City of Sunnyvale
Agenda Item
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
REPORT TO ARTS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Review and Recommend Design Proposals for The Great Box Cover-Up! (Utility Box Painting Project -Phase 1)
BACKGROUND
On Nov. 10, 2020, the City Council approved $50,000 from the Public Art Fund to Implement a Utility Box Art Project (Attachment 1 - RTC No. 20-0944). The project stemmed from the public outreach process conducted for the Master Plan for Public Art. The community, Arts Commission and Council expressed an interest in implementing a temporary, community-based art project, in particular a utility box project.
This report provides information on the 12 artists selected by the Artist Selection Committee along with their proposed designs. The Arts Commission is being asked to review the proposals and recommend approval to the City Council. The Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council on March 1, 2022, for consideration and final approval.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Municipal Code 19.52 - Art in Private Development Sunnyvale Council Policy 6.4.4 - Art in Public Places
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Painting existing utility boxes does not require environmental review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3)), and it will not result in direct or indirect changes to the physical environment (CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(5)).
DISCUSSION
Project Description
This project was designed to bring local artists and their artwork into the community, as well as convert gray, non-descript, city-owned traffic signal boxes into attractive and engaging artwork. In total, there will be 38 locations, with one to three signal boxes per location.
The utility box project will be rolled out in multiple phases, with12 boxes in downtown Sunnyvale selected as the first phase. Future phases will include the remaining 26 utility boxes located throughout the City, nine of which will be reserved for local high school collaborations. Each high school will paint the three closest boxes to their campus. Timelines for the remaining phases have not yet been established.
Attachment 1
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
Utility Box Locations
The utility boxes included in Phase 1 are city-owned traffic signal boxes located in or near downtown Sunnyvale:
· Mathilda Avenue @ McKinley Avenue
· Sunnyvale Avenue @ McKinley Avenue
· Mathilda Avenue @ Washington Avenue
· Sunnyvale Avenue @ Washington Avenue
· Evelyn Avenue @ Mathilda Avenue on-ramp
· Evelyn Avenue @ Mathilda Avenue off-ramp
· Evelyn Avenue @ Frances Avenue
· Mathilda Avenue @ California Avenue
· Mathilda Avenue @ Olive Avenue
· Mathilda Avenue @ Iowa Avenue
· Sunnyvale Avenue @ Iowa Avenue
· Washington Avenue @ Taaffe Street (Town Center Drive) Each location has one to three boxes on site. The selected artists are required to paint the largest of the boxes, with the option of including additional city-owned boxes on site as an extension of their design. The project commission is $1,000 per location, regardless of the number of boxes chosen for painting by the artist.
Selection Process
For this project, staff followed a simplified selection process compared to the Art in Public Places process. This improves efficiencies as these artworks are much smaller in cost and scale. Below is a comparison of the two processes:
Established Art in Public Places Process The Great Box Cover-Up! Process • Request for Qualifications issued • Request for Qualifications issued • Review of applications by a community-based
selection committee resulting in five to seven artists
receiving an invitation and design stipend to
develop their conceptual design;
• Review of applications by a community-based
selection committee resulting in the selection of 12
artists and one alternate for the project;
• Review and ranking of the concepts by the Arts
Commission;
• Review of the 12 design concepts and
development of an Arts Commission
recommendation for approval;
• Review of the design concepts and Arts
Commission ranking and approval of the public art
concept.
• Review of the 12 design concepts and City
Council approval of the public art concepts.
Per the Art in Public Places process, a Request for Qualifications was distributed through public art websites, artist networks and the City’s website inviting artists who live in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Alameda counties to apply for the commission (Attachment 2 - Call for Artists).
Concurrently, Arts staff invited ten Sunnyvale community members to sit on the panel responsible for reviewing and selecting the artists for the project. Five of the members invited accepted, including two project staff, a downtown resident, a Sunnyvale artist and a former Arts Commission member.
Attachment 1
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
Committee members were asked to select their choices based on artistic style and past artistic experience, in particular working on a scale equal to that of a utility box.
Through a voting process, the panel selected 12 artists and an alternate for the project. The City compensated the 12 artists (50% of total commission, $500/site) and invited them to develop a more detailed conceptual design proposal for approval. After one of the artists was deemed ineligible and dropped from the project, staff contacted the alternate artist team and invited them to submit a conceptual design for consideration as well.
Execution of Approved Designs
Following City Council’s approval, staff will work with the selected artists to finalize their designs. Any major concept changes will be brought back to the Arts Commission and City Council for a second approval.
Each of the utility boxes must remain operable. Artists are required to use City approved paints, primer and finishes to ensure the art is durable and long-lasting. Pursuant to the Master Plan for Public Art, the utility box art project is considered “temporary art” and will not be accessioned into the City’s Permanent Art Collection. The Request for Qualifications and artist contracts included language specifying that the art can be removed at the sole discretion of the City. It is the City’s expectation that the art will remain in place for a minimum of five years, or until such time it is deemed necessary to paint over for any reason, including but not limited to: fading, graffiti or unforeseen damage. The utility box art condition will be evaluated as part of the City’s annual collection review. After five years, staff will conduct an assessment to determine whether the temporary utility box art project should continue.
The artists will paint their designs between March 12 and May 1, 2022.
