SunnyvaleRTC

March 16, 2004

SUBJECT: Selection of Art Concept for Sunnyvale Senior Center (04-091)

Several years ago, three art concepts were developed in association with preliminary planning efforts for the City’s new Senior Center. The selection of art concepts prior to the actual design of the Senior Center was necessary (and a standard practice) to mitigate design and installation problems once construction got underway. Two of the three art pieces were installed during the construction phase of the building. The concept for the third piece—a collaborative “soft art” project—was also approved by the Arts Commission in accordance with approved processes at the time but has yet to be installed.

In May of 2002, however, staff recommended and Council approved a new policy, which dictates that Council approve art concepts for large public projects such as the Senior Center. Despite the time and effort devoted to this project over the past several years, staff is not comfortable proceeding with the final selection of an artist to complete the “soft art” project without at least bringing to Council’s attention the opportunity to consider alternate concepts. This report provides Council that option.

BACKGROUND

In 1998, the City Council directed staff to explore alternative Senior Center locations, including the possibility of constructing a new 23,000 square foot single story, stand-alone building at the Community Center.

The design process for the new Senior Center began in 1999 and opportunities for public art were identified early in the process. This allowed staff to work with the project architects and prepare construction specifications for bid documents. This was done to ensure that selected art concepts could be integrated into the project at a later date without delaying construction or increasing project costs once funding was available.

At the time the Senior Center design process began in 1999, City Council had not yet adopted the Art in Public Places Policy. The policy adopted by Council on May 7, 2002, dictates that Council approve public art concepts associated with large public projects. However, prior to the adoption of the Art in Public Places Policy, staff coordinated public art projects at an operational level, so that art components could be incorporated into public projects as resources became available. Because the Senior Center design process was initiated three years prior to the policy, a process was developed to select public art for the new Senior Center that mirrored the existing Art in Private Development Program by having the Arts Commission review and approve the artwork to be incorporated into the Senior Center project.

At that time, staff was particularly interested in the types of artwork the seniors would be interested in incorporating into the project, as well as themes that could be utilized to connect the artwork to the facility and the community. The general consensus of the Senior Advisory Committee was to incorporate themes related to aging and maturity. They suggested that trees/orchards, leaves and/or fruit could be representative of these themes. Committee members also expressed a strong preference for “soft art,” such as quilting, tapestry, fabric art and textiles. The Senior Advisory Committee also expressed a strong interest in an art project that would be collaborative in nature.

Based on input from the Sunnyvale Senior Center Advisory Committee and the Arts Commission, three public art projects were identified for the Senior Center: (1) an exterior steel wall sculpture with dichroic glass, (2) an interior etched glass window, and (3) a collaborative “soft art project.” Soft art can be defined to include a tapestry, quilt, weaving or fabric collage artwork. To date, the exterior wall sculpture and interior etched glass have been installed. The collaborative soft art project is still under way.

Staff also presented a preliminary description of a collaborative “soft art” project for the Arts Commission’s consideration. The project was envisioned as a single large-scale or two or more smaller-sized quilt, tapestry or other style and medium of “soft art” that would be designed and fabricated by a professional artist, in conjunction with local seniors and community fiber/tapestry artists.

Although there was no Council policy governing public art at the time, Council did approve $100,000 for public art as a part of the Senior Center budget.

The dichroic glass and steel medallion with the oak tree image was installed on an exterior wall adjacent to the main entry to the building prior to the Senior Center Grand Opening in July 2003. The cost of this artwork was $49,949.82.

A second art piece consisting of glass panels etched with an apricot tree image (including trunk, leaves and fruit) to create a three-dimensional depth for the viewer was installed September 2003 and the cost was $35,000.

EXISTING POLICY

Art in Public Places Administrative Policy: Require 1% of the construction valuation of eligible capital improvement projects to be set aside for the acquisition and long-term maintenance of City owned public art.

Community Design Sub-Element Policy D.2.f.: Encourage selection of public artwork that have a broad appeal and capture the aspirations of the social and cultural heritage of the community.

Arts Sub-Element Policy A.4.: Further a sense of community identity through promotion of the arts.

Arts Sub-Element Policy A.4.a.: Work with community groups to identify appropriate sites to create art projects such as community murals in public settings including City and school facilities and open spaces, consistent with financial constraints and priorities of the City.

