Public Art Commission
2024-2025 Workplan
Staff Liaison: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director, Nadya Chuprina, Program Coordinator Lead Department: Community Services / Arts & Sciences
About the Commission
The Public Art Commission is composed of seven (7) members. The terms are three (3) years in length and commence on April 1. Residency is not required. There are no vacancies as of June 1, 2024. The Public Art Commission oversees Palo Alto's temporary and permanent public art programs. The Commission's primary duties are:
● To advise the city in matters pertaining to the quality, quantity, scope, and style of art in public places ● To periodically review the capital improvement program with the staff for inclusion of works of art in various projects ● To devise methods of selecting and commissioning artists with respect to the design, execution, and placement of art in public places and to advise staff on the selection and commissioning of artists, and the amounts to be expended on art in public places
● To advise and assist staff in obtaining financial assistance for art in public places from private, corporate, and governmental sources
● To review plans for the installation of art in public places and review the inventory of art in public spaces
Current Commissioners
Loren Gordon (Chair)
Hsinya Shen (Vice Chair)
Tara de la Garza
Ben Miyaji
Amber Smith
Harriet Stern
Lisa Waltuch
Mission Statement
The Palo Alto Public Art Program promotes the highest caliber of artwork, commissioning memorable public artworks and experiences that stimulate discussion and thoughtful reflection, celebrating Palo Alto’s character and enhancing civic pride and sense of place.
PAC’s 2024/25 Adopted Priorities are:
Building Community Priority: Develop public art that encourages engagement, belonging, and community participation, and that promotes shared experiences in and around Palo Alto Neighborhoods and commercial corridors.
Social Justice Priority: Develop public art projects that will continue to advance empathy, ethnic and cultural inclusion, and celebration, and social, racial, and gender equity.
Public Art Education Priority: Widen and strengthen education and advocacy for public art, including through the roll-out and implementation of the California Avenue District Master Plan and the Baylands’ Art Plan, and PAMP long-term goals, while responding to current issues and supporting a wider network of artists.
Every public art project undertaken by the Palo Alto Public Art Program meets at least two of its three adopted priorities through its intentionally extensive design and building process that conscientiously engages diverse community members.
Specifically:
● Building Community Priority: The design and building process involves diverse groups of multi-stakeholders representing the community. From artist selection and fact-finding through community dialogue to the introduction of the final artwork, this ensures the art resonates with local neighborhoods and commercial corridors. ● Public Art Education Priority: Engaging artists with the local community during the design process helps artists understand the community and locality while educating the public about the public art process, supporting broader educational goals and enhancing advocacy for public art.
Prior Year
Accomplishments
1. Code:ART 2023: The City of Palo Alto Public Art Program launched its third interactive media art festival, Code:ART, a three-evening event that re-imagines Palo Alto’s underutilized plazas, alleys, and public spaces through interactive light, sound, and motion. The festival featured a major interactive media artwork anchoring the festival and six Urban Interventions
activating or reimagining downtown storefronts, alleys, parking lots or blank walls in new and inventive ways. The artworks invited play and participation, engaging area locals in an event that outwardly reflects the creative community and culture that thrives here.
2. California Avenue Murals Festival 2023 - During the summer of 2023 the Palo Alto Public Art Program commissioned artists
Olivia Losee-Unger, Nicole Ponsler and Paz de la Calzada to paint vibrant temporary murals in the California Avenue District. Bloom by Nicole Ponsler can be found at Palo Alto Central on 149 California Avenue. Moonflowers for Georgia by Olivia Losee-Unger is located at Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels on 477 California Avenue. The third streetscape mural called Quercus 650 by Paz de la Calzada is located on the ground at the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street. Artist Paz de la Calzada invited volunteers from the community to participate in the painting process.
3. King Artist Residency: Artist Kirti Bassendine served as the 2023 Artist-in-Residence beginning February 2023. The Artist’s Residency project focused on diverse underserved communities residing and/or working in Palo Alto and experiencing socio-economic or housing instability. Her resulting photographs are displayed on King Plaza.
4. Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program receives funding from the City to maintain and care for the City’s growing
permanent art collection. The staff is diligent about maintenance, examples include protecting and restoring the Victor Arnautoff Frescoes at the Roth Building, Susan Zoccola’s refabrication, updated software programming for Susan Narduli’s Conversation at City Hall, comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of Charles Sowers’ Sway at the JMZ, conservation treatment of Jerome Kirk’s Homage to Silence, repair of Brian Coleman’s Excel, and the refabrication and installation of midtown community’s Poetry Wall mural.
