HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 - Art In Public Places Board - Annual ReportART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD
2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Lincoln Center Lobby – Barbara Baer Watercycle Wall - Joe McGrane Ice Bear Mural – Ren Burke
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 2011 were Liliane Francuz, Shelby Sommer, Lee Needham, Jane Nevrivy, Craig Russell, Ray
Tollison, and York. Shelby Sommer served as Chairperson and York served as Vice-Chair.
ADMINISTRATION, POLICIES & GUIDELINES
The APP Board continues to devote time to identifying ways in which policies will be administered in specific projects.
The board updated the art donation process this year.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
The APP Board continues to seek opportunities for art in community gateways and for Utility projects that support the
goals of the Utility.
APP has been collaborating with the Downtown Development Authority, Bohemian Foundation, Team Fort Collins and
Poudre River Library District on several exciting projects for the city. For more details, see “Community Outreach.”
DESIGN CONSULTANT LIST
In 2011, the APP Board selected 15 visual artists to be placed on the city’s Preapproved Design Consultant List. These
Design Consultants continue to work with city departments and design teams to integrate art into city construction projects.
Artists are selected every two years to keep the list updated.
1% PROJECTS (Completed)
2011 Transformer Cabinet Mural Project - Sixteen local artists painted murals on twenty-six cabinets in 2011.
One hundred sixteen cabinets have been painted over the six years of this annual project. This project has a very
high success rate at mitigating graffiti on the painted cabinets and saves Utility/city money in abatement costs.
This project contributes to the city’s economic development as visitors to the area have begun to seek out the
murals as they tour the city. This project was collaboration with Utility Light and Power.
Lincoln Center Renovation Project - Artist Barbara Baer created an exterior sculpture for the south side of the
building and an interior illuminated wall piece for the main lobby.
College and Harmony Project - Artist Robert Tully created illuminated stainless steel sculptures that were
placed in the four existing columns incorporated into the corners of this intersection.
Ice Bear Mural Project – Artists Ren Burke and Rolfe Bautista painted murals on the two test Ice Bears units
that are located in town. This was a Utility project.
Northside Aztlan Skatepark Mural Project - Artist Amanda Marie Ploegsma worked with the skatepark
community to develop the design and paint the mural on site. This mural was partially funded by Team Fort
Collins.
Water Cycle Wall Interpretive Signage and Trail Cairns - Artist Joe McGrane created a stone carin and
interpretive signage that were added to the existing Water Cycle Wall on the Spring Creek Trail to better explain
the educational site created in cooperation with the Utility Department.
Water’s Way Park Project - Artist Robert Tully installed two different components for this site. The first is an
historic dam gate of stone and steel. The second is a flow pattern of tall grasses with sculpted concrete edging for
the planting beds. This was a Park Planning Department project.
1% PROJECTS (in progress)
Fort Collins Discovery Museum Project - Artist Ned Kahn is working with the project team to develop art
concepts for the site that meet the goals of the project. This is a Utility project.
Linden Street Pocket Park Project – An RFQ is currently out for this project, seeking an artist to work with the
project team to meet its historical and educational goals..
Linden Streetscape Project - Local artist Susan Dailey is in the process of creating large granite pavers with
local historical themes for this site.
Mason Transportation Corridor Project - Artist Robert Tully is developing art elements that are the functional
components of the corridor (i.e., benches, light poles, windscreens).
North College Projects – The first N. College Project component involves artist Andy Dufford developing
concepts with the project team for this streetscape site.
The second N. College Project component will have artist Howard Kalish working on an entryway piece in the
near future.
Pedestrian Paver Project – An RFP is currently out for this project, seeking drawings from local youth, ages 3-
18. Selected paver designs are sandblasted in granite and placed in City sidewalks. This is the ninth competition
for the ongoing program that works with the City’s Engineering Dept. There are 106 pavers placed, to date.
Radiant Park Project - Artist Erick Johnson is currently meeting with the project team to develop artistic
elements for this site.
Registry Park Project - Artist Patrick Marold is currently refining his concepts of a site-specific piece for this
new park.
2012 Transformer Cabinet Mural Project – An RFQ is currently out for this ongoing project. Local artists are
selected to paint murals on transformer cabinets that Utilities staff identifies as frequent targets of graffiti. 2012
will be the seventh year for the program. This is a Utilities project.
Turnberry Road Project – An artist has recently been selected to work on this project. The artist will work with
the project team to develop the concept for art at this site.
Manhole Cover Project - The community was invited to submit drawings of local aquatic insects. The selected
drawing will be made into manhole covers to be placed throughout the city. This is the start of a five year
program with the Utilities Department, meant to educate the public on local watersheds.
Storm Drain Marker Project - The community was invited to submit drawings of local aquatic insects. The
selected drawings will be made into multiple storm drain markers and placed throughout the city. This is the start
of a five year program with the Utility Department, meant to educate the public on local watersheds.
Water Quality Box Project - Artist Andy Dufford has designed boxes that will house Utility water quality testing
equipment in an educational and artistic manner. This project will be installed in 2012.
Water Restoration Project – Local artist Lynne Hull is working with the project team from the Utility Water
Systems Engineering Department to design a water diversion wall on the Cache la Poudre River near the
Environmental Learning Center.
1% PROJECTS (on hold)
Iconic Art Piece in Old Town – Locations are being considered by the APP Board. They are working toward
selecting a site and defining the budget and artist selection process for this project. This project is currently on
hold.
Pickle Plant Project - Artist Robert Tully and the project team are developing a concept that creates a gateway
into Old Town, reflects the historical significance of the site, and generates renewable energy. This is a Utility
project and is currently on hold.
West Harmony Road Project – The APP Program will select an artist to develop concepts appropriate to the site.
DONATIONS - Donations have increased, reflecting greater community appreciation for the value of public art.
Rafael Lopez Community Mural – The Poudre River Library District donated this artwork to the City. APP
worked with the Library District in the coordination of this project that brought internationally known muralist,
Rafael Lopez, to Fort Collins to work with the community on this mural at the Civic Center Parking Facility.
Senior Center Blog Pony - Local artist JJ Edwards created this artwork which was donated to the City by a
private donor.
2010 DDA Art in Action Project - Two life size bronze dancers were gifted to the City from the Downtown
Development Authority. Local artist Jim Lynxwiler worked on the sculptures in Old Town Square during the
summer of 2010. The pieces were installed this fall at the intersection of Walnut and Linden Streets.
Veteran’s Plaza - Private donors who worked with the City’s Park Planning Department to build a plaza at
Spring Canyon Park and gifted a bronze sculpture for that site. The sculpture was installed in 2011.
EPIC - A private donor is working toward the donation of a sculpture for the exterior of the EPIC facility. The
bronze sculpture will be installed in 2012.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS
Pianos About Town Project Rafael Lopez Com. Mural Trash Can Project
Pianos About Town Project - This collaboration with APP, the Downtown Development Authority, and
Bohemian Foundation had 14 artists painting murals on pianos, in view of the public in Old Town Square. The
pianos were then rotated around Fort Collins for the community to discover and enjoy.
Rafael Lopez Community Mural – This collaborative project with the Poudre River Library district invited the
community to help paint the mural that was then gifted to the City.
Trash Can Project - Four groups participated in this ongoing project: Bennett Elementary School, Dayspring
Christian Church Youth Group, Schuff family and friends, and St. Joseph School (two groups). Painted trash cans
are placed in City parks for the community to enjoy.
Poudre River Library District Expansion Project – APP is helping the library district commission artwork for
the expanded downtown branch building.
Transformer Cabinet Sponsorship – APP worked with Utilities to develop a process for individuals and
businesses to donate a transformer cabinet mural to the city.
DDA Partnership – APP continued the third year of its partnership with the Downtown Development Authority
(DDA) with the Pianos About Town Project as the 2011 phase of the Art in Action Project. Art in Action is an
ongoing project that brings visual artists to Old Town Square to interact with the public while sharing their
creative process.
Professional Support - 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.
PUBLICITY
Local Publications - The Fort Collins Coloradoan, Scene Magazine, Rocky Mountain Collegian, and Northern
Colorado Business Report printed various photos and articles of APP Projects throughout the year.
Blogs - The local community and visitors to Fort Collins continue to include stories on our APP projects in their
blogs.
Facebook - The Pianos About Town Project invites the community to participate with the project’s Facebook
page at http://www.facebook.com/pianosabouttown
fcgov.com/artspublic - The APP website continues to be updated with new projects, project descriptions., and
current calls for art and artists. The website also includes printable maps of the Pedestrian Pavers, the Transformer
Cabinet Mural Project, and APP art locations throughout the city.
APP Brochures - The APP program promoted their Transformer Cabinet Mural Project with informational
brochures at the Visitor’s and Convention Bureau and the APP website.
URBAN DESIGN AWARDS
Two APP artworks received Urban Design Awards from the City’s Advance Planning Department: “Curtain,” Barbara
Baer’s illuminated sculpture on the exterior of the Lincoln Center, and “Knowledge Shared,” Ms Baer’s sculptural
installation in the lobby of Council Tree library.
MAINTENANCE
The program continues to use our artistic expertise communication with the artists to maintain the APP collection.
“Solar Path,” a sculpture installed alongside Sheldon Lake in City Park was vandalized. Several of the custom solar lights
were stolen off the piece, leaving significant damage. Staff is working on next steps to restore the artwork.