Title
Approval of West Bay Art Crossing Artist Team
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission recommends approval of Lin McJunkin and Milo White as public artists for the West Bay Art Crossing project.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve Lin McJunkin and Milo White as public artists for the West Bay Art Crossing project.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the artist team of Lin McJunkin and Milo White for the West Bay Art Crossings project.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Timothy Grisham, Chair, Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
On October 24, 2017, Council approved Olympia Crossings: An Art Plan for City Gateways, following six months of site visits, community meetings, and draft documents organized and prepared by Framework Cultural Placemaking.
Since that time, staff and the Arts Commission worked closely with NWONA (Northwest Olympia Neighborhood Association) to develop the Call for Art (RFQ) for the first Olympia Crossing on West Bay Drive at the base of the Woodard Avenue trail. Council approved the Call for Art on October 21, 2018.
On December 13, 2018, the Arts Commission approved three finalists (from 11 applicants) for the West Bay Art Crossings project as recommended by the jury of Bob Droll, Landscape Architect; Diana Fairbanks and Marygrace Goddu, Olympia Arts Commission; Carole Richmond, Planning Commissioner and Kendra Sawyer, Neighborhood Representative. The three finalists were interviewed on January 9, 2019, by members of the original panel with the exception of Commissioners Goddu and Richmond.
The Arts Commission recommends the team of Lin McJunkin and Milo White for the project. Their work is familiar to Olympians through their many years of participation in the Percival Plinth project. Jurors noted a strong synergy as a team, solid technical understanding and creative vision, all of which was reiterated among their references.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Neighborhood participation has been solicited at each step in the process, including representation on the jury.
Options:
1. Approve Lin McJunkin and Milo White as public artists for the West Bay Art Crossing project.
2. Modify the Arts Commission recommendation on public artists for the West Bay Art Crossing project.
3. Do not approve Lin McJunkin and Milo White as public artists for the West Bay Art Crossing project.
Financial Impact:
$50,000 from the Municipal Art Fund for design and fabrication of the art, and up to $25,000 for site preparation and installation.
Attachments:
Olympia Art Crossings Recommendation
Olympia Art Crossings Plan