Design Proposals (attachment 3 - Artist Conceptual Designs and Past Works Examples) Proposal #1 - Skye Becker-Yamakawa, Sunnyvale
Ms. Becker-Yamakawa has designed a bold, pop surrealist design of colorful flowers on a sky-blue background. Interspersed on the faces of the boxes are a large bee, parrot, and butterflies. The design represents the City’s native ecosystem, while also honoring the Sunnyvale parrots. The artist intends to apply her design to all three boxes located at her assigned site.
Proposal #2 - Dotti Cichon, Mountain View
Ms. Cichon has created a design that pays homage to the City’s fruit orchards and agricultural heritage through stylized pink and white tree blossoms, representing cherry, plum, apricot, and peach trees. The blossoms will be on two toned branches on a background of sky blue representing the affable climate of Sunnyvale. The finished design will be more opaque, bold, and bright than what is represented in the attached watercolor sketch. The artist intends to expand her design to all three boxes located on her assigned site.
Proposal #3 - Lila Gemellos, San Jose
Ms. Gemellos proposed a design that represents the City’s industrial and agricultural history. The design includes a steam train passing Murphy Station, continuing through orchards while carrying fruit. The artist intends to expand her design to all three boxes located on her assigned site.
Attachment 1
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
Proposal #4 - Caitlin Gilbert, Santa Cruz
Ms. Gilbert has designed an artistic interpretation of the historical meaning of Sunnyvale or Sunny Valley. Imagery for her design will be of the foothills native to the area. The shading and contrasting of colors will illuminate the natural lighting throughout the day: the panels facing the street illustrating sunset/dusk and the panels facing the train tracks illustrating early morning/dawn. Side panels will represent the lighting transitions in between. The design will connect from one box to another so that each view is continuous. The artist intends to paint both boxes at her assigned site.
Proposal #5 - Winnie Lam and Anagha Mishra, Sunnyvale
Ms. Lam and Ms. Mishra have developed several colorfully illustrated designs that represent Sunnyvale’s sunny climate, emphasize diversity, inclusion, and the LGBT community, and pay homage to the City’s advancement in technology. Once assigned, an additional box was identified to be city-owned and will be included in the design. The artists intend to paint the four boxes at their assigned site. Imagery for box #1 will include robots wearing rain boots, holding umbrellas, and using emojis to forecast the weather. Box #2 will be transformed into a large gray robot and the two additional adjacent boxes, #3 and #4, will include robots falling in love with romantic imagery such as flowers, candles, heart-filled eyes, and smitten grins. The background of the boxes will remain a solid color.
Proposal #6 - Deepti Nanawati (Art Circle Studio), Sunnyvale Ms. Nanawati is proposing to recreate and expand on some of her existing paintings. The back panels of both boxes on site will be painted in an impressionist style depicting poppy fields, native California blooms and hummingbirds, with the imagery transitioning into blue-green colors of the sky.
The front panels will depict a hidden universe on a background of sky. The finished painting will cover the panels and blend to seamlessly connect all sides of the boxes.
Proposal #7 - Christine Oliver, Sunnyvale
Ms. Oliver has chosen to paint her assigned utility box with California Poppies and Delphiniums on a sky-blue background. The top of the box will be an extension of the sky with white clouds drifting through. The final painting will be more opaque and vivid than the submitted sketch. The artist is proposing to paint only the largest of the boxes on the assigned site.
Proposal #8 - Harumo Sato, Mountain View
Ms. Sato has created a design inspired by Sunnyvale’s agricultural history utilizing stylized fruits, including apricots, prunes, strawberries, peaches, and cherries. She will employ a playful oil pastel line work with gold accents inserted for the largest of the boxes on site. These accents will catch the changing light and temperature at the site, changing the look and feel of the imagery throughout the day. This technique is also a nod to the dynamic development that has occurred in the Heart of Silicon Valley.
Proposal #9 - Susan Seichrist, Saratoga
Inspired by the location of her assigned site in front of the new Civic Center, Ms. Seichrist is incorporating elements from the City’s Civic Center Master Landscape Plan. Her design includes a graphic representation of Redwood trunks, California Poppies and Blue-Eyed Grass native to the area (included in the plan), with butterflies, flowers and an insinuated gentle breeze intertwined. She wanted to create a clean, inviting scene that doesn’t compete or over-power the natural beauty of the
Attachment 1
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
existing trees, the planned open space and pathways, and the new architecture of the building. There is only one box on this site.
Proposal #10 - Neela Shukla and Geeta Taneja, Sunnyvale The artist team of Ms. Shukla and Ms. Taneja have developed a concept that pays homage to the City’s Apricot orchards. The imagery will include a colorful tree full of apricots, a young girl picking fruit and the Sunnyvale Heritage Museum amid an abundance of bright sunshine and green grass.
The final painting will be more detailed than the attached sketch. The artists intend to paint the largest of the three boxes at their assigned site.
Proposal #11 - Michelle Taniguchi, Santa Cruz
Ms. Taniguchi has designed a mural that celebrates local, brightly colored wildflowers, including Sky Lupine, Common Yarrow, Douglas Iris, California Poppies, California Wildrose, Blue-Eyed Grass and California Buttercup. The background will be a calm periwinkle blue, with lines reminiscent of a circuit board. When viewed closely, the lines will also represent a map of Sunnyvale. The artist intends to paint both boxes located on the assigned site.
Proposal #12 - Alexandra Underwood, Emeryville
Ms. Underwood has submitted a design that highlights Sunnyvale’s diverse ecosystem and, by extension, its community. She has chosen to paint stylized graphic representations of plant species native to the Sunnyvale area, such as Valley Oak, Crystal Springs Fountain Thistle, and the Marin Dwarf Flax. The artist intends to paint both boxes located at the assigned site.
