Title
Agenda Item:
Approval of Percival Plinth Project People's Choice Award 2013
Recommended Action
Arts Commission Recommendation:
Move to approve the purchase of Rainforest Dream by Leo E. Osborne as the 2013 People's Choice Award.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the purchase of Rainforest Dream by Leo E. Osborne as the 2013 People's Choice Award.
Body
Issue:
Voting has concluded for the 2013 Peoples' Choice Award for purchase of one sculpture among the loaned exhibition along Percival Landing.
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 May 21, 2013, Council approved the sculptures recommended by the Arts Commission for the third year-long display of loaned sculpture for the Percival Plinth Project. Associated with this exhibition is the public vote known as the Peoples' Choice Award, by which one sculpture is selected for purchase by the City. The period of voting lasted from July 26 (with a public kick-off)- September 3, 2013. All loaned sculptures will be returned in spring 2014 and the popularly selected piece will be moved to City Hall for one year before being reinstalled in another Olympia location. This will leave all plinths cleared for another exhibition and competitive process.
Selected Sculpture
A total of 374 votes were received during the voting period, down from 485 in 2012. Of that, 223 were from Olympia proper, and 54 were from Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County. The final 26% of the votes were received from visitors from 30 Washington cities, 16 states and 2 countries.
With 85 votes, Rainforest Dream by Leo E. Osborne was front runner, with Breaking Free by Willow Wicklund coming in as runner up with 66 votes. Comments regarding why Rainforest Dream appealed to voters included the quality of craftsmanship, realism, beauty of the sculpture, the color and variety of texture incorporated into the work.
An image of the Rainforest Dream will be displayed as part of the presentation at Tuesday's Council meeting.
City Hall
On August 13, 2013 Council approved a recommendation from the Arts Commission to place sculptures purchased through People's Choice Award at City Hall for one year before moving the sculpture to a permanent location in Olympia. Rainforest Dream will be the first such sculpture to be installed at City Hall, in June 2014.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Public opinion was solicited through public vote.
Options:
1. Move to approve the purchase of Rainforest Dream by Leo E. Osborne. This sculpture is the 2013 People's Choice Award recommendation.
2. Move not to approve the People's Choice Award recommendation.
Financial Impact:
The purchase price for Rainforest Dream is $10,000 and falls within the project budget ($18,500) for sculpture honoraria, purchase and installation.