Title
Agenda Item:
Approval of 2012 People's Prize Award for the Percival Plinth Project
Body
Issue:
Voting has concluded for the 2013 Peoples' Prize Award for purchase of one sculpture among the loaned exhibition along Percival Landing.
Committee Recommendation:
Move to approve the purchase of Windstar by Ross Matteson as the 2012 People's Prize Award.
City Manager's Recommendation:
As recommended by the Olympia Arts Commission, move to approve the purchase of Windstar by Ross Matteson as the 2012 People's Prize Award.
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 22, 2012, Council approved the sculptures recommended by the Arts Commission for the second year-long display of loaned sculpture for the Percival Plinth Project. Associated with this exhibition is the public vote known as the Peoples' Prize, by which one sculpture is selected for purchase by the City. The period of voting lasted from July 21 - August 31, 2012. While all loaned sculptures will return to their artists in spring 2013, the popularly selected piece will be reinstalled in another Olympia location, leaving all plinths cleared for another exhibition and competitive process.
Selected Sculpture
A total of 485 votes were received during the voting period, up from 313 in 2011. Of that, 298 were from Olympia proper (up from 187), and 71 were from Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County (up from 39). The final 24% of the votes were received from visitors from 28 Washington cities, 19 states and 7 countries.
With 140 votes, Windstar by Ross Matteson was the lead by quite a distance, with the runner up, the Healer by Leon White, coming in with 74 votes. Comments regarding why Windstar appealed to voters included the elegance of the sculpture, the relationship between bird and nature, the framed view, quality of craftsmanship, and what quite a few took to be the concept of freedom with the bird escaping through the window.
Recommended Location
The Peoples' Prize ballot explained to voters that at the conclusion of the loaned exhibition, the purchased work would be moved to another to-be-determined location in Olympia. This allows for sculpture to be installed in various parts of our community, and maintains the plinths for rotating exhibitions.
Regarding Windstar, members of the Art in Public Places Committee are actively looking for a visible, accessible City site with strong ties to the natural environment. A site has not yet been determined and will be brought back to Council at a later date.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Public opinion was solicited through public vote.
Options:
1. Move to approve the purchase of Windstar by Ross Matteson as the 2012 People's Prize Award.
2. Move not to approve the People's Prize Award recommendation.
Financial Impact:
The costs for the purchase and installation are listed below and are equal to the budget set aside for the project.
$500 honoraria for 15 sculptures |
$7,500 |
$10,000 for purchase of Windstar |
$10,000 |
Up to $1,000 for installation of Peoples Prize following exhibition |
$1,000 |
Total (up to) Budget approved by Council on May 22, 2012 |
$18,500 |