Next Steps
The City Council will consider the Arts Commission’s recommendation on March 1. The conceptual designs approved by the City Council will be further developed with staff oversight to meet the Art in Public Places guidelines within the allocated budget. Any design proposals not approved by the Arts Commission or Council will be further developed and brought back to the Arts Commission and the City Council for a second review and approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project budget for all phases of the utility box art project is $50,000. The funds will be expended from the Public Art Fund, with approximately $13,000 in artist fees and incidental costs to administer the first phase of the project.
On-going maintenance for this project is negligible because the boxes are considered temporary artworks and therefore are not scheduled for annual maintenance. Should a minor repair be deemed necessary, that cost can be covered out of the Art in Public Places operating budget. If the repair is not considered minor, the City has retained the right to repaint the box to its original gray state.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Arts Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
ALTERNATIVES
Pursuant to the Art in Public Places procedures, the Arts Commission should review the proposals
Attachment 1
22-0212 Agenda Date: 2/16/2022
and develop a recommendation to City Council for consideration and final approval. Alternatives include:
1. Recommend to the City Council for final approval all 12 design proposals by artists advanced by the selection panel
2. Recommend to the City Council for final approval up to 12 design proposals by artists advanced by the selection panel with modifications
3. Recommend to the City Council for final approval less than 12 design proposals
RECOMMENDATION
There is no staff recommendation for this project.
Prepared by: Kristin Dance, Recreation Services Coordinator II Reviewed by: Trenton Hill, Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzman, Deputy City Manager and Interim Director of Library and Recreation Services
Reviewed by: Tim Kirby, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. RTC No. 20-0944 (without attachments)
2. Call for Artists
3. Artist Conceptual Designs and Past Work Examples
Attachment 1
City of Sunnyvale
Agenda Item
20-0944 Agenda Date: 11/10/2020
REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
CONTINUED FROM OCTOBER 27, 2020.
Approve the Master Plan for Public Art, Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to
1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan; and Allocate $50,000 from the Public Art Fund to Implement a Utility Box Art Project.
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Arts Commission considered this item on September 16, 2020. The Arts Commission voted to recommend Council approve Alternatives 1 and 2: (1) Approve the Master Plan for Public Art and Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to 1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan; and (2) Recommend the Council allocate $50,000 from the Public Art Fund to Implement a Utility Box Art Project. The vote was 4-0, with Vice Chair Serrone absent.
The Planning Commission considered the recommended changes to the Zoning Code on September 28, 2020, and voted 5-0 (Weiss, Harrison absent) to recommend the Council introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to 1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the City’s website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Master Plan for Public Art.
2. Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to 1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan.
3. Allocate $50,000 from the Public Art Fund to Implement a Utility Box Art Project.
4. Do not accept the Arts and Planning Commission recommendations to Approve the Master Plan for Public Art and Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter
19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to
1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan, with modifications.
5. Other direction by Council.
Attachment 1
20-0944 Agenda Date: 11/10/2020
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternatives 1 through 3: (1) Approve the Master Plan for Public Art; (2) Introduce an Ordinance Amending Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Increase the Percent for Art Requirement from 1% to 1.5%, Implementing Option 2A of the Public Art Master Plan; and (3) Allocate $50,000 from the Public Art Fund to Implement a Utility Box Art Project.
Prepared by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services Reviewed by: Cherise Brandell, Director of Library and Recreation Services Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance Amending Chapter 19.52 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code
2. Report to Arts Commission 20-0318, 09/16/2020 (with attachments)
3. Report to Planning Commission 20-0844, 09/28/2020 (without attachments, same as 20-0318) Additional Attachments for Report to Council
4. Excerpt of Draft Minutes for the Arts Commission Meeting of 09/16/2020
5. Excerpt of Draft Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of 09/28/2020
Attachment 1
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Public Art ‐ Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
The Great Box Cover-up! (Phase 1)
Call for Artists
The City of Sunnyvale’s Art in Public Places program invites artists to participate in The Great Box Cover-up! This program was designed to transform uninteresting, ordinary utility boxes into attractive and engaging works of art. The first phase of this project will focus on the utility boxes located in or near downtown Sunnyvale. Future phases of the project will include the remaining utility boxes in the City. A total of 12 artists, or artistic teams, will be
selected to design and execute original works of art using city-owned utility boxes as their canvases.
Artist Eligibility
This opportunity is open to practicing artists or artistic teams with previous art and design experience. Applicants must reside in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo or Alameda Counties. Applicants must
be over the age of 18. There will be a future phase developed for high-school student
s only. Artist assistants must register as a City of Sunnyvale volunteer in o
rder to participate. Employees of the City are not el igible to apply for this commission.
Application Deadline
5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, 2021
Budget
Each of the 12 artists selected to participate in The Great Box Cover-up! will receive a $1,000 stipend. Artists will be responsible for providing their own City approved materials, tools and supplies.
Attachment 1
Sunnyvale Downtown
Sunnyvale’s downtown offers a mixture of urban amenities and small-town charm. Anchored by the historic, tree-lined Murphy Avenue the area boasts small family-owned shops and restaurants, while the adjacent, newly built Cityline development offers high-tech office space, corporate retailers and a state-of-the-art movie theater. For those who want to live in downtown, there are more than 6,000 apartments, as well as plenty of charming bungalows close by to consider. The downtown is also home to the Sunnyvale Cal Train station for easy commuting along the Peninsula corridor.
Project Description
The Great Box Cover-up! is a public art program designed to bring local artists and their artwork into the community, while simultaneously converting the City’s non-descript, gray utility boxes into attractive and engaging artworks. The boxes will be transformed in multiple phases, the first of which will be the utility boxes located in or near downtown Sunnyvale. Future phases of the project will include the remaining utility boxes throughout the City, as well as boxes reserved for high school participation.
Phase 1 will commission a
total of 12 artists or artist-led teams to design and execute original designs. The designs will be painted directly on the utility boxes at each location.
Public Art Budget
Design Honorarium (per utility box) $1,000
The project budget is all-inclusive of project costs, including expenses for materials, supplies, travel to and from the site and artist’s time to design and execute their art. The honorarium is $1,000 per box (not per artist). Artists will receive a $500 payment upon being selected by the Artist Selection Committee and execution of an agreement with the City and prior to developing a design. A second $500 payment will be processed once the design is approved and executed and the utility box artwork is deemed complete.
Utility Box Locati
ons
The following utility boxes are included in Phase 1:
• Mathilda Avenue @ McKinley Avenue
• Sunnyvale Avenue @ McKinley Avenue
• Mathilda Avenue @ Washington Avenue
• Sunnyvale Avenue @ Washington Avenue
• Evelyn Avenue @ Mathilda Avenue on-ramp
• Evelyn Avenue @ Mathilda Avenue off-ramp
• Evelyn Avenue @ Frances Avenue
• Mathilda Avenue @ California Avenue
• Mathilda Avenue @ Olive Avenue
• Mathilda Avenue @ Iowa Avenue
• Sunnyvale Avenue @ Iowa Avenue
• Washington Avenue @ Taaffe Street (Town Center Drive) Attachment 1
Boxes will be randomly assigned following artist selection and additional details and measurements will be provided once the boxes are assigned.
Estimated Schedule (dates subject to change)
Artist Responsibilities
The selected artists or artistic teams will be expected to work with City staff to accomplish the following:
• Prepare final design proposal for approval by City Council that meets design criteria described below • Select and purchase approved paint for painting
• Prepare the box for painting, including cleaning and priming the surface • Execute the approved design
• Finish the box with an approved clearcoat
• Enter into agreement with the City and abide by all requirements of the artist's contract Artist Selection Process
Applicants will be evaluated on artistic style and previous experience with art projects of a similar size and scope. A selection panel of residents and city staff will review the submitted applications for qualifications only. Artists will not be required to submit a design proposal until they have been selected for the project.
Design Criteria and Approval Process
Following the selection of 12 artists, finalists will be provided with a location, dimensions of the utility box at that location and the first payment of the project stipend ($500).
Artists will be asked to develop a final design, to be approved by the Arts Commission and City Council, incorporating the following criteria:
• Include all visible si
des of the box, including the top.
• Avoid painting over vents, meters, locks, windows, handles or hinges on the box. This is a working utility box that will need to be accessible for maintenance and repairs.
Distribute RFQ Oct. 5, 2021
Entry Deadline Nov. 15, 2021
Artist Selection Committee Review Dec. 13-17, 2021
Notification of Finalists/Invitation to submit a
Design Proposal/Contract Dec. 27-29, 2021
Design Proposal Deadline Jan. 10, 2022
Arts Commission Review Feb. 16, 2022
City Council Review and Approval March 1, 2022
Execution of Artwork Mar. 12 – May 1, 2022 (8 weekends) Attachment 1
• The lower right corner of the front panel may be used for artist name(s). • Avoid using large areas of dark colors as they attract the sun and could cause the box to overheat. • Bold and bright colors assist with seeing the design from a distance. • The art should be suitable for viewing by all ages in a public space. • Must be original design and artwork of the applicant. • Should include images that reflect the history or current happenings of the location/neighborhood of the box assigned; and/or elements that incorporate the City’s vision of diversity, inclusion, or brand essence: Bold, Sustainable Innovation.
• Text is discouraged.
• Artwork should not contain images or text that could be construed as: Political statements or persons; religious references, symbols or numbers; copyrighted or trademarked material; defamatory or invading personal rights of anyone living or dead; corporate or organizational branding; images of violence or illegal, sexual, drug-related or similar offensive conduct; images that mimic traffic signals or signs or create similar safety risks as determined by the City.
The final design proposals will be presented to the Sunnyvale Arts Commission for review.
The Commission, which has sole discretion over design approval, will develop a recommendation for each of the designs and the recommendations will be presented to the City Council for final approval of the public art design/artists.
Artists must execute the
approved design; i ncorporating elements that were not in the original approval will be considered breach of contract and may result in removal of the artwork.
Design Execution
Artists will coordinate with City Staff to select a mutually agreeable painting period between March 21 and May 1, 2022. Artists are responsible for prepping the utility box, painting the design with appropriate paint and sealing it with a clear, UV and graffiti resistant coating.
Artists will be provided with instructions on how to properly prepare the utility box for painting, with a list of appropriate paints and clear coating for the project. While executing the artwork, Artists will also comply with any requirements set by the City related to maintaining ingress and egress in the public right of way and ensuring that the public right of way is not damaged.
How to Apply
To apply for this call, please electronically submit the following items:
• Completed coversheet (Use form provided at the end of this application) • Artist Resume
• Artist statement (one page maximum)
• Letter of interest (one page maximum), including an outline of your qualifications, relevant experience and interest in this project
• Up to 10 images of previous works
• Annotated image descriptions, including title, date, location, materials, art budget, and a brief description (up to five sentences)
• Two professional references
Attachment 1
For team applications, please indicate the lead artist for the project. Each artist should submit a coversheet, resume and artist statement. The letter of interest an d images should represent the entire team. Teams that do not have up to 10 images of pas t wor k done together may round out the images with the work of individual team members.
