Title
Approval of the 2024 Plinth Project Sculptures for Exhibition
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Pending decision at their February 8, 2024 meeting, the Arts Commission will present their recommended sculptures for the 2024 Percival Plinth Project Exhibition.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Arts Commission recommended sculptures for the 2024 Percival Plinth Project Exhibition.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Arts Commission recommendation of sculptures for the upcoming exhibition on Percival Landing. Following a month of public voting, one sculpture will be purchased for the City of Olympia public art collection.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Kathy Dorgan, Chair, Olympia Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
The Percival Plinth Project hosts loaned sculpture for an exhibition of one year along Percival Landing. Each year the winning sculpture moves to the front of City Hall for an additional year and then into permanent exhibition somewhere in the community. During the month of July, the public is invited to vote for the sculpture they recommend the City purchases.
For the 2024 exhibit, the jury met on Thursday, February 1 to review 28 submitted sculptures. The jury was comprised of Illustrator Aïcha El Beloui, Sculptor and 2022 Percival Plinth Award recipient Pat McVay, and Olympia Arts Commissioner Tracy Schreiber. In addition to jury review, all submitted sculptures were reviewed by City staff for a visual structure assessment. Jurors reviewed the work based on a number of criteria including quality of work and attention to craft, safety requirements and community engagement.
The Arts Commission will meet to finalize recommendations to the City Council at their February 8, 2023 meeting. The agenda for the February 13 City Council meeting was published prior to the Commission’s meeting. Images will be shared at the Council meeting.
Climate Analysis:
While the project does not directly impact climate strategies, having sculptures displayed on Percival Landing encourages use of active forms of travel such as walking along the waterfront. Artwork in public spaces promotes safe and welcoming public spaces and a walkable city.
Equity Analysis:
Multiple strategies of the project are intended to shift traditional power dynamics of how art is accessed and selected. At its core an outdoor public art exhibit is designed to be accessible to the whole community year-round. The People’s Choice Award is designed to share decision-making power by including a community vote as a key determining factor of the final purchase award.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Percival Plinth Project received 212 votes in 2023 via the City’s Engage page.
Financial Impact:
$40,000 from the Municipal Art Fund includes artist honoraria ($1,000 per sculpture) for loan of their artwork, purchase of the winning sculpture (up to $10,000) by vote, foundation and installation for Plinth Prize winner moving from City Hall, and community event in summer 2024.
Options:
1. Approve the Arts Commission’s sculpture recommendation for the 2024 Percival Plinth Project.
2. Approve the Arts Commission’s sculpture recommendation for the 2024 Percival Plinth Project, as modified.
3. Do not approve any sculptures recommended for the 2024 Percival Plinth Project.
Attachments:
None