Public Art Committee
Report to the City Council
March 19, 2024
Presentation by
Taryn Walker, PAC Chair
Thanks to all committee members:
Taryn Walker, Chair
Vickie Jo Sowell, Vice Chair
Edythe Bresnahan
Ronald Davis
Harley Jensen
David Ridlehuber
Dr. Laura Rifkin
Rick Tejada-Flores
Judith Wetterer
Naomi VanDoren’s Bus Shelter Art
install in Fall 2023 – first of Phase VII
March 19, 2024
Community Development Department 1
Additional thanks to members serving in 2023 no longer on the committee:
including prior Chair Emily McPartlon, Vice Chair Jean Goldman, and members Xan Walker, Sabrina Sellers and Gloria Tanchelev Attachment 1
2023 Accomplishment:
Purchase Award
Community Development Department 2
Installed on the exterior of
City Hall- four 2’ x 3’ copper
sculptures of bugs
Ant, Mosquito, Stag Beetle,
and Grasshopper
by Ken Kalman (purchased 2022)
Grasshopper Ant
Stag Beetle Mosquito
2023 Accomplishment
Phase VII Bus Shelter Art
Phase VII of Sharon Wilchar Bus Shelter Art Program - 2023 Call
• Local artists selected for this phase:
3 • Naomi VanDoren
• Lisa Rock
• Gregoire Vion
• Jess Cook
• Erin Fong
• Michelle Theberge
2023 Accomplishments:
Completed Phase VI Bus Shelter Art
Installed the last artists selected as
part of the Art Bus Shelter Program
in 2023 for Phase VI:
Courtney Shennish (left)
Michael Murphy (right)
• In 2023, a QR code was integrated
into all posters, providing convenient
access to the City's Art in Public
Places Program.
• A new vendor was secured for the
installation and maintenance of
artworks, ensuring continuity of the
program.
4 2023 Accomplishments:
Sign of the Times
Maintenance and
Restoration
This initiative celebrated the 20th
anniversary of the program’s first
installations on 7 boxes; artist Seyed
Alavi’s distinct figures now grace 31
boxes:
• Vendors repainted 25 utility boxes
and adhered the Sign of the
Times images, removing and
covering significant graffiti and
ash
• 6 new boxes were introduced,
associated with new traffic signals
March 19, 2024
Community Development Department 5
One of Seyed Alavi’s Sign of the Times
2023 Accomplishment:
Visual Grants
• Three Visual Art Grants implemented
in 2023 (artists funded in 2022):
• Therese Lahaie
• Juan Lopez
• Los Pobres Aristas
The grants allowed emerging and seasoned artists to
install works in Emeryville for which they would
otherwise not have funding, but through the grant are
afforded lower barriers to entry and more flexibility
than other calls are.
Community Development Department 6
Therese Laihe
2023 Accomplishment:
2023 Purchase Award
• Acquisition, installation and
celebration of four works in 2023:
• "Dollar Store" by Mike Farruggia at
Emeryville Center of Community of Life
• "Chroma #1, 3, and 4" by Erin Fong at
the Senior Center
Community Development Department 7
Emphasizing our commitment to
enriching public spaces with
diverse and engaging artworks.
2024 Top Priority:
40th Streetscape Public Art RFQ
8 • Top priority for 2024:
Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
for Public Art on 40th Streetscape
released Feb 1, 2024, artist teams
to:
• Design an icon for wayfinding
• Create a repeating or serial
installation along 40th
• Produce unique art installation
in the new plazas
2024 Second Priority:
Neighborhood Convergence Restoration
• Relocating painted sculptures
outside of fences for increased
visibility.
• Comprehensive restoration of
multiple sculptures, addressing both
artistic elements and associated
lighting.
• Special attention to the back side of
the works, ensuring visibility from
the pedestrian pathway as well as
vehicle lanes.
March 19, 2024
Community Development Department 9
Louise Stanley
Vickie Jo Sowell
Other 2024 Priorities:
Visual Art Grants Biennial Visual Art grants
:
Call for applications
opened January 22.
Highly attended artist
orientation workshop
February 8
Robustly attended
evening artist
workshop February 13
Call closed February
28. Community Development Department 10
Other 2024 Priorities:
Rotten City Cultural District
The launch of consultant
engagements for the RCCD signifies
a pivotal moment in advancing
cultural initiatives.
This development holds promise for
collaborative ventures between the
City guided by RCCD partners with
the PAC and the Art Center Advisory
Committee
March 19, 2024
Community Development Department 11
Thank you!
March 19, 2024
12 HellBent
Jim Campbell
Michael Thomas
Jeppe Hein
Hybycozo
Jeppe Hein