All applications must be received by
5 p.m.
on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Incomplete
submissions will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify the receipt of their application by the scheduled deadline.
Electronic versions
may be delivered via email, file sharing website or on a USB thumb drive.
Thumb drives will not be returned. Images should be in .pdf or .jpg format and should be single files. Do not combine images into a single .pdf. Please label images to match the annotat
ed image list.
Materials may be
submitted electronically to the City of Sunnyvale Public Art Coordinator, Kristin Dance, at [email protected] or in person at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale 94087.
Award of Contract
The City of Sunnyvale reserves the right to accept or reject any applications and to alter or extend the selection process as needed.
This RFQ and the selec
tion process shall in no way be deemed as a binding contract or agreement of any kind between the City and the artist. Award of a contract is contingent upon selection by the City’s selection panel and the artist’s willingness to enter into an agreement with the City. The selected artist will be required to enter into an agreement in substantially the form attached to this RFQ.
Artwork is
Temporary and Property of City
The artwork commissioned for this project shall become the property of the City of Sunnyvale. The artwork is considered temporary and the City shall have no obligation to display the artwork for any particular period of time or in perpetuity. The City retains the right and sole discretion to remove, modify, or repl ace the artwork. Situations in which the City might exercise this right include, but are not limited to, those in which the image or
utility box is damaged, or the box needs to be moved, altered or replaced.
For More Information or Questions
Please contact the City of Sunnyvale Public Art Coordinator, Kristin Dance, at 408-730-7758 or publicart@sunnyv
ale.ca.gov. Questions will be compiled into a single list with responses and made available to all interested parties upon re qu est.
Attachment 1
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Public Art ‐ Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
The Great Box Cover-up! (Phase 1)
QUALIFICATIONS COVERSHEET
Qualifications will not be accepted after 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021
Artist:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
Email: Website:
I have reviewed this RFP and if I am selected I understand that I will be required to enter into an artist agreement with the City, and that my failure to do so will invalidate my selection.
Signature of Artist:
Date:
Special Note for Artist Teams:
If multiple artists are applying as a team, please provide this coversheet, a resume and artist statement for each member of the team, and clearly designate one artist as the primary contact. Teams that do not have up to 10 images of past work done together may round out the images with the work of individual team members.
Attachment 1
ARTIST AGREEMENT
CITY OF SUNNYVALE
UTILITY BOX ARTWORK PROGRAM
This Agreement is made
<DATE> by and between the City of Sunnyvale, ("Sponsor" or “City”), and <NAME> ("Artist”), related to the City’s Utility Box Artwork Program.
RECITALS
1. The City of Sunnyvale
’s Art in Public Places program is implementing “The Great Box Cover-up!,” a project designed to transform uninteresting, ordinary utility boxes into attractive and engaging works of art (the “Project”).
2. The City sought application
s from individuals/artists interested in being selected to create and implement a design on a City utility box (the “Artwork”) as part of the Project.
3. City’s Project sel
ection committee selected Artist to participate in the Program.
4. City and Artist desi
re to enter into an Agreement to specify each party’s rights and responsibilities as part of the Project.
Now, therefore, City
and Artist agree as follows:
I. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Artist shall design and exec
ute an Artwork on a City-owned utility box (“Services”) at a location assigned by City, according to the process, specifications, and design guidelines set forth in City’s Request for Qualifications, “The Great Box Cover-up!, Phase 1,” attached hereto and incorporated by reference. Artist further agrees to be responsible for implementing the Artwork on the assigned utility box with adequate regard for the health and safety of all participants, volunteers, and the public, and for any damage to City property caused by Artist in the course of executing the Artwork.
II. COMPENSATION
City shall provide a s
tipend to Artist in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) for each Utility Box location as assigned by City to Artist, payable as follows: five-hundred dollars ($500.00) within thirty (30) days of execution of this Agreement, and five hundred dollars ($500.00) within thirty (30) days of completing the Artwork.
III. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Artist is acting as an independent contractor in furnishing any services or materials and performing the Services required by this Agreement and is not an agent, servant or employee of City of Sunnyvale. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed as creating or establishing the relationship of employer and employee between Artist and the City of Sunnyvale. Artist is responsible for paying all required state and federal taxes.
Attachment 1
IV. OWNERSHIP AND TEMPORARY NATURE OF ARTWORK
A. Completed Artwork wil
l become property of the City.
B. The Artwork is intended to be te
mporary and will not be considered part of the
City’s permanent art collection; and, therefore will not be maintained by the City in perpetuity.
V. RECORDING, PHOTOGRAPHY, RIGHTS IN THE ARTWORK
Artist shall retain the c
opyright of his/her Artwork design and production, and the right to use the copyrighted material for his/her personal use. In addition, at City’s discretion and expense, City may video, film, photograph and/or make audio recordings (collectively, the “Material”) of Artist, the Services, and Artist performing the Services, including but not limited to the Artwork . Artist grants the City a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable and non-exclusive license to incorporate in or use the Material solely in connection with media productions created by or agreed to by the City for City grant writing, promotional, archival or other purposes in any media now existing or subsequently developed. Artist may or may not be credited when City uses the Material. The City shall not use any of the Material for any “for sale” or commercial purpose whatsoever without written consent and approval by Artist under a separate agreement .
VI. ARTIST’S MORAL RIGHTS; WAIVER OF VARA AND CAPA RIGHTS A. The Parties agree tha
t the primary purpose of the Services and resulting Artwork is to provide a source of public interest in art. CITY must preserve complete flexibility to operate and manage the Artwork as CITY property consistent with the project goals and the underlying utility box function. Therefore, subject to CITY’s obligation to make good faith efforts to consult with ARTIST as set forth in subsection (c), below, ARTIST agrees that CITY, in connection with its power and duty to operate and manage CITY property in the public’s interest, shall have the absolute right to display alter, repair, modify, remove, relocate, sell, dispose of, or destroy (collectively, “MODIFY”) the Artwork in CITY’s sole judgment. For example, CITY may modify the Artwork to eliminate hazards, to comply with the ADA, to otherwise aid CITY in the management of its property and affairs, or through neglect or accident.
B. ARTIST waives any an
d all claims, arising at any time and under any circumstances, against CITY, its officers, agents, employees, successors and assigns, arising under the federal Visual Artists Rights Act (17 U.S.C. §§106A and 113(d)), the California Art Preservation Act (Cal. Civil Code §§987 et seq.), and any o ther local, state, federal or international laws that convey rights of the same nature as those conveyed under 17 U.S.C. §106A, Cal. Civil Code §§987 et seq., or any other type of moral right protecting the integrity of works of art.
C. Where time permits, pr
ior to disposing of or destroying the Artwork, CITY shall make reasonable good faith efforts to notify and consult with ARTIST, at the last Attachment 1
phone number or addr
ess provided by ARTIST to the CITY, and to come to a
mutually agreeable plan for disposition of the ARTWORK. Such consultation shall be without charge by ARTIST unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing. If CITY alters the ARTWORK without ARTIST’S consent in a manner that is prejudicial to ARTIST’S reputation, ARTIST may disclaim authorship of the ARTWORK . Artist understands, acknowledges and agrees that the function of the boxes is for utility purposes and that the City therefore has the right to remove, modify, or replace the Artwork, which the City may do in its sole discretion in situations including but not limited to when the image or utility box is damaged, or the box needs to be moved, altered or replaced for any reason determined by City.
VII. LIABILITY
A. Artist shall defend,
indemnify, and hold City harmless from and against any and all claims arising from any activity, demonstration , or things done, permitted or suffered by the Artist or Artist's agent(s), contractors, employees or volunteers; and shall further defend, indemnify, and hold City harmless from and against any and all damages arising from any breach or default in the performance of any obligation on Artist's part to be performed under the terms of this Agreement, including all costs, attorney's fees, expenses and liabilities incurred in the defense of any such claim.
Artist, upon notification from City, shall defend the same at Artist's expense, by counsel satisfactory to City.
B. City has no responsibi
lity for furnishing, providing, or payment of the cost of any materials or equipment belonging to or used by Artist. To the extent Artist chooses to use or supply his or her own materials or equipment for any purpose related to the Artwork, Artist agrees to assume all liability for any such materials or equipment, and to hold City harmless from any and all damages, expenses, and liability arising out of use of such materials and equipment.
C. Artist shall provide
proof of insurance to City as set forth in Exhibit B.
VIII. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT
A. This Agreement and t
he parties’ respective obligations under it may be immediately terminated verbally or in writing by the City if:
1. Artist fails to comp
ly with the requirements set forth in Exhibit A to this agreement; conducts the Services in a manner that endangers participants or public; Artist conducts himself/herself in a manner that causes damage to property; Artist conducts himself/herself in a manner that is substantially detrimental to Sponsor; Artist breaches any obligations under this Agreement.
2. Circumstances occur that make it impossible or impractical for the City to continue to offer the Program.
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IX. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Artist shall not discrimi
nate against any employee or applicant for employment
because of race, religion, creed, color, gender, age (persons 40 years of age or older), disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis to the extent prohibited by federal, state or local law.
B. Any amendments and mo
difications to this agreement must be in writing and signed by each party.
C. Artist shall not assign,
transfer, amend, or modify this agreement.
D. Artist shall comply wit
h all applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances in connection with the performance of his/her obligation under this Agreement, including, but not limited to unemployment insurance benefits, worker's compensation laws, and F.I.C.A. laws.
E. This Agreement shall be go
verned by the laws of the State of California, with venue in Santa Clara County. Each party shall bear its own costs and attorney fees in the event of a dispute.
APPROVED:
City of Sunnyvale ("Spo
nsor")
Department of Library and Community Services
___________________________
Artist's Name (please print)
Artist's Signature
Date: Phone ( )
Address
City Zip
IRS or
Social Security Number
Exhibits:
A-The Great Box Cover-up! RFQ
B-Artist Application and Liability Waiver
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Skye Becker-
Yamakawa
Proposal #1
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Electrical Box Art Description
By Skye Becker-Yamakawa
Large Box
Side facing McKinley Ave:
A large bee will be rendered in traditional black and yellow hues. Surrounding the bee is an abundance of flowers in reds, purples and pinks with dark green leaves peeking through. The background color will be a bright sky blue.
Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Through pollination, they support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for creatures large and small.
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Side facing Target:
A Painted Lady and a Checkered White butterfly display their beauty among large flowers.
The Painted Lady situated at the top will be rendered in warm tones of orange and brown.
Below is a Checkered White butterfly in white, gray and black. The flowers will be in reds, purples and pinks with dark green leaves peeking through. Consistently, the background will be a sky blue.
