Attn: Anita D. Gutierrez
Development Services Director
City of Pomona
505 South Garey Ave
Pomona, CA 91769
Dear City Council,
Following the issuance of the “City of Pomona Call for Visual Art”, an application detailing the funding of a Harriet Tubman Statue in Lincoln Park, was submitted. The generation of this monument was informed by the expressed guidelines set forth in the program website and ancillary referenced documents. Ongoing communication between our development team and City staff also assisted in ensuring compliance with the program’s structure.
The Lincoln Park location of the statue was approved during Parks and Recreation meeting held on 6/16/2022. In preparation for this meeting and application review, City staff asked for a number of clarifying documents such as; a Minor Certificate of Appropriateness, revised budget, artist resume, and visual depictions of the in-progress work. These documents informed the Council’s affirmative decision.
The criteria for evaluating applications for the “City of Pomona Call for Visual Art” program is defined by the City of Pomona Cultural Arts Website. The guidelines presented in these documents focus on the merit, appropriateness, and sustainability of each proposed permanent art installation. On August 8 th, a joint meeting was held at City Council Chambers in which funding of the Harriet Tubman Statue was evaluated.
During this publicly attended Cultural Arts Commission meeting, staff presented the potential projects to committee members. Staff felt that the Harriet Tubman Statue application, circumvented the program guidelines, by beginning production before receiving funding approval. However, there is no prohibition against engaging in art creation during or prior to the evaluation/funding process, within any of the City’s documentation defining this program.
During the Cultural Arts Commission meeting multiple Committee members mentioned that if this installation was judged on its artistic and cultural merits, it would “sail through” the approval process. Instead of this orthodox assessment, the Commission without a substantiating reference, denied the Statue funding. Our application, was not judged on the expressed parameters set forth in the “City of Pomona Call for Visual Art”, but rejected for a guideline that does not exist.
Also, important to note, renowned, African American Sculptor, Manuelita Brown, was commissioned and to create the piece.
This misevaluation is the basis of our request for reconsideration and appeal. We humbly implore, that the City Council evaluate this work based on its own published standards. We are not asking for special treatment, quite the contrary.
If this application would have been treated as all the others, this appeal would be unnecessary. We did not knowingly circumvent any procedures. Citizens of Pomona and pilgrims of freedom who long to witness the exaltation of the Harriet Tubman statue in Lincoln Park eagerly anticipate this works dedication. This statue funding will show how far Pomona has come and how our community can honor and Unite those of different backgrounds in the name of freedom and equality. We ask that the City Council vote to approve funding for the entire amount for Statue creation & installation, in the sum of $119,000.
Sincerely,
Ean FranK
Project Manager
Spectra Company
CC. Ray Adamyk, Spectra Company
Attachment No. 1