REPORT TO ARTS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Review and Recommendation of Public Art - Fair Oaks Park Renovation
Report
BACKGROUND
Fair Oaks Park is a 15-acre community park originally built in 1969. It is centrally located within the City and currently includes multi-use fields, picnic areas, basketball and volleyball courts, and a playground and skate park (Attachment 1 - Vicinity Map).
The proposed renovation was approved by City Council on Oct. 16, 2018 (RTC 18- 0646). The new design ensures the park’s sustainability by enhancingrecreational uses, increasing attractiveness and improving accessibility for all park users. Additionally, this renovation includes replacing the athletic fields with the City’s first synthetic turf field, renovating the picnic areas and park amenities, lighting upgrades, ADA improvements, a more water efficient feature, replacing the basketball courts, a new restroom facility, and installing an inclusive playground developed in partnership with the Magical Bridge Foundation.
Subject to Council Policy 6.4.4 - Art in Public Places (AIPP), the renovation will also incorporate a 1 percent expenditure for public art at an estimated $140,000.
A Request for Qualifications was distributed through public art websites, artist networks and the City website inviting California artists to apply for the commission. A total of 16 artists applied for the commission. An eight-member community selection panel including art professionals and project staff was convened to evaluate the qualifications of the artists (Attachment 2 - Call for Artists). Through a juried process, a list of five artists was established. Those artists were invited to develop a detailed conceptual design proposal incorporating the park’s “Old English” theme.
This report provides information on the five conceptual design proposals. The Arts Commission is being asked to review and rank the conceptual design proposals. The Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to City Council on Feb. 25, 2020 for consideration and final approval.
Following City Council’s approval, staff will work with the selected artist to finalize details, including exact location and engineering of the art, as well as developing a community workshop to highlight the art. Details of the final design will be presented to the Arts Commission and City Council as an informational item at a future date.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Municipal Code 19.52 - Art in Private Development
Sunnyvale Council Policy 6.4.4 - Art in Public Places
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15302, as it consists of renovation and enhancement of existing park facilities, and all proposed renovations and enhancements would occur within the boundary of the existing park, resulting in negligible to no expansion of existing use.
DISCUSSION
Selected Locations
Possible public art locations identified by the project committee are (Attachment 3 - Site Plan with Art Locations):
1. Dog park: A 13,500-square feet area with seating surrounded by chain-link fencing. Possible artwork could be benches, free-standing sculpture(s) or fence enhancement.
2. Walkway markers: A concrete walking path surround the new athletic fields including five mileage markers. Possible art elements could include ground level markers.
3. Green space at Wolfe Road: Existing open space suitable for interactive, free-standing or functional public art.
4. Green space adjacent to park building: Existing open space suitable for interactive, free-standing or functional public art. Treatments for the planter walls can also be considered.
5. Picnic area entrance: Gateway marker(s).
Conceptual Art Proposals
Proposal #1 was submitted by the North San Juan artistic team Faducci (Attachment 4 - Faducci Resume and Design Proposal). Faducci’s proposal consists of three hand sculpted cement statues and five etched granite markers. The statues will be constructed with a steel armature covered with hand-sculpted colored concrete and secured to an 18-inch concrete pad. They will reside in the open space along Wolfe Road:
• Old English Sheep Dog with an Elizabethan collar and buckle shoes measuring 6-feet, 6-inches tall by 6-feet, 6-inches wide by 4-feet, 6-inches deep.
• Knight in Armor with raised sword. The face of the sculpture will be open and rear steps and handholds will be incorporated to accommodate interactive photo opportunities. The sculpture will stand 6-feet tall by 3-feet 6-inches wide by 2-feet deep.
• Elizabethan Woman in peasant dress. The face of the sculpture will be open and rear steps and handholds will be incorporated to accommodate interactive photo opportunities. The sculpture will stand 5-feet, 6-inches tall by 3-feet wide by 2-feet deep.
The five granite markers will be integrated at intervals into the walking path surrounding the athletic field. Measuring 24-inches square, each marker will be etched with a quotation from Shakespeare:
• “All is well that ends well”
• “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late”
• “The wheel is come full circle, I am here”
• “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast”
• “Now bid me run and I will strive with things impossible”
Maintenance of the sculptures and markers will consist of washing with mild soap and a nylon brush annually. A top coat of concrete sealer will also be applied to protect the art and guard against graffiti as needed.
For more information on Faducci and to see more of their work, visit faducci.com.
Proposal #2 was submitted by Richmond artist Archie Held (Attachment 5 - Held Resume and Design Proposal). Mr. Held is proposing a colorful castle structure to represent the park's "Old English" theme. It will stand 18-feet tall by 7-feet, 6-inches deep by 20-feet wide and will be installed in the open space along Wolfe Road. The castle will be fabricated with a strong industrial stainless steel mesh and the towers will be capped with aluminum. The small mesh size will prevent climbing on the structure, but the 4-feet 6-inch gate in the center of the structure will remain open to encourage park users to walk through. The entire sculpture will be powder coated in vivid colors with a clear coating to protect the paint and deter graffiti.
