DATE:
February 27, 2024
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Community Development
TITLE: Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park
Maintenance and Tennis Buildings
Replacement, Project 21-48
RECOMMENDATION
Approve public art murals by artists Fernanda Martinez and Harumo Sato for Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48, for $46,600 ($23,300 per artist).
BACKGROUND
On June 9, 2021, City staff presented plans to the Parks and Recreation Commission for the construction of new restrooms at Rengstorff Park and a new pedestrian drop- off area near the future all-inclusive Magical Bridge Playground. The project includes demolition of the existing restroom/maintenance building and demolition of the existing tennis building and replacement of these buildings with two new prefabricated buildings.
On May 10, 2022
, the City Council approved the plans and specifications for Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Building s Replacement, Project 21-48, and authorized a 2% Public Art budget for the project per Council Policy K- 5 (Attachment 1), which amounts to $46,600 based on a construction budget of $2.3 million.
ANALYSIS
Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Building s Replacement, Project 21-48, is currently in construction and the former buildings have been demolished. The new prefabricated structures are expected to be delivered to the site in the spring/summer of 2024. The new tennis/restroom building will be situated near the tennis courts and conveniently located to the a ll-inclusive Magical Bridge Playground, also under construction. The maintenance/restroom building will be positioned adjacent to the parking lot in the barbecue area (see Figure 1—Project Site Map).
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
Figure 1: Project Site Map
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
Project staff and the Visual Arts Committee (VAC) identified three possible locations for public art on the buildings. The wall material of the buildings in the areas designated for the murals will be made of smooth/flat, neutral tone concrete block. The three locations for public art include the following:
Area 1 —Tennis/Restroom Building (Figure 2 ): Exterior left -hand side wall facing the tennis courts. The prefabricated wall could accommodate a two -dimensional work of art of the following maximum dimensions: 10’ wide by 4’ tall.
Figure 2: Tennis Building, Left Side—Area 1
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
Area 2—Tennis/Restroom Building (Figure 3): Exterior right-hand side wall facing the park. The prefabricated wall could accommodate a two-dimensional work of art of the following maximum dimensions: 12’ wide by 4’ tall.
Figure 3: Tennis Building, Right Side—Area 2
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
Area 3—Maintenance/Restroom Building (Figure 4): Exterior right-hand wall directly adjacent to the drop-off area facing the parking lot. The wall could accommodate a two -dimensional work of art of the following maximum dimensions: 32’ wide by 4’ tall.
Figure 4: Maintenance Building, Right Side—Area 3
VAC Review and Recommendation
In November 2021, the VAC initiated the artist selection process for the project and established a protocol to obtain input from both youth and seniors in the community. The VAC urged artists to collaborate with the City’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) for meaningful engagement in this project.
The Call for Artists was issued on January 13, 2022, with a deadline of February 3, 2022 (Attachment 2) . A total of 31 eligible applications were received from artists residing in California.
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
On March 9, 2022, the VAC selected two artists to design and construct murals at the three locations within the project. For the mural at the tennis building (Areas 1 and 2, Figure s 2 and 3), the VAC selected Fernanda Martinez, an Oakland-based artist (www.latintaart.com). The VAC selected Harumo Sato, a visual artist based in Mountain View ( www.harumosato.com), to develop a mural for the maintenance building (Area 3, Figure 4).
The YAC and SAC were invited to have a conversation with the selected artists and convey their background, stories, and/or themes about the Mountain View community. In April 2022, staff and artists engaged the YAC and SAC on themes. Based on input from the YAC and SAC, each artist developed three mural design concepts to present to the VAC.
At the September 13, 2023 VAC meeting, t he VAC selected two mural designs from Fernanda Martinez for the two locations on the Tennis/Restroom Building and one from Harumo Sato for the area on the Maintenance/Restroom Building . The murals selected by the VAC are shown below:
Fernanda Martinez Mural Selection
Figure 5: Fernanda Martinez Proposal for Tennis/Restroom Building Area 1 (Figure 2)
Figure 6: Fernanda Martinez Proposal for Tennis/Restroom Building Area 2 (Figure 3)
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
Harumo Sato Mural Selection
Figure 7: Harumo Sato Proposal for Maintenance/Restroom Building Area 3 (Figure 4)
Figure 8: Color Palette for Harumo Sato Proposal for Area 3
Staff met again with the SAC on October 18, 2023 and the YAC on October 30, 2023 and presented the mural designs selected by the VAC. In general, the SAC liked the designs. On Fernanda Martinez’s piece, they noted that they would like to see diversity better represented. On Harumo Sato’s art design, the SAC noted it was a little more abstract, and there was interest in seeing more of the deep blue in the paint. Additionally, they asked whether bat rays were native to the San Francisco Bay.
Feedback from the YAC included:
• They liked the color palette chosen for Harumo’s art;
• In Fernanda’s piece, they would like to have seen Shoreline Amphitheatre, the concert venue, better represented; and
• They liked the homage to the Valley of Heart’s Delight but noted there was no representation to technology and where Mountain View is going. They expressed a wish to see themes related to technology and the future represented in both murals.
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
On November 8, 2023, staff presented the above recommendations from the SAC and YAC meetings for the VAC to review. The VAC unanimously voted to recommend Fernanda Martinez’s proposal for Areas 1 and 2 with a minor modification to the figures drawn on the right-hand side of Figure 5 to better represent diversity. The VAC unanimously voted to recommend Harumo Sato’s proposal for Area 3 as is. The total recommended budget for the two proposed murals for the Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Buildings is $46,600, or $23,300 per artist.
FISCAL IMPACT
The public art budget of $46,600 is included in the project budget for Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21 -48. The recommended artist contracts are for a total of $46,600 ($23,300 per artist). Since there are sufficient funds available, no additional appropriations are required.
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves the recommendation or the alternatives, staff will execute agreements with Fernanda Martinez and Harumo Sato. Staff anticipates that the installations will be completed in time for the opening and dedication of the new all-inclusive Magical Bridge Playground.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the proposed art and either direct staff to work with the artists to modify the art or to issue a new Call for Artists to obtain additional art options for the VAC to review and recommend to Council.
2. Provide other direction.
Public Art Approval for Rengstorff Park Maintenance
and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48
February 27, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICING
The Council meeting agenda and Council report have been posted on the City’s website and announced on Channel 26 cable television. An email notification was sent to the Visual Arts Committee about this agenda item.
Prepared by:
Kirstin Hinds
Economic Development Strategist
Reviewed by:
John Lang
Economic Vitality Manager
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Acting Assistant City Manager/
Community Development Director
Arn Andrews
Assistant City Manager
KH/4/CAM
822-02-27-24CR
203190
Attachments: 1. Council Policy K-5
2. Call for Artists —Rengstorff Park Maintenance and Tennis Buildings Replacement, Project 21-48