HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 - Art In Public Places Board - Annual ReportART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD
2003 ANNUAL REPORT
BACKGROUND
The Art in Public Places Board held their first meeting in July of 1995. The APP board meetings
are being held the third Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center.
Members who served in 2003 were Ann Carr, Elizabeth Dale, Deanna Gram, Alan Howe, Jane
Liska-Smith, Roger Sherman, and Cori Hixon-Cunningham. Cori Hixon-Cunningham served as
Chairperson and Ann Carr served as Vice -Chair.
ADMINISTRATION. POLICIES & GUIDELINES
The APP Board continues to devote time identifying ways in which policies will be administered
in specific projects.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The APP Board continues to seek opportunities for art in community gateways and Utility
projects that support the goals of the Utility.
1 % PROJECTS (Completed)
The Park Planning and Development Department added Design Consultant Andrew Dufford to
the Fossil Creek Community Park design team. Mr. Dufford participated in a design charrette
and helped define the park theme and certain park elements. Andrew Dufford of ArtScapes was
then selected from the APP Resource List by members of the design team to create art for the
park. ArtScapes created and installed four works. "Cala Onda: The Ripple Cove" is a seating
area carved into the water's edge, the "Time Pods" are carved limestone sculptures, the "Knoll
Cauldron" is a basin at the highest point in the park, allowing visitors to view the Front Range
without seeing nearby developments, and an entry piece titled "Stones Gait."
The Engineering Department gave a presentation to the Board on the Taft Hill Road project.
They outlined possible opportunities for art at the site where Taft Hill Road meets the Spring
Creek bike trail. The Board moved to commission artist Carolyn Braaksma/Surface Strategy to
work with the project team and design elements for the concrete retaining walls. Surface
Strategy's images of roots and fossils; have created a visual, tactile environment with an
educational theme. The railings mimic the organic imagery with large bronze stems and flowers
appearing to grow from the wall.
Facilities staff presented plans for a new Traffic Operations Facility on Linden and Vine Street.
The board recommended an open competition to select an artist. Artist Jim Haire was selected
and worked with the project team on a design for a life-sized bronze sculpture depicting a
historic traffic officer. The piece was installed at the front entrance to the building.
Park Planning & Development met with the APP Board to discuss the opportunity for artwork at
Homestead Park. The six -acre site is located south of Trilby Road. The APP Board
recommended that the department select an artist from the pre -approved Design Consultant
Resource List to work with the team on a concept for art for the site. The selected artist, Kenny
Schneider, worked with the team and developed a musical art piece entitled "Joyride." The piece
consists of one hundred steel pipes of varying lengths that create a 100-foot long fence. This
interactive project becomes a musical instrument by dragging a stick along the pipes.
Facilities and Recreation staff presented plans for the Second Sheet of lee at EPIC. Through an
open competition an artist was selected to work with the team to create art for the site. The artist
team of Juan and Patricia Naverrete, developed concepts for five sculptural representations of
snow flakes entitled, "Ice Crystals." The works are suspended from the ceiling of the new ice
rink.
A city engineer presented ideas for projects that could be incorporated into the Pedestrian
Accessibility projects. The board recommended an open competition to solicit drawings from
Fort Collins students ages 3-18. The program advertised the competition, resulting in the
submission of 113 drawings. Six designs were selected and were sandblasted into granite pavers.
The pavers are being placed in city sidewalks.
Recreation and Facility staff presented design concepts for the new City Park Pool to the board.
Through an open competition, artist Joe McGrane was selected to work with the project design
team on concepts for art at the site. Mr. McGrane presented drawings for a piece titled, "100
Days of Summer." The design includes pre -cast concrete waves with colorful tile insets, 100
aluminum disks around the perimeter, and historic images of the pool in colored viewing lenses.
This interactive piece was installed at the front entry of the pool.
Staff researched transportation themes for images to be adhered to the Elevator Doors of the
Civic Center Parking Structure. Photographs of Fort Collins from the early 1900's were selected
from the Local History Archive. Staff created images, color -coded, for each of the four floors of
the parking structure as well as the inside of the north elevator. The images include text
describing the image location and the parking structure floor number.
I % PROJECTS (Pending)
Park Planning & Development staff reviewed the APP Design Consultant Resource List and
selected artist Robert Tully to create designs for artwork with the project team for Soft Gold
Park in north Fort Collins. The theme of this new city park is the historic trapping industry. Soft
Gold refers to the beaver pelts that were exchanged for goods. The APP Board reviewed two
designs and recommended a sculptural piece entitled, "Earth Beads." The work will be installed
in 2004.
The Advanced Planning Department had previously met with the APP Board to outline future
projects that may be gateways to the city. The Engineering Department updated the board on the
North College Improvement project. The APP Board discussed possible locations for a
gateway art piece and plans to hold an open competition early in 2004.