Both butterflies are native to the Bay Area. Butterflies indicate a healthy environment. They naturally increase the biodiversity of an ecosystem.
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Side facing Sunnyvale Ave:
A larger than life Monarch emerges from a plethora of flowers. The Monarch will be rendered in vermillion with a transition to a deep yellow. The flowers will be rendered in cooler tones of purple, maroon, red and pinks. No paint will be applied to the vented area as requested.
Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable species of butterflies in North America.
They travel between 1,200 and 2,800 miles or more to their overwintering spots in Mexico and Southern California from the northern United States and Canada. The Bay Area gets around 100,000 Monarch butterflies annually.
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Side facing Whole Foods:
On display is a large green parrot made of lush green flowers with a red face and a white beak. The bird is surrounded by flowers rendered in complimentary colors of red, maroon, and pink. The foliage will be in a deep vermillion and the background color will stay consistent in a sky blue
Inspired by the wild green parrots of Sunnyvale , but altered with a torso made of flowers. The parrots are mitred conures, aka red-headed or cherry-head conures. Adults are mostly green with varying amounts of red around their face and throat, and are approximately 13 to 15 inches in length. The mitred conures are native to South American countries, in particular, Peru and Argentina, but in the U.S., populations are also known to exist in states such as California and Florida. We have a large population who enjoy congregating at Los Palmas Park.
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Small Boxes
The two smaller boxes integrate themselves with the larger box by displaying large bright flowers in pinks, reds, purples and oranges and a bright sky blue background color. Included are 3 images representing the front panel (with a window), back panel facing Whole Foods, and one of the smaller sides facing Target or Sunnyvale Ave.
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Dotti Cichon
Proposal #2
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Sunnyvale was known for its fruit orchards of cherry, plum, apricot and peach trees. With my design for the utility boxes at the corner of Mathilda and Washington, I'd like to honor this history and paint a stylized fruit tree in bloom. Although different, the blossoms on cherry, plum, apricot and peach trees are somewhat similar, so I'm proposing to design representative, easily recognizable generic fruit tree blossoms and make stencils in three sizes to stencil onto brown stylized branches on a background of a light clear blue sky (typical of Silicon Valley) and to keep most of the utility box light to reflect the sun.
I propose to use one shade of light blue for the background, two shades of brown for the branches, and two shades of pink plus white for the stylized blossoms - simple and bold and not too fussy. I may do the same design or different designs for the three size of blossoms, but the crude examples I'm presenting here will give you a rough idea of my proposed designs.
The overall design will carry along from front to side to back to the other side, and I propose to continue the design onto the two smaller utility boxes nearby as well. They will be easily viewed and understood from a distance from cars driving by, or from close-up by people walking past. I'm not planning to outline each blossom on the boxes but that may change when I get to the actual painting - my potential blossom prototypes show the pencil outline so you can see the blossom better in the scans that I'll include here.
My schematic is not to exact scale, but just an approximation and is very rough. The actual design will be similar but size and placement of the branches and blossoms will differ with the actual painting on the boxes to be pleasing from close-up and from a distance.
Please use your imagination.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Dotti Cichon
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Lila Gemellos
Proposal #3
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Caitlin Gilbert
Proposal #4
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Winnie
Lam
Anagha Mishra
Proposal #5
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The Great Box Cover-Up: Design Proposal for Box #7030, by Winnie Lam
Introduction
This is a design proposal for Box # 7030, located at Evelyn Avenue @ Frances Avenue. The artists are Winnie Lam, along with Anagha Mishra.
Scope
We are proposing to paint Box #1, #2, #3 and #4. We do not plan to paint Box #5.
Overall design themes
There are three overall design themes:
1. Sunny weather: a play on the word “Sunnyvale”.
2. Robots: is intended to represent Sunnyvale’s high tech Silicon Valley environment. It is also inspired by the shape of Box #2, since the box contains compartments and a handle that look like a robot’s eyes and mouth.
3. Diversity and inclusion: representative of the diverse demographics in Sunnyvale.
We shall represent adults, children,
and LGBT individuals.
Box #1 design: Weather forecast
The design for Box #1 is that of a weather
forecast. The weather forecast is sunny on most
days. There are three characters reporting the weather forecast:
● Adult robot wearing an LGBT them
ed rainbow heart.
● Boy robot
● Girl robot, holding an umbrella
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Current Box Transformed Box
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Boxes #3 and #4: Robots Falling in Love
Boxes #3 and #4 are located adjacent to each
other. Box #3 depicts a man robot courting the
woman, with flowers and candles. Box #4 depicts a woman robot feeling shy, and falling in love with the man robot.
Conclusion
We hope that this Design Proposal c
onveys the concepts we intend to paint on the utility boxes.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Deepti Nanawati
Art Circle Studio
Proposal #6
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Box # 7035
Mathilda Avenue @ California Avenue
I visited the site, took measurements for the box and made observations to derive a design idea.
The site at California Ave and Mathilda intersection has residential character towards its back panel ,, commercial (23 &me office) in the front as well as a fire station across it, making it a very unique setting.
Hence for the back panel that
is viewed mostly from the
apartment, hummingbirds with
orange flowers painting from
my “Nature - True Self a
witness” painting. Natural
elements, poppy flower fields,
native california blooms will
be painted in impressionist
style on the sides and lower
half that will transition
smoothly to blue, green colors
of sky in the front panel.
In the front , from my “The
Infinite Source”painting, the
sky revealing the hidden
universe will be painted.
The painting will cover both
boxes on the site, and carefully
planned around handles, vents
etc as directed in the
specifications.
The pictures attached here are
a concept and detailed drawing
will be prepared after the
overall concept is approved.
Thank you!
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Christine Oliver
Proposal #7
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January 12, 2022
Kristin Dance
Public Art Coordinator
D
epartment of Library and Recreation Services
Sunnyvale, CA
Dear Kristin,
Attached is my concept for the
utility box I will be painting for The Great Box Cover-up! I have painted my concept in watercolor because the drying time is quick, and it gives you an idea of what the project will look like when I complete it in acrylic paint. Of course, in acrylic paint, the flowers and foliage will be very well defined.
I have chosen California popp
ies as the subject matter for my box because they are the state flower of California and are an iconic symbol of our state. Their vibrant orange hues will complement the blue of our skies to make a striking and appealing combination.
The top of the box will be a
n extension of the sky with white clouds drifting through. I have indicated approximately were the doors and handles will be on the box. The handles, lock areas, any windows and name plates will be covered with tape during the process and will not be painted per your instructions.
I look forward to receiving the list of approved paints and materials to prepare the box.
I am thrilled to have bee
n selected for this project and am honored to help beautify our city.
Thank you for the opportu
nity to do so.
Christine
Christine Oliver
(408) 505-5766
Christin
[email protected]
www.ChristineOliverFineArt.com
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Harumo Sato
Proposal #8
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+ HARUMO SATO
The Great box Cover-up!
01/2022
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Design Concept
Inspired by Sunnyvale's history as a center of fruit orchard industry, the design I propose is to embrace our past and present with stylized fruits: apricot, prune, strawberry, peach, and cherry, combining colorful and playful oil pastel style line work.
I also plan to use gold color which reflects the outside environment like lighting and temperature and it will constantly change the look of the utility box design. This ever-changing look implies the history of dynamic development in Sunnyvale as a heart of Silicon Valley.
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Design Concept
I
I
The design will change during the finalizing process.
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Susan Seichrist
Proposal #9
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Box # 7053 Corner of Matilda Ave and Olive Ave
Civic Center Top
possibly visible from the upper floors of the building
Front.
Facing Olive Ave
Side. Olive Ave.
Facing Library
Back.
Facing Redwoods
Side.
Facing Matilda Ave
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Box # 7053 Corner of Matilda Ave and Olive Ave
Civic Center
Box 7053 is fortunate to be in front of the new Civic Center project. I took inspiration from the notes I read about the vision of the master plan: keep the existing Redwood Grove, increase open space, use native landscaping. The City Hall building is designed to feel like a tree house.
I wanted to design something that will complement the existing and future design of this corner.
The art is a graphic representation of Redwood trunks, California Poppies, Native Blue Eyed Grass, little butterflies and gentle breeze.
The shapes and flat color of the windows in the new City Hall building inspired the cut-paper look of the objects and the earth tone palette. The angle of the mountain points your eye to the building. The ground has soft curves to complement the walking path though the Redwoods.
I kept the design clean to be inviting and not compete with the natural beauty (that is behind the green fence.) I’ll make stencils and can add more flowers and butterflies if I feel the design will benefit but not be over-powering.
(The actual placement of each flower and butterfly will be determined by the handles and hinges.)
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Neela Shukla
Geeta Taneja
Proposal #10
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Concept Design and Details - Artists Neela Shukla and Geeta Taneja We are showing an Apricot Tree full with Apricots which represents Sunnyvale with his history with apricots orchard and also has a small orchard near Sunnyvale Community Center.
Also we will depict the structure which exhibits the history of Sunnyvale residents in Heritage Park Museum.
The concept shows rough balck line drawings but that will be reflected in red colors showing Red Steel Frame as it shows in the reality. Also, we will depict some more details in the leaves and show bright colors of Apricot and bright sunshine in the background.
Other two small utility boxes will be included as the tree branch reaching on both on top with sky above and green grass below.
Thank You,
Neela Shukla
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Michelle Taniguchi
Proposal #11
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Please see attached for an initial sketch of the front side of the boxes at Washington and Taaffe. This mural will be a celebration of local wildflowers, with a blue circuit board/map background. The brightly colored wildflowers will include Sky Lupine, Common Yarrow, Douglas Iris, California Poppies, California Wildrose, Blue-Eyed Grass, and California Buttercup. They will be painted in a large scale, with just two or three flowers on each side of the boxes. Some of the flowers will overlap to different sides of the boxes, which will keep the mural from getting too static and flat. The background will be a calm periwinkle blue, with lines reminiscent of a circuit board. Observant passersby may realize that the pattern is actually a Sunnyvale map! The map/circuit design will be light and close in color to the periwinkle so as not to become too busy and leave the flowers in the foreground easily seen from a distance. The painting style will be much smoother and blended than what you see in this sketch.
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Alexa
ndra
Underwood
Proposal #12
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The Great Box Cover-upl - Box #7131 Evelyn Ave at Mathilda Ave Off Ramp / Underpass For my box, I chose to highlight what makes Sunnyvale great - diversity in both its community and its ecosystem. To reflect this, I will be highlighting species native to the Sunnyvale area, such as Valley Oak, the Crystal Springs Fountain Thistle, and the Marin Dwarf Flax. Through bright colors and beautiful native plants, this box will be one Sunnyvale residents can be proud of - both human and plant! Al-eXANDRA
UNDeRWOOO
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