transportation Plan) “40th Street Multimodal Improvement Project” Public Art Project Ned Kahn Commission for either Point Emery or the Civic Center water feature Second Highlighted Priority
Phase VII of the Sharon Wilchar Temporary Art Bus Shelter program will be mobilized in 2023 and carried out in 2023-2025. Phase VI of the program will include the installation of two artists in 2023: Michael Murphy (January–April) and Courtney Sennish (May–September). Artist selection for Phase VII will be completed by Summer 2023, as Phase VI ends.
It is also anticipated that the restoration of Neighborhood Convergence (located at the Interstate 80 overcrossing of Powell Street) will occur in 2023. Additionally, a mural may be commissioned in 2023 if a suitable site under the Public Art Mural Program Guidelines is identified.
Finally, with the State authorizing $671,428 for three years of programming for the Rotten City Emeryville Cultural Arts District, there may be additional partnering opportunities between the City and the District’s other partners for arts programming.
Conclusion
The PAC remains an engaged and productive committee, transitioning in 2022 from the leadership of Sharon Wilchar after over 30 years. In addition to the top priorities the PAC has designated, the PAC will be reviewing the public art for the 4300 San Pablo Avenue Intergenerational Affordable Housing Project, considering the 2023 Purchase Award, and periodically reviewing maintenance requirements for existing public art installations.
PREPARED BY: Amber Evans, Community and Economic Development Coordinator II REVIEWED BY: Chadrick Smalley, Deputy Director of Community Development Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
1. Presentation of PAC Accomplishments in 2022 and Goals for 2023 Public Art Committee Annual Report
City Council Meeting | March 21, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM