HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Art In Public Places Board - Annual ReportART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD
2004 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 2004 were Ann Carr, Elizabeth Dale, Alan Howe, Ray Tollison, Lee Needham, Roger
Sherman, and Cori Hixon-Cunningham. Roger Sherman served as Chairperson and Ray Tollison 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. The Board is also working with staff to develop a memorial catalogue for city donations.
I % PROJECTS (Completed)
City Engineers worked with artist team Design TRIA to complete the W. Elizabeth Street Project. The artist team
was selected from the pre -approved Design Consultant Resource List. The theme of the work promotes a better
working relationship between motorists and pedestrians. It consists of four steel banners, colorful mosaic panels,
patina stained concrete "bollards," painted pedestrian icon motifs, and sculptural steel bollard toppers.
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
city park is the historic trapping industry. "Soft Gold" refers to the beaver pelts that were once exchanged for goods.
The title of Tully's work, `Barth Beads" refers to the beads that trappers used to obtain beaver pelts from Native
Americans in Fort Collins between 1820 and 1840, and the traders' use of natural resources for exchange. The
installation depicts a necklace of bead -like rocks created at the entry of the park.
The Board continued working 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. This work depicts two cast bronze
figures made of woven roots, facing each other in the form of an arch set on two stone pedestals. One figure pours
`precious' water from a vessel into the other hand's, "Passing the Baton" referencing time, knowledge and
responsibility.
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. These eccentric sculptural birdhouses serve as surprising and interesting trail landmarks while
raising awareness about wildlife populations, and encouraging the beneficial behavior of certain species of birds.
Each of the three birdhouses accommodates up to four bird families. The sizes and designs of these cabinets are
suitable for many indigenous birds, and especially appropriate for Kestrels. The birdhouses are installed along the
trail.
Staff met with Park Planning and Development to discuss the design of Harmony Park in Southeast Fort Collins.
APP staff coordinated 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 artist worked with students to create designs for tile mosaic inserts that were then incorporated
into the concrete walkways near the teaching circles. The concept of "Harmony" was used as a guiding principle for
the students to collaborate on the project, with themes such as passage, astronomy, race, composition, nature, and
sound for each mosaic panel.
The APP program continued with the 2004 Pedestrian Accessibility project, by soliciting drawings demonstrating
life in Fort Collins or transportation themes. The open competition solicited drawings from Fort Collins' students
ages 3-18. The selected drawings have been sandblasted into granite pavers and some were placed into city
sidewalks. The remaining pavers will be placed in 2005.
1 % PROJECTS (Pending)
The APP Program is currently working on art projects with Utility themes. A RFP was created and artist James Haire
was selected to work with the Utility team for the Utility Service Center Entryway project. The artwork will
depict five life-sized utility workers in bronze. The artist has sculpted three of the figures, which are in various
stages of fabrication. The entryway piece will be installed in 2005.
The Utility Department presented the Drake Water Reclamation project to the APP Board. Through an open
competition, artist Lynne Hull was selected and is currently working with the project team to develop concepts for
the site. The piece will be installed in 2005.
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 on design concepts. The team is currently developing concepts
for the site.
Spring Canyon Community Park project and the Utility Southwest Pump Station project were combined in an
open competition. Artist Karl Ciesluk was selected and he has visited the site and is currently working with the team
on the overall design of the park and concepts for the artwork.
Artist David Griggs was selected from an open competition to work with the team on the CSU Transit Center
Phase II project. He is working with the team on the project and also concepts for art at this site.
The APP Program is currently working with the Park Planning Department on the Oak Street Plaza project. This
collaborative project will renovate the Old Town Oak Street Plaza area. An open competition was held and artist
Lawrence Argent was select to work with the team The team is currently creating design concepts for the site.
Staff created a request for proposal for a City Hall Water Feature project. The water feature will be placed in the
central area of the Xeriscape Garden, replacing the sculpture that is currently there. An RFP was created and artist
Richard Hansen was selected to work with a team of city employees on the specific needs for this site. The team
seeks to expand the educational components of this outdoor classroom. The APP board and City Council have
approved Mr. Hansen's design concept. This project was on hold due to drought conditions, however is under
construction again and will be installed in 2005.
City Engineers presented the East Prospect Road project to the board. An open competition was held and the artist
team of Carol May and Tim Watkins were selected to work with the team on design concepts. The team has visited
the site and is currently working with the team and creating design concepts for this project.
The artist team Design Tria was selected from the pre -approved Design Consultant list by the Mason Street
Transportation Corridor project team. Another artist had originally helped define areas and opportunities for art
in the corridor master plan. Design Tria is currently working with the team to develop concepts for this site.
An open competition was held, artist Joe McGrane was selected to work with the team on the Water Cycle Wall
Expansion project. This project will expand the Utility's educational outdoor classroom. This project entitled,
"Water Washed the Earth" was approved by City Council and will be installed in 2005.
The city is currently collaborating with the Downtown Development Authority on an Old Town Downtown Alley
Project. This project is funded by Utility money will have a utility theme. This competition was held and artist
Barb McKee/Surface Strategy was selected for this project. The artist is currently working with the design team to
develop concepts for art at this site.
The Advanced Planning Department had previously met with the APP Board to outline the various gateways to the
city and options to work together as a team. The Board discussed being attentive to future projects that may be
gateways to the city. The City's Engineering Department updated the board on the North College Improvement
project. Artist Howard Kalish was selected from an open competition. The artist will visit the site and start meeting
with the team shortly.
Park Planning staff proposed that the Art in Public Places Program work with them and place art at the site that they
are currently developing. The project team for the Fossil Creek Trail project interviewed artists from the APP
Design Consultant list and selected artist team Design Tria. The artist team is currently meeting with the project
team on concepts for art at the site.
The Utility Department distributed information to the board on opportunities for art on Transformer Cabinets.
This Utility project was advertised in an open competition and artist Sandra Tolan was selected. The artist will start
meeting with the project team to develop the art for the transformer cabinets.
Utility staff presented the APP Board with a project for Conservation Themed Benches that would help promote
the Utilities educational goals. The project team interviewed artists from the APP Design Consultant list and
selected artist Barb McKee/Surface Strategy. She is currently meeting with the project team to develop concepts for
this project.
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 Fort Collins High School on a collaborative project. The artist has
been on hold waiting for the second phase of Case Park. The park is currently in phase II and will start meeting
again with artist Jim Lynxwiler to develop the art for this site.
A city engineer presented ideas for projects that could be incorporated into city sidewalks. The board recommended
an open competition to solicit drawings from Fort Collins students ages 3-18. The APP program advertised the 2005
Pedestrian Paver competition and will select drawings in February 2005. Up to 15 designs will be selected and be
sandblasted into granite pavers. This will be the third year for this program.
DONATIONS
The Lincoln Center Entryway project is a donation to the center by the Lincoln Center Support League and
ArtWear. Tim Upham was selected by an open competition and worked with the project team on concepts for art at
the site. The piece entitled, "Portal' includes artful paving, bench & archway. The piece was installed outside the
front doors of Lincoln Center.
APP staff attended a regional Art in Public Places meeting in Greeley to share program information with area APP
staff and board members.
APP staff has been assisting the Parks Department in acquiring artistically painted trashcans, working with local art
teachers and students on this collaborative project. The Elementary schools that participated in 2004 were Olander,
Riffenburgh, Laurel, and Irish Elementary Schools and Pioneer School.
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.
The APP webpage, www.fcgov.com/artspublic, continues to be updated with new projects and project descriptions.