Public Art Committee
Report to the City Council
March 18, 2025
Presentation by
Taryn Walker, PAC Chair
Thanks to all PAC members:
Taryn Walker, Chair
Ronald Davis, Vice Chair
Salam Arastu
Michael Haggerty
David Ridelhuber
Dr. Laura Rifikin
Vickie Jo Sowell
Rick Tejada-Flores
Judith Wetterer
Jess Cook’s Bus Shelter Art install in
Fall 2024 – fourth of Phase VII
1 Additional thanks to members serving in 2024 no longer on the committee:
Edythe Bresnahan and Harley Jensen
2024 Accomplishment
40th Streetscape Public Art RFQ/RFP & Artist
Selection
2 Sought artists for Public Art on 40th
Streetscape to:
• Design an icon for wayfinding
• Create a repeating or serial
installation along 40th
• Produce unique art installation in
the new plazas
Selected Sijia Chen Studio for the
project
2024 Second Priority
Neighborhood Convergence Restoration
• Relocation and restoration of 11
painted sculptures on Powell
Street under Interstate 80 -
delayed due to adjacent
transportation project
3 Louise Stanley
Vickie Jo Sowell
PAC Retreat
Facing significant turnover after
decades of stable leadership, the
PAC spent a day sharing ideas,
learning program history and about
each other, and a group art activity
All agreed it was a success
4 2024 Accomplishment
Visual Arts Grants
Six implemented in
2024: • Salma Arastu • Juan Lopez • Rachel Wolfe Goldsmith • John Patrick Thomas • Sean Griffin • Joey Rose With one underway by Chris
Granillo and one outstanding
by Packard Jennings
Community Development Department 5
2024 Accomplishment
Purchase Award
6 • Roberto Gastelumendi
• White oak and mixed hardwoods
• Created in 2019
• 104˝x11˝x4˝
• $30,000
• Installation in 2025
2024 Accomplishment
2023 Purchase Award
• Installation and celebration of three
works purchased in 2023:
• "Chroma #1, 3, and 4" by Erin Fong at
the Senior Center
7 2024 Accomplishment
Phase VII Bus Shelter Art
Phase VII of Sharon Wilchar Bus Shelter Art Program - 2023 Call
• Local artists installed in 2024 were:
8 Lisa Rock Gregoire Vion Jess Cook
2024 Accomplishment
Installed Commission by Ned Kahn
9 2024 Accomplishment
Initiated Phase VIII Bus Shelter Art
Prepared application,
Request for Proposal,
Activity Guide article
and Website to
prepare for an early
2025 call for artists for
Phase VIII
10 New Public Art Map Printed
PAC reviewed and made
recommendation:
o Which programs to include on
the map with iconography
o Which works to include
o New photography to include
o Integrate Rotten City Cultural
District Assets
Distribution underway
Date
11 GIS Mapping of the Entire Collection
12 GIS MAP OF THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE
ART COLLECTION
Social Media Campaign
13 https://www.facebook.com/profile.
php?id=61559744650802
https://www.instagram.com/emeryville_
public_art/
2024 Accomplishments
Private Development - AiPP
Community Development Department 14
Top Goals for 2025
40th Streetscape Icon
development and
approval
Neighborhood
Convergence Restoration
or other maintenance
priorities
15 2025 Goal 1
40th Streetscape Icon Artist Sijia Chen will lead
paper cutting workshops to
gain community input on
preferred elements including
iconic flora, fauna and other
images representative to
Emeryville stakeholders and
survey the public
16 2025 Goal 2
Neighborhood Convergence Restoration
Relocation and restoration of 11 painted sculptures on Powell Street under Interstate 80 to be integrated in adjacent streetscape project with artists Louise Stanley and Vickie Jo Sowell
17 Additional 2025 Goals Sharon Wilchar Bus Shelter
Art Program Phase VIII
Budgeting for and program
development for 2026 Visual
Art grants, complete 2024
Grants
2025 Purchase Award
Selection and 2024 Purchase
Award installation
Consideration of a lending
program for Purchase Award
collection
Updates to the new GIS map
and expansion of the social
media presence
18 Thank you with a splash of
color from around town
from the other sponsors of
art!
March 18, 2025
19 19