P.O. BOX 653
SANTA MONICA, CA 90406
310-496-3146
www.smconservancy.org
February 21, 2022
Mayor Himmelrich and Councilmembers
City Hall
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA. 90401
RE: City Council Agenda February 22, 2022, Item 13J
Honorable Mayor Himmelrich and Councilmembers,
We are writing to urge City Council support for item 13J at the upcoming Council meeting.
Many months have passed since City Council became engaged in considering the existing historic murals in City Hall and what type of public art is appropriate, given today’s concerns with issues of social and racial justice. These important issues became the subject of considerable community interest and discussion. Public engagement and debate has already begun and is ongoing in the community.
With the establishment of a Council Ad Hoc subcommittee consisting of Councilmembers de la Torre and Parra, supported by City staff, the framework for wider community education and engagement is now underway. The intervention suggested by screening the murals is no longer relevant.
Councilmember de la Torre has directed new public attention on the subject of public art in our Civic Center, and the stories waiting to be told about Indigenous people, Mexicans, African-Americans and other marginalized cultures. We welcome this new responsibility for the City’s public art program as an opportunity for new voices to be heard and innovative artwork to be created.
Our historic City Hall murals will be the touchstone for expanded interpretive displays and for connecting to other places and spaces in and around the lobby for art that focuses on our social and cultural history. We expect many community members to respond to the invitation to join in this discussion and we look forward to being part of this as well.
Thank you for your consideration and please vote yes on item 13J.
Sincerely,
Tom Cleys, President
Santa Monica Conservancy
Item 13.J
02/22/22
1 of 1 Item 13.J
02/22/22