Arts Sub-Element Policy A.2.: Encourage active citizen involvement in development and provision of arts programs, facilities and services.

DISCUSSION

Collaborative “Soft Art” Project

The concept for this project was developed directly from feedback received from the Senior Center Advisory Committee who expressed a strong preference for “soft art,” such as quilting, tapestry, fiber art and textiles, as well as, a strong interest in an art project that would be collaborative in nature. The “soft art” project is envisioned as a single large-scale soft artwork, or two or three smaller fabric pieces that will be designed and fabricated by a professional artist, in conjunction with local seniors and community artists. Eligible participants will be age 50 and older, either residing in the City of Sunnyvale, or members of the Sunnyvale Senior Center. $10,000 has been set-aside for completion of this project.

If the “soft art” concept is approved by City Council, an artist will be contracted to work collaboratively with interested seniors and local artists to develop the parameters of the project. The parameters would include development of a theme, establishment of the proposed size of the individual pieces to be incorporated into the final artwork, determination of the size of the finished piece itself, and the process for selecting individual pieces for inclusion in the final artwork. The artist’s project outline, which would include a proposed size and theme of the artwork, will be returned to the Arts Commission for their review and approval prior to initiating the creation of the artwork. The project artist will work with Sunnyvale seniors and artists to fabricate the artwork and will also be responsible for “finishing” the piece and making the “soft art” ready for installation.

The location for the “soft art” project is along the main hallway of the Senior Center. This is in a high traffic area and the four main program rooms are off of this hallway. The wall hanging will draw the visitor’s eye down the length of the main corridor. The width of the hallway where the artwork will be installed also allows the viewer to step back and see the artwork in full.

Due to the orientation of the building, the overhang over the glass wall at the end of the hallway and the height of the clerestory windows, staff does not anticipate that the wall will be hit by direct sunlight; however, the wall will be monitored over the course of the year. Sunlight can damage some materials so, if sunlight becomes a problem, the artwork may need to be relocated or UV coating installed on some of the glass area nearby.

If City Council approves the “soft art” concept, the project may move forward quickly. In February, the Arts Commission reviewed the slides of three local artists qualified to lead a collaborative project such as this and unanimously selected one artist, Therese May, to lead the project pending Council action on this report. Ms. May resides in San Jose, California, and her quilts may be viewed in several hospitals and convention centers in the Bay Area. She has extensive background in teaching and exhibiting her work and has led several collaborative quilt projects working with both youth and adults/seniors. In addition to quilting, Ms. May is also knowledgeable in a variety of artistic mediums.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact at this time given that the funds necessary to complete the “soft art” project are already in the Ten-Year Plan. A total of $100,000 was set-aside in the Senior Center capital improvement budget for the acquisition and maintenance of three public artworks. Of that amount, $1,550 has been spent on art consultant fees in 2000 and a total of $1,500 for artist preliminary design fees paid to three artists in 2001. The etched glass window was $35,000 and $49,950 was spent on the exterior steel wall sculpture with dichroic glass. Another $10,000 is earmarked for the soft art project. The remaining $2,000 has been allocated to the long-term public art maintenance fund for the on-going maintenance of all three artworks.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s website, publication of the Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News and the availability of the report in the City Clerk’s office, Library, Parks and Recreation Administration, Community Center, and Senior Center.

The Arts Commission conducted a public hearing on this item during its regularly scheduled meeting on February 18, 2004.

Copies of this report were provided to the three applicants for the Senior Center Soft Art Project and to members of the Senior Center Advisory Committee.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Council approves the “soft art” concept previously approved by the Arts Commission and directs staff to proceed in accordance with that single, large-scale quilt or two or three smaller fabric, tapestry, or fiber art work;

2. Council does not approve the “soft art” concept previously approved by the Arts Commission, and directs staff to work with the Arts Commission in developing alternative options for the Council to explore

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternative No. 1 above. As noted in the report, the Sunnyvale Arts Commission approved the “soft art” concept at the same time the two other artwork concepts for the Senior Center were finalized.

Prepared by:

Nancy Bolgard Steward
Superintendent of Arts and Recreation

Reviewed by:

Robert A. Walker
Director of Parks and Recreation

Approved by:

Amy Chan
City Manager