RTC#24-1054REPORT TO ARTS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Review and Approve 26 Artists and Their Conceptual Designs for The Suns of Sunnyvale Program
Report
BACKGROUND
In November 2021, City Council approved an allocation of $100,000 from the Public Art Fund to implement new temporary public art, the Sunnyvale Icon Sculpture Project (formerly titled “Prefabricated Sculptures Altered by Artists” (Attachment 1 - RTC No. 21-0972)). The goal of this program is to create public art that is iconic and distinctly Sunnyvale, while providing fun exploration of the community.
On May 16, 2023, City Council selected a sun as the base concept for the Sunnyvale Icon Project (Attachment 2 - RTC No. 23-0582) and authorized the Arts Commission to approve the artist selection and final design concepts for the project. Council also requested additional locations and authorized staff to determine those locations.
In June 2024, the project was retitled “The Suns of Sunnyvale” and a Call for Artists/Request for Qualifications was distributed through public art websites, artist networks and the City’s website inviting artists residing in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Contra Costa, San Francisco and Alameda Counties to apply for the commission (Attachment 3). A total of 39 artists applied and a committee juried the applications down to 26 artists.
This report presents 26 artists and their conceptual designs for the sun sculptures. The Arts Commission is being asked to review and approve the artists and their designs.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Council Policy 6.4.4 - Art in Public Places
Master Plan for Public Art
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Sunnyvale Suns program is exempt from environmental review pursuant to section 15303€ of the CEQA Guidelines (minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment), and because it will not result in direct or indirect changes to the physical environment (CEQA Guideline 15378(b)(5)).
DISCUSSION
Selected Locations
The recommended locations for this project were developed by staff using an equity lens, in support of the City’s equity, access, and inclusion initiative (one park per district), as well as considering where existing artworks already reside and where scheduled upcoming public art projects would be located within the city:
• DeAnza Park
• Las Palmas Park
• Ortega Park
• Ponderosa Park
• Columbia Park
• Fairwood Park
The exception to this selection process was District 2, where there was a large amount of existing public art (Downtown, Civic Center, El Camino Real Corridor). Staff instead selected a second park in District 1, Las Palmas, since it resides directly across the street from District 2 and there is currently no public art in Las Palmas Park or other neighboring parks in District 1.
At the May 16, 2023 Council meeting, the recommended locations were approved. Council also asked for additional locations and authorized staff to determine what those would be. Staff is currently surveying parks to determine how many other parks have appropriate locations on concrete, with good visibility and that will not block or restrict pedestrian and bike paths.
The exact number at each park will also be determined once the completed sculptures have been returned and staff can group the sculptures, so they are diverse in subject matter, yet complement each other stylistically.
Maintenance Requirements
The sun sculptures are considered temporary and are expected to remain on display for up to 24 months with only an occasional rinsing to eliminate dust. Each of the sculptures will be coated with a clear coat to protect against the elements and make cleaning graffiti easier if needed.
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALS
The artists and their design proposals are being presented in alphabetical order (Attachment 4):
1. Alexandra Muddle: Native California wildflowers and Pollinators
2. Amber Smith: California Grey Wolf
3. ArtCircle: Elements of nature in a metamorphic style
4. Caitlin Gilbert: Peacock Feathers
5. Christine Oliver: California Poppies
6. Christine Ong-Dijcks: Child’s Play to Sustainable Innovation
7. Deirdre Weinberg: Medieval sundials
8. Gregg Adams: Suns
9. Janett Peace: Sunnyvale points of interest
10. Jemal Diamond: Cubist Suns
11. John Joseph Contreras Romero: Vibrancy of Sunnyvale
12. Julia Ive: Happy and meditative Suns
13. Kristen Chase: Silhouettes of park activities
14. Linda Nystrom: Breakdancing Geese
15. Lizzy Kramer: Sunlight and Moonlight Characters
16. Looking up Arts: Mirror and L.E.D. suns
17. MOKA Collective: Mesoamerican designs
18. Qinghui Ji: 60’s graphic design
19. Rachel Tirosh: Candle flames
20. Saniya Sayyad: Sunnyvale greenery
21. Sarabjit Singh: Happy Face sun
22. Skye Becker-Yamakawa: The Mushroom Army and Mock Turtle
23. Sophia Lee: Goddess Minerva and California animals
24. Suodaba Adel: The Night Sky
25. Susan Butler-Graham: Garden plants and birds
26. Zoe Caron: Monarch Butterflies and Quail
FISCAL IMPACT
The project budget for this project is $100,000. The funds will be expended from the Public Art Fund, with approximately $50,000 for fabrication, $26,000 for artist stipends and $24,000 for installation and incidental costs.
The sun sculptures are considered temporary artworks and therefore are not scheduled for on-going maintenance. Should a minor repair be deemed necessary, that cost can be covered out of the Art in Public Places operating budget. If the repair is not considered minor, the City has retained the right to remove the sun sculpture from public display.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Review and Approve 26 Artists and Their Conceptual Designs for The Suns of Sunnyvale Program.
2. Approve less than 26 Artists and Their Conceptual Designs for The Suns of Sunnyvale Program and direct staff to work with the artists of the unapproved designs to develop a new concept.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
There is no staff recommendation for this project.
JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the Art in Public Places procedures, and the City Council’s direction, the Arts Commission should review the 26 artists and their conceptual designs for final approval.
The selected conceptual designs will be further developed, if necessary, with oversight from staff to meet the Art in Public Places and Master Plan for Public Art guidelines within the allocated budget.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Kristin Dance, Recreation Services Coordinator II
Reviewed by: Trenton Hill, Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services
Approved by: Michelle Perera, Director of Library and Recreation Services
ATTACHMENTS
1. RTC No. 21-0972
2. RTC No. 23-0582
3. Call for Artists
4. Conceptual Designs