Title
Agenda Item:
Location Recommendation for Peoples' Prize Sculpture
Body
Issue:
Purchase of Windstar by Ross Matteson has been approved by Council. The Arts Commission has developed a recommendation for its new location.
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission recommends locating Windstar by Ross Matteson on the Port Plaza, authorizing the City to move forward to negotiate an appropriate interlocal agreement with the Port of Olympia for placement of the sculpture. If agreement is not reached, Windstar will be placed at Yauger Park.
City Manager's Recommendation:
As recommended by the Arts Commission, move to approve the Port Plaza location for Windstar by Ross Matteson, with the understanding that if agreement is not reach with Port on a site, Windstar will be place at Yauger Park; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate an appropriate interlocal agreement with the Port of Olympia for placement of the sculpture.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts & Events Manager, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts & Events Manager, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
Trent Hart, Chair Art in Public Places Committee, Olympia Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
On October 2, 2012, Council approved the peoples' recommendation of Windstar by Ross Matteson, for purchase and installation in another City location following the conclusion of the loaned exhibition. The Commission noted they were actively looking for a visible, accessible City site with strong ties to the natural environment. A site would be brought back to Council at a later date.
In the interim, members of the Art in Public Places Committee of the Art Commission have reviewed a list of potential sites in Olympia, and visited both the Port Plaza and Yauger Park. Because the subject matter of the sculpture involves a peregrine falcon, the Port Plaza area is meaningful because of the nesting box on the shipping cranes that peregrines return to yearly. There has been communication with Port staff who have indicated a willingness to work with the City.
The new stormwater facility at Yauger Park is a water quality wetlands and bioretention systems, with aquatic and upland habitat features. Introducing a natural system into an urban environment also creates a thematic relationship and fitting landscape for the sculpture. The sculpture may be innundated during high stormwater episodes, and is deemed capable of withstanding such immersion. There has been communication with Public Works Stormwater staff, who would welcome the sculpture there.
The Arts Commission recommends the Port Plaza as their first choice. With Council authorization, staff would move forward to negotiate an appropriate interlocal agreement, to be brought to Council for approval at a future date. If agreement is not reached, Windstar will be installed at Yauger Park.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Artist Ross Matteson has been involved in the process of site selection, and agrees with the Commission's recommendation.
Options:
1 Approve the recommended location at Port Plaza, with the back-up at Yauger Park.
2. Direct staff to pursue the alternate location of Windstar at Yauger Park, instead of Port Plaza.
3. Do not approve either location.
Financial Impact:
Sufficient money for sculpture location is included in the People's Prize activity budget.