5. Cubberley Mural: Artist Cameron Moberg completed a mural at Cubberley that reflects the creative community that frequents the site. His design was informed by feedback from Cubberley stakeholders about what they cherish about Cubberley.
PROJECT/GOAL 2 :
Murals, Murals and Murals in 2024
Based on the successful roll out of mural program in 2023, Staff is continuing with several mural projects throughout Palo Alto:
● Three Murals in Downtown to be painted October 2024: Artists Harumo Sato, Mona Caron and Nigel Sussman have been selected to design and paint three temporary murals on privately owned walls in downtown Palo Alto, animating an important commercial corridor
● ArtLift Grants: Utility Box Edition – 100 applicants, 20 participants painting City-wide this summer PROJECT/GOAL 1 :
The 2024 King Artist Residency: Artist Alma Landeta
Alma Landeta, current artist-in-residence (AIR), has begun community outreach in a variety of ways: Queeries Hotline, portrait workshops, and open studios. Alma Landeta is focusing on the lived experiences of the LGBTQAI+ community members residing and/or working in Palo Alto with the goal of sparking conversations about inclusion, equity, a sense of belonging and bringing Palo Alto’s diverse communities together through better understanding and compassion. The residency will culminate in a final report of their findings and hopefully a temporary installation on King Plaza in late 2024. PAC and staff will evaluate launching the next Artist Residency for 2025.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED /
LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
Social Justice Priority;
Community Building Priority
Funds are available through
percent for art Municipal funds.
Staff resources and time is used
for artist call and the selection
processes. Staff will work with the
artist during the research, design
development and
implementation. Artist will use a
studio at the Cubberley Campus.
The Public Art Commission is
committed to a platform for
ongoing conversations about
equity, inclusion, and belonging
in Palo Alto through the arts. As
a result, the King Artist
Residency Program was
established. Community
participation will be measured.
Council referral to the
Public Art Commission
November 2, 2020 the
City Council voted to
refer the development of
public art on King Plaza
reflecting the City’s
commitment to equity.
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY UPDATE
High priority for social justice, building community and public art education. Yes
● Fire Station 5 Mural – Bodeck Luna, artist and community organizer, organized outreach to the Barron Park neighbors and broader Palo Alto community for input on his mural to be painted in August or September ● Digitally Printed Artwork at the California Avenue Parking Structure is planned for late 2024
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED
/ LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
This project promotes two of
the PAC 2024 priorities:
Building Community Priority
and Public Art Education
Priority.
New murals scheduled for
summer and fall of 2024.
Funds are available through
percent for art Municipal funds.
Staff resources and time will be
used for artist calls and the
selection processes. Staff will
work with the artists during the
design development and
implementation.
Community and stakeholder
feedback
N/A
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY
UPDATE
Building community in various Palo Alto neighborhoods, wayfinding, economic development, and enlivening public space Yes
PROJECT/GOAL 3 :
Integrate Public Art in capital improvement projects (CIP) citywide, such as:
● Fire Station 4: Located in Midtown on the corner of Middlefield and East Meadow, this new building will be near Mitchell Park and Palo Alto Little League. It is highly visible to the community. Artist Stephen Galloway’s approved art design was rooted in his research into the role of the fire station in Palo Alto, and the history of this site. He is working on detailed design development.
● Public Safety Building: Artist Peter Wegner has completed fabrication and the artworks have been installed at the PSB, are protected in place, and awaiting the public opening of the facility. ● Boulware Park Public Art Project: The PAC has approved the artwork by Los Angeles-based award-winning art and design studio UrbanRock Design for the Boulware Park Public Art Project. The artist team visited Palo Alto and conducted meetings with the community to inform their design development. Installation is estimated for fall 2024.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED
/ LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
Enhancing new buildings, and
public parks with art.
Collaborating with the public
on the location, interactivity
of the projects and inspiration
for the art.
Ongoing Municipal Percent for Art funds,
collaboration with Public
Works, architects, and key
stakeholders.
Community and stakeholder
feedback
N/A
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY
UPDATE
Building Community - the artists have engaged the public for their input on Boulware Park, Fire Station 4, and the Public Safety Building. Social Justice Priority and Public Art Education Priority.
N/A
PROJECT/GOAL 4: Public Art in Private Development
The City of Palo Alto enacted the Art in Private Development Ordinance in January 2014. This ordinance mandates that commercial developments over 10,000 square feet either commission artwork on their site or contribute to the Public Art Fund.
A few examples of current private developments include:
● 3200 Park Blvd Public Art Project: The 3200 Park Blvd project provides an opportunity to honor Thomas Foon Chew, founder of the Bayside Canning Company, and the Cannery’s legacy of community building and ethnic and cultural inclusion. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, the current proposal includes both an external mosaic that includes individuals, communities, past and future, as well as an internal educational wall for historical education. ● Castilleja School: The Castilleja School development project involves modernizing the school by replacing old buildings with a new academic building and facilities. The commission has been supporting the project by providing feedback on the art selection process, placement, and design.
● 660 University: This significant project at University and Middlefield Road will have artwork coming for Commission review this fall.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED /
LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
These types of projects may
promote all three of the PAC
2024 priorities.
These events require extensive
planning and dialoguing.
Staff time funded by the Public
Art Fund, collaboration with
multiple city departments and
community stakeholders.
Community and stakeholder
feedback
N/A
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY UPDATE
Often times, these projects have high visibility and since they are private developments, PAC staff and commission often provide valuable guidance to ensure compliance with the Public Art for Private Development Ordinance
PROJECT/GOAL 5 : Code:ART 2025
The Code:ART events draw larger audiences each year we present the festival. 2025 will be the largest yet, with more ambitious artworks and expanded experiences. Allocation of funds and calls to artists are anticipated to go out in the next few months.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED /
LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
Code:ART brings the community
together to play, interact and
collaborate while supporting
economic development.
Businesses in the University and
Hamilton Avenue downtown
area are adjacent to the crowds
seeking the interactive exhibits.
Planning began in Spring 2024.
The event is scheduled for
October 2025.
It is typical to have a larger
installation on King Plaza, and up
to six additional installations
nearby. Collaboration between
many city departments, local
businesses and volunteers is
necessary. Funds from both the
Municipal percent for art funds
and the private percent for art
funds are used for these festivals.
Participation numbers and
surveys are collected for each
Code:ART event to gather
feedback and metrics.
N/A
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY UPDATE
Building Community, Public Art Education N/A
PROJECT/GOAL 6:
Ongoing Maintenance and Care of the Collection. With a collection of more than 300 artworks, preventative maintenance and restoration of these valuable City assets are an essential part of a public art program, including Charleston/Arastradero Corridor re-fabrication for sculpture destroyed by an accident, deep cleaning of the Jerome Kirk sculpture at the Art Center, and the protection and comprehensive restoration of the historically significant Arnautoff frescoes at the Roth Building.
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS TIMELINE RESOURCES
NEEDED
MEASURE OF
SUCCESS
STATE MANDATED
/ LOCAL LAW /
COUNCIL-
APPROVED
This project promotes two of
the PAC priorities: Building
Community Priority and Public
Art Education Priority.
Ensuring that these valuable
assets are maintained
properly and reflect well on
the City.
Ongoing The annual maintenance
allocation of $32,000 is spent
down each year. Staff oversees
the contractors and work being
performed
Ad
ditional funding was
committed by the County for
the restoration of the Arnautoff
frescoes. A conservator has
been hired for this project.
A collection of artworks that
reflect well on Palo Alto and
have not fallen into such
disrepair that more costly
repairs are necessary or the
artwork cannot be saved.
Having artworks
fall into disrepair
may leave the
City open to
legal action by
the artists under
the Visual Artists
Rights Act.
HIGH
PRIORITY
LOWER
PRIORITY
COUNCIL-
DIRECTED
POLICY
UPDATE
Public Art Education N/A
Code:ART 2023 - The City of Palo Alto Public Art Program launched its third interactive media art festival, Code:ART, a three-evening event that re-imagines Palo Alto’s underutilized plazas, alleys, and public spaces through interactive light, sound, and motion. The festival featured a major interactive media artwork anchoring the festival and six Urban Interventions activating or re-imagining downtown storefronts, alleys, parking lots or blank walls in new and inventive ways.