The Board continues to collaborate with the original Design Consultant on the Gardens on
Spring Creek design team. Artist Barry Rose worked on site -specific design concepts with the
project team. The final design is for a bronze entry arch, which is comprised of two bronze
figures mounted on stone pedestals. The piece will be installed in 2004.
A city Transportation Planner updated the board on the status of the Mason Street
Transportation Corridor. The project team initially selected a Design Consultant for this
project who worked on the master plan for the corridor. The artist, Andy Dufford, was invited to
continue with the project and work with the team on concepts for the site. This project is
currently in the design phase.
Park Planning and Development presented a new project that would extend the bike trail from
behind EPIC one mile to Drake Road. The APP Board recommended the project team select an
artist from the Design Consultant Resource List for the Power Trail project. The selected artist,
David Griggs, worked with the team on concepts for sculptural birdhouses at the site. The
multiple sculptural elements will be installed in 2004.
The APP program is collaborating with the city's Park Planning & Development Department and
the community on a project at the Oak Street Plaza in Old Town. An open competition was
held and artist Lawrence Argent was selected to work with the team. The team is currently
creating design concepts for the site.
City Engineers presented the East Prospect Road project to the board. Possible sites were
discussed along with the goal of an entryway feature. The APP program will advertise an open
competition in 2004 to select an artist to work with the team.
The Transportation Planning Department presented initial plans for a project on West Elizabeth
Street. These improvements will take place between City Park and Shields Streets. An artist
will be selected in 2004 to work with the team to develop concepts for art at this site.
Staff met with Park Planning and Development to discuss the design of Harmony Park in
Southeast Fort Collins. APP staff is coordinating a collaborative project with Preston Junior
High School, Traut Core Knowledge, and artist Jim Lynxwiler, to incorporate art into the site.
The artist was selected from the pre -approved Design Consultant Resource List. The students &
artist have created tile mosaic inserts to incorporate into the concrete walkways near the teaching
circles. The mosaics will be installed in 2004. Mr. Lynxwiler has also developed a concept for a
front entryway piece that includes the student's handmade ceramic tiles.
Staff created a request for proposals for a City Hall Water Feature project. This low -flow
water feature will be placed in the central area of the Xeriscape Garden, replacing the sculpture
that is currently there. That sculpture, entitled "Solstice" will be relocated to a new site. An
open competition was advertised and artist Richard Hansen was selected to work with a city
team on the specific needs for this site. This project will be funded with Utility funds and will
have a water theme/purpose. The APP board and City Council have approved Mr. Hansen's
design concept. This project is currently on hold due to recent drought conditions.
The APP program is starting the next phase of the Pedestrian Accessibility project, soliciting
drawings demonstrating life in Fort Collins or transportation themes. The open competition will
solicit drawings from Fort Collins students ages 3-18. The selected drawings will be sandblasted
into granite pavers and placed into city sidewalks.
The Park Planning Department presented the Case Park project to the APP Board. It was their
suggestion to work with the art teachers and students at the adjoining high school on a
collaborative project. The project team members, along with Fort Collins High School art
teacher Judi Bassani, selected artist Jim Lynxwiler to be the artist/mentor on this project. The
artist will resume his work on this park in 2004.
The APP program originally completed an art project at the Water Cycle Wall in 2002. We are
currently in the process of expanding this Utility outdoor classroom site. The project site is near
Spring Creek, just south of the Drake Pedestrian "Foot Bridge," and includes a wall that will
serve as an observational focal point. An open competition was held to select an artist to work
with the team on the project. The artist will work with the Utility team on concepts for the art at
the site.
A Utility Engineer presented the Sheldon Lake project to the APP Board. An open competition
was held and artist Brower Hatcher was selected to work with the team. The team will start
meeting in 2004.
DONATIONS
The Lincoln Center Entryway project is a donation to the center by the Lincoln Center League
and ArtWear. Tim Upham was selected by an open competition and has worked with the project
team on concepts for art at the site. The final design, which includes artful paving, bench &
archway, is currently being installed.
DESIGN CONSULTANTS
This process adds an APP Design Consultant to the design team at the start of a project to work
towards early integrated, site -specific works of art. The Design Consultant Resource List of pre -
approved consultants was reopened this year for judging. The new list includes 10 artists from
Fort Collins and the Front Range area. The Board agreed that the Design Consultants' terms
should be two years.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS
APP staff has been assisting the Parks Department in acquiring artistically painted trashcans,
working with local art teachers and students on this collaborative project. A special trashcan
painting demonstration was also presented at a city summer concert series event. Employees of
Vaught Frye Architects and Vaught Ripley Landscape Architects, volunteered to paint trashcans
at this event.
APP staff members continue to give support to private businesses in the community. Staff assists
with providing information on processes for acquiring art and contacts with artists.
MAINTENANCE
Staff has created a maintenance plan for its collection.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The APP webpage, www.fcgov.com/artspublic, has been updated to include new projects, an
image gallery, and project description pages.