Maintenance will be minimal, requiring a semiannual rinsing with touch-up paint and sealing as needed.
For more information on Archie Held and to see more of his work, visit archieheld.com.
Proposal #3 was submitted by Pacifica artist Cork Marcheschi (Attachment 6 - Marcheschi Resume and Design Proposal). Mr. Marcheschi is proposing a grouping of two abstract sculptures supported by a single aluminum pole. Each sculpture will contain several colorful, playful elements fabricated from aluminum and plastic, and illuminated by LED lights. The geometric elements were inspired by examples of British heraldry and decorative pennants. The sculptures will measure 16- to 20-feet tall and will be installed in the open space along Wolfe Road.
For more information on Cork Marcheschi and to see more of his work, visit corkmarcheschi.net.
Proposal #4 was submitted by San Jose sculptor James Moore (Attachment 7 - Moore Resume and Design Proposal). Mr. Moore is proposing a grouping of five sculptures placed in the open space along Wolfe Road. Each of the sculptures was designed with the themes of "movement" and "play" to represent human figures enjoying activities prominent in the park (basketball, soccer, baseball). The sculptures will vary in height, the tallest figure standing 10-feet tall and the shortest figure standing 6.5-feet tall. They will be secured to a 5-feet square base and anchored with concrete pilings below grade. Fabricated in aluminum, the sculptures will be treated with a metal dye to give it the appearance of pewter, connecting its contemporary style with the "Old English" theme of the park. The faces of the figures and the sports balls will be painted in primary colors (red, yellow and blue) using high-grade automotive paint to set them apart from the antiqued metal bodies. These elements will also be coated with a clear protective coat for protection and easy maintenance.
Maintenance will consist of annual rinsing and a reapplication of the color or clear coat when needed.
For more information on James Moore and to see more of his work, visit jamesmooresculpture.com.
Proposal #5 was submitted by Emeryville sculptor, Vickie Jo Sowell (Attachment 8 - Sowell Resume and Design Proposal). Ms. Sowell is proposing a large-scale sculpture entitled To Bee, or not to Be, which will be installed in an interior location along an entry pathway from Wolfe Road, among planters and existing landscaping. Fabricated with stainless steel and patinaed with an antique silver and black finish, the sculpture will stand 15-feet at its highest point, by 20-feet wide, by 12-feet deep. The sculpture is designed to celebrate the presence and importance of bees and pollination in our native surroundings and there will be three main elements to the sculpture:
• Steel spiral: This part of the sculpture includes an eye level, oversized bumble bee sitting on a spiral that seemingly follows the path the bumble bee might take, looping skyward and back in a circle, nearby a large, oversized sunflower. The center of the flower is adorned with an antique lace pattern in reference to the park’s “Old English” theme.
• Standalone bumble bee: Situated adjacent to the spiral is another bumble bee, although this one is more human-scaled, measuring 5-feet long by 3-feet, 6-inches tall with a wingspan of 10-feet, 6-inches wide. Antique patterned cutouts line the side of the bee and its wings.
• Blossom: A smaller stainless steel blossom sits alongside with informational signage providing a written narrative about the native species of bees and their role in pollination in an urban setting. QR codes connect viewers to further resources.
The sculpture elements are arranged in an open triangle to invite viewers to move through and interact with the artwork.
Maintenance will entail annual rinsing and polishing.
For more information on Vicki Jo Sowell and to see more of her work, visit unrulyimages.com.
FISCAL IMPACT
A total of $140,000 is required for public art in the Fair Oaks Park Renovation Project (#830340). $135,000 has been allocated for the acquisition and installation of the artwork and $5,000 has been allocated for design fee stipends.
On-going maintenance for this project will require an estimated $1,000-$2,500 per year, which can be allocated as a part of the Permanent Art Collection annual maintenance.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Arts Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
There is no staff recommendation for this project. Per the Art in Public Places procedures, the Arts Commission is authorized to rank the proposals and develop a recommendation to the City Council for consideration and final approval. Additionally, the approved design proposal will be further developed with oversight from staff to meet the Art in Public Places guidelines within the allocated budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Kristin Dance, Community Services Coordinator II
Reviewed by: Trenton Hill, Community Services Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Community Services
Approved by: Cherise Brandell, Director of Library and Community Services
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Call for Artists
3. Site Plan with Art Locations
4. Faducci Resume and Design Proposal
5. Held Resume and Design Proposal
6. Marcheschi Resume and Design Proposal
7. Moore Resume and Design Proposal
8. Sowell Resume and