Code:ART - The artworks invited play and participation, engaging area locals in an event that outwardly reflects the creative community and culture that thrives here.
Images (clockwise): Visitors interacting with Interactive Flow Fields by Steven Wallace; Ripple by Jeffrey Yip Cod:ART 2023 - Impact Metrics
- Approximately 13,000 people attended the festival
- 21 Bay Area, national, and international artists
- 7 interactive new media installations
Data from Survey Responses:
- 98% of visitors surveyed would love more events like
this in Palo Alto
-
73% of attendees visited a downtown business
during the festival
- 88% of business visitors made a purchase
- 70% of the business visitors spent up to $150
- 60% of visitors came to downtown specifically for
Code:ART
Image: Helix Seats by Pneuhaus in Lytton Plaza
California Avenue Murals Festival 2023 - During the summer of 2023 the Palo Alto Public Art Program commissioned artists Olivia Losee-Unger, Nicole Ponsler and Paz de la Calzada to paint vibrant temporary murals in the California Avenue District. Bloom by Nicole Ponsler can be found at Palo Alto Central on 149 California Avenue. Moonflowers for Georgia by Olivia Losee-Unger is located at Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels on 477 California Avenue. The third streetscape mural called Quercus 650 by Paz de la Calzada is located on the ground at the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street. Artist Paz de la Calzada invited volunteers from the community to participate in the painting process.
In January 2023, Public Art staff initiated a public-private partnership pilot program and opened a Call for Walls to identify privately owned walls to host murals along California Avenue as part of the pilot mural event for the California Avenue District. Staff was successful in securing two locations on California Avenue: an exterior wall of the Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels at 477 California Avenue, and an exterior wall at California Avenue Central HOA located at 161 California Ave. Additionally, the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street, which is currently closed to vehicular traffic, was identified for a ground plane mural.
At the conclusion of the Murals Festival on June 11, Public Art staff led a public tour of the three newly painted murals, with the participating artists, volunteers, site hosts, and many members of the public in attendance.
King Artist Residency: Artist Kirti Bassendine
served as the 2023 Artist-in-Residence. The
Artist’s residency project focused on diverse
underserved communities residing and/or
working in Palo Alto and experiencing socio-
economic or housing instability. Her resulting
photographs are displayed on King Plaza.
Collection Care and Maintenance:
Historic frescoes titled Modern and Ancient
Medicine, 1932 by Victor Arnautoff at the Roth
Building at 300 Homer Ave.
To ensure the restoration of the frescoes would
coincide with the rehabilitation of the building, the
Public Art staff is working with teams of fine art
conservators to protect and restore these
significant artworks.
Images: Left - Atthowe Fine Art team is installing
rigid protections in August 2023 prior to the
commencement of the building construction
project.
Right - Fine art conservator Anne Rosenthal, a
highly reputable expert of frescoes by Diego Rivera
and Victor Arnautoff is working on a Grisaille
fresco panel in April 2024.
Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program receives funding from the City to maintain and care for the City’s growing permanent art collection.
Images: In May 2024, a team of art conservators from Preservation Arts completed a condition assessment and detailed conservation treatment of a permanently-sited kinetic sculpture tiled Homage to Silence, 1981 by artist Jerome Kirk.
Maintenance: Each year the Public Art Program
receives funding from the City to maintain and care
for the City’s growing permanent art collection.
Image: Sway, 2020 by Charles Sowers at the Junior
Museum and Zoo at 1451 Middlefield Road is an
architecturally integrated kinetic sculpture. It
receives an annual inspection and detailed
maintenance treatment by the artist.
Cubberley Mural: In June 2024, Artist Cameron Moberg completed a mural titled Generations at Cubberley that reflects the creative community that frequents the site. His design was informed by feedback from Cubberley stakeholders about what they cherish about Cubberley.
Cameron Moberg's design was inspired by the history and community activities taking place on Cubberley campus .
The artist states: “As I walked through the halls of Cubberley, inspiration was coming at me around every turn, the music, the art, the learning, but what struck me most was the generations of people I met. I heard stories from how a woman’s mother took her to Cubberley as a child and now she takes her daughter. It wasn’t just one story like that, there were multiple. I wanted to capture this in the hands representing different stages of life. The butterflies represent the change and beauty that this can bring to the world and the key and keyhole connecting the two walls – like a portal opening up into learning, opportunities and the future”.