City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 6, 2024 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY WARD: 1
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC ART SCULPTURES DONATION VALUED IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $123,000 AND LOCATED ON MAIN STREET BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND NINTH STREET AND AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $5,000 ENDOWMENT FOR STATUE MAINTENANCE – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Accept the donation of public art sculptures valued in the total amount of $123,000 and located on Main Street between University Avenue and Ninth Street and an additional amount of $5,000 endowment for maintenance of the Lock in Your Love statue.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize the acceptance of two sculptures by Artist Paulden Evans valued in the amount of $98,000 located on Main Street; Authorize the acceptance of one sculpture by Leadership Riverside Class of 2022 in the amount of $25,000 located on Main Street; and With at least five affirmative votes and upon receipt of the endowment funds, authorize the Chief Financial Officer or designee, to record a deposit in the amount of $5,000 in the Interest Bearing Special Deposits Fund, Lock In Your Love endowment account, and to annually transfer funds from the endowment account to record revenue and appropriate the same amount in the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund, Lock In Your Love program revenue and expenditure accounts in the amount necessary to perform the annual maintenance.
DISCUSSION:
Paulden Evans Sculptures
Local artist Paulden Evans creates unique indoor and outdoor large scale, abstract artworks that are displayed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) exhibited two Paulden Evans outdoor sculptures in front of the building and in late 2023, RAM determined it could no longer exhibit or store the sculptures. Following conversations with the artist and RAM, it was decided that the City would be the recipient of the two intricate metal sculptures as a donation from the artist.
The two sculptures donated are Porthole (2013) and Hula Girl (2013). The sculptures are made of steel and each measure 80”x50”x60”. Following exhibition of the pieces at RAM, the artist donated the sculptures to the city. The Arts and Cultural Affairs Division assisted in identifying a location and coordinating the move from RAM and installation on Main Street between University Avenue and Ninth Street. Both sculptures are currently located in front of UCR Arts, where Paulden once had an office for about 10 years. The sculptures are each valued at $49,000, for a combined total value of $98,000.
Lock In Your Love for Riverside
The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Leadership Riverside (Leadership Riverside) is a 10-month program aimed to develop the next generation of active leaders for the community of Riverside. Each class designs a project culminating their experience in the program. The Class of 2022 selected a public art project. The class raised all the funds for design, build and installation of the Lock In your Love sculpture. The installation of public art on Main Street was the culmination of more than two years of work.
The Leadership Riverside Class of 2022 raised funds to design, build, and install a new sculpture on Main Street. The Lock In Your Love for Riverside sculpture is installed on Main Street between University Avenue and Ninth Street. The monument unveiling and inaugural lock ceremony was held on June 8, 2023. Along with the installation of the new sculpture, Leadership Riverside provided $5,000 to establish an endowment for maintenance, which will be overseen by the Public Works Department. The sculpture is valued at $25,000.
Endowments and Maintenance
Riverside has a vibrant collection of public art throughout the city for the community to enjoy. The recent donations of public art on Main Street enhance a public space with local art while making art accessible to the public. The City has ownership of the sculptures, and the Public Works Department will oversee the endowments and maintenance. Endowments currently fund maintenance for two pieces on the Main Street Mall - the Ghandi Monument and the Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho Memorial. Recently, the endowment funded repainting of the colored band at the Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho Memorial. For artwork/monuments that do not currently have endowments, Public Works staff dust off the pieces and clean them of litter and graffiti. More involved maintenance requires partnership with the artist to fund and perform the work.
The Public Works Director concurs with the recommendations.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation and Goal 1.2 - Enhance equitable access to arts, culture, and recreational service offerings and facilities.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – Public art brings community together throughout the process. Both donations have a direct connection to the community and sculptures were produced by local artists and efforts.
Equity – Public art can transform public spaces making art accessible to the general public. The addition of art in public spaces enhances spaces that are intended to be enjoyed by all.
Fiscal Responsibility – Funds donated will be used to maintain the Love in Your Love for Riverside sculpture on Main Street.
Innovation – Public art stimulates a creative climate of innovation and creativity can inspire innovation in other areas throughout the community.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The City’s ability to install local artists’ work continues to sustain the environment of arts and innovation within our community and for artists.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the donations of the statues to the City is approximately $123,000, plus an endowment of $5,000 for maintenance of the Lock in Your Love for Riverside sculpture.
The endowment received for the maintenance of the Lock in Your Love for Riverside sculpture is $5,000, from which an annual appropriation will be utilized to maintain the sculpture. Under Council’s delegation of authority to the Chief Financial Officer to annually appropriate funds per the recommendation in this report, an annual amount of up to $500 of the endowment will be transferred from the Special Deposits Fund – Lock In Your Love endowment account, and recorded as revenue and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund – Lock In Your Love program revenue and expenditure accounts to be created at a later date.
The other two donated statues, Porthole (2013) and Hula Girl (2013), do not currently have endowments to support the maintenance. The immaterial costs associated with their maintenance will need to be absorbed by the department’s budget in FY 2024/25 and appropriated in future years with the annual budget.
Prepared by: Margery Haupt, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager Approved by: Pamela Galera, Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Public Art Donations ● Page 2