Title
Approval of Eastside Street Art Crossing Project Artist
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission recommends the City Council move to approve Andrea Wilbur-Sigo as project artist for the Eastside Street Art Crossing.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Arts Commission recommendation.
Report
Issue:
Whether to authorize staff to bring artist Andrea Wilbur-Sigo under contract as project artist for the Eastside St. Art Crossing.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Timothy Grisham, Chair, Olympia Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Arts Commission and Olympia Planning Commission have developed a Master Plan for placing unique public art at eight major "gateways" throughout the City. This accomplishes several goals:
• Places public art deep into Olympia’s neighborhoods
• Contributes to a sense of community identity
• Introduces place making elements that help to define and bring together different areas of our community
City staff and the Arts Commission began the process for the second Art Crossing, on Eastside St., earlier this year (the first project for West Bay Drive is nearing completion). Staff worked closely with the Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) and Indian Creek Neighborhood Association (ICNA) to develop the Call for Art (or Request for Qualifications). Some of the key elements include:
• Initial conversation with interested Neighborhood Associations to develop the Call for Art for the Eastside Street Crossing location
• Participation by Neighborhood Association representatives on the juries
• A two-part application process with an RFQ followed by finalist interviews
On May 5, 2020, the jury committee for the Eastside Street Art Crossing project reviewed the 9 applications received and narrowed the list down to three finalists. Interviews took place via Zoom on May 27, 2020. Following three interviews with the finalists, the jury unanimously recommended Ms. Wilbur-Sigo for the project. Her artwork and her presence came across as very approachable and engaging. She spoke with the jury about connection, home and place, and interpreting neighborhood story in her language. The recommendation of Ms. Wilbur-Sigo feels very much a natural fit to this project and place.
If approved, following the contract process, the schedule for design development and approval follows:
• Artist familiarization tour with City Historic Preservation Officer and
Transportation Engineer followed by neighborhood meeting
• Draft Concept Plan presented during a public hearing at an Arts Commission meeting
• City Council approves art direction (Concept Plan)
• Arts Commission reviews final design details
• Artist moves into fabrication and installation
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
In addition to initial outreach in the neighborhoods, the jury committee included neighborhood representation:
Bob Droll, Landscape Architect
Stacy Hicks, Arts Commissioner
Dave Opincarne, Indian Creek Neighborhood Representative (Mr. Opincarne attended the jury, but not the interviews)
Aaron Sauerhoff, Planning Commissioner
Jim Sweeny, Eastside Neighborhood Representative
Commissioners Hicks and Sauerhoff both reside in the Indian Creek Neighborhood as well.
Options:
1. Approve Andrea Wilbur-Sigo as project artist for the Eastside Street Art Crossing.
2. Do not approve Andrea Wilbur-Sigo as project artist for the Eastside Street Art Crossing.
3. Make an alternate recommendation.
Financial Impact:
$50,000 for sculpture design and fabrication from the Municipal Art Fund.
Attachments:
Artist Recommendation
Artist Biography
Olympia Crossings Art Plan