CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Meeting Date: June 7, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Public Art Committee
Kari Svanstrom, Planning Director
Subject: Approval of Artist/Sculptures for Ives Park Community Sculpture Garden Recommendation: Approve the Recommended Artists and Sculptures Funding: Currently Budgeted: _______ Yes _______ No ___X__ N/A Account Code/Costs authorized in City Approved Budget (if applicable) ___AK_____ (verified by Administrative Services Department) INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE:
The item is to request Council review and approve the Public Art Committee’s recommended sculptures and artists from the second call for artists for the new Ives Park Community Sculpture Garden.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The Ives Park Master Plan was adopted in 2013 and the City is working to implement elements of this plan, with one of the elements a new sculpture garden near the High Street entry to the park. The Public Art Committee (PAC) has been working throughout this past year and half on the implementation of this project.
The City of Sebastopol Public Arts Committee (PAC) released a call for proposals from Sonoma County based sculptors for the design, fabrication, and installation of durable and low-maintenance original public art suitable for placement in the Sebastopol Community Sculpture Garden (CSG), Ives Park, Sebastopol, California.
Meanwhile, PAC and Planning staff coordinated with the Public Works Department, who installed new bases for the sculptures along the trail by the High Street entry to the park.
The PAC selected several art pieces which were aproved by Council and have been installed at the park for the first call in fall 2021. Ultimately four of these were available and installed (one was removed due to vandalism) in early January.
The PAC issued a second call to fill the remaining sculpture pads, which was due May 24, 2022. The PAC reviewed these submissions at its June 1, 2022 meeting, and is including the attached art pieces/sculptures for recommending the following artists’ scupture submissions for installation for a display period of one year.
The PAC is organziing an official Opening Day event in Ives Park for July 23, 2022, after the installation of the proposed scultures. The PAC will have a representative at the City Council meeting to address any questions Council may have of the Committee.
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
GOALS:
This action supports the following City Council Goals:
4.1, Create a Safe, Healthy, and Attractive Environment for Residents and visitors;
4.1.3 Implementation of the Ives Park Master Plan;
4.2 Create Economic, Cultural and Recreational Opportunities to Maintain the Small Town Character of Sebastopol;
4.2.2 Foster a Sense of Community by Providing and Encouraging Participation in Community Events, Volunteering, and working with Non Profits to Support Local Events;
5.1.4 Enhance the use of the City of Sebastopol Committees, Commission and Board.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
As of the writing of this staff report, the City has not received any public comment. However, staff anticipates receiving public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this staff report.
Such comments will be provided to the City Council assupplemental materials before or at the meeting. In addition, public comments may be offered during the public comment portion of the agenda item.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to schedule meeting date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the bases was included and expended in last fiscal year budget. There are no further costs for the project or sculptures, as they will be on loan to the City for the duration (1 year) of the installation. The artists may sell their artwork at the conclution of the show (they will remain on display for the one year period).
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Sebastopol City Council approve the recommended artists. Staff will then work with the PAC to select placement of the pieces and with the artiststo arrange for installation. The PAC will arrange for an opening celebration.
Attachments:
Recommended Sculpture submissions
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
NEW ENTRIES FOR CSG
1/ Hannah Rose Gitlin: Hands Up
I am a ceramic sculptor and educator living in Sebastopol and also a member of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts next to Ives Park. I would love to put up one of my sculptures in the Community Sculpture Garden and have attached a letter of intent with information about the piece and its installation as well as links to my website and instagram for reference. Attached also are a few photos of the piece that I am proposing.
I am a ceramic sculptor living in Sebastopol. I am currently a practicing artist and educator in Sonoma County, and have a few completed sculptures that could fill the space in Ives Park. I pass the Sculpture Garden almost daily on my way to town and enjoy seeing the new sculptures that have popped up. I would love to be a part of this project and feel that the piece that I have to offer would add color, emotion and a different medium (ceramic) to the space that is not yet represented.
The piece that I am proposing for submission is ceramic stoneware, fired to vitrification, which makes it hardy against the elements. The title is Hands Up, 2020. It is inspired by the general sense of overwhelm I have heard expressed by family and friends in this current political, technological, and physical climate. The surface decoration of small people with their hands up was inspired by an Eastern European Jewish Talmud from the 15th Century.
In the original, the people were holding up their hands in worship, in prayer, holding books.
Having been raised Jewish, I found the gestures and especially the upturned heads appealing as subjects, but I saw them less as devout Jews and more as embodiments of despair. This emotion was something that seemed prevalent in recent years with COVID, never-ending news of wars around the world, and the continued struggle for equal rights in this country.
The surface of Hands Up, 2020 is ceramic glazed, which holds up in this weather.
Dimensions are 54 X 24 X 12 inches. It would be secured to the site by use of bolts and screws on the base, along with epoxy. It is a finished piece, so will be ready for install by June.
Several images of the sculpture I am proposing is attached in the email in a separate document. For more examples of my work, please feel free to reference my website and Instagram below.
Sincerely,
Hannah Rose Gitlin
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
(707) 367 7260 [email protected] www.hannahgitlin.com @rose_gitlin Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
2/ Rod Morgan: “Standing Alone Together”
From: Rod M Morgan <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2022 1:26 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: CSG submission
Good afternoon Kari,
My name is Rod Morgan. I am a geometric sculptor living in Rohnert Park. I saw the call for artists in the Community Voice newspaper. For several years I have been interested in placing one of my sculptures in the county. Well, you know how the past two years have been.
I have a proposal for a piece that I feel would fit well in the CSG. Included are photos of the maquette. Examples of my work can be found at http://www.awsomeart.org/membersartwork The final piece will be constructed of 3 inch steel tubing and finished with automotive grade paint. Approximate size is 4'-0" wide x 3'-3" deep x 8'-0" tall. Proportionally larger pieces could be constructed with 3.5" or 4" tubing. The base will be bolted to the pad with the nuts spot welded. This sculpture will be assembled in a local fabrication shop and guaranteed to be delivered on time.
A plaque will read as follows: Standing Alone Together Similar, but Different
Individually Incomplete
Separate, yet Complimentary
Intertwined
Artist Rod Mogan
Thank-you for your time and consideration, I await the decision, Rod Morgan Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
Rod Morgan:
“Standing Alone Together”
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City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
3/ Joshu Somine: “US”
<[email protected]>
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City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
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City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
4/ Beth Hartmann: “Give Peace A Hand”
I am interested in submitting the sculpture, “Give Peace A Hand” for your consideration in round 2 of applications for placement in the Community Sculpture Garden. It is exciting that Sebastopol has its own Sculpture Garden, as do many much larger cities. The Ives park location is well-used by locals looking for art, recreation, and exercise; I’ve heard many appreciative comments about this addition to town. Public Sculpture draws visitors, many of whom spend money in the community and return or send friends because we’ve become known as “Artsy” or “Vibrant”. Happily, I live here and want to continue to enhance our vibrant, artsy city!
Most Sincerely,
Beth Hartmann, sculptor
234 N. High Street, Sebastopol, CA, 95472
[email protected]
707 823-4214
Description of “Give Peace A Hand”
This sturdy sculpture is white cement applied over an interior steel structure. It shows supporting hands, clasped hands, reaching hands, and the hand imprints of local tiny through elderly citizens. All these hands symbolize persons who are yearning for and reaching for peace. It was briefly on public view several years ago but removed when the city’s solar panels were placed at the parklet on the south end of town. This piece was designed and created by a team of 4 artists and community participants for a Sculpture Jam event, though I am the only one of those artists still involved with it. I have retrieved the piece from its hidden private placement and have refurbished it. The dimensions are 105” high x 34” diameter. See attached images.
Safety of sculpture and attachment to city-provided pedestal “Give Peace A Hand” has an X of strong steel strips attached to the bottom of its lowest interior steel armature. There is a 3/4” hole drilled in the center of the sturdy steel X. Look for the steel X with its hole in an attached image. Because the sculpture is made in 4 stacking pieces which bolt together (3 bolts at each joint), one can reach down into the lowest piece when it is placed over an artist-supplied length of all-thread screwed in the center hole of the city-supplied 4’ x 4’ cement platform, and place a ½” stainless nut on the length of all-thread, Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
over a 5/8” interior hole washer. One at a time, the additional 3 sculpture components are then stacked and bolted in place. The sculpture is secure and has been stabilized in place.
Confirmation of preparedness
Indeed, this sculpture, “Give Peace A Hand” is ready and there is no impediment to its being installed on June 8, 2022.
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
4/ Gordon Carter: “Deflated”
“DEFLATED”
Artist: Gordon Carter
234 North High St.
Sebastopol
[email protected]
I was excited to hear about the Sculpture Garden in Sebastopol. The Sculpture Garden has been in the planning stages for several years and I am glad to hear that it has finally come to fruition, through the hard work of many.
I have been involved with making public sculpture for quite some time and am thrilled at the opportunity to be able to display a piece of my own work at the new Sculpture Garden. I have also worked with Sculpture Jam on some of their pieces which are located throughout Sebastopol.
I started working with my hands at a young age and ultimately ended up as a metal/wood working teacher. After retirement I have continued to create using metal as my medium. I now teach metalworking and welding at Sebastopol’s non-profit Chimera Arts maker space.
The concept of “Deflated” came to me in a dream. The idea of a football that had gone past its usefulness and now is just a monument to what it was. To others it could possibly be depicting the sentiment to a sport that, to them, no longer has relevance. Perhaps it was used and prized once and now it is unwanted and discarded.
“Deflated” is constructed from steel with a concrete base. The frame is made from steel reenforcement bar overlain with formed heavy sheet steel. It is approximately 4 feet tall and 18” in diameter and weights approximately 100 pounds. It was on display in Cloverdale’s sculpture walk previously, and needed no anchors to keep it in place at that time. If necessary anchors can be added to the base.
I have previously submitted the waiver form. Please let me know if I need to send in another form.
Thank you for this opportunity,
Gordon Carter
[email protected]
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022
Agenda Item Number 7 Agenda Item Number 7
City Council Meeting Packet of June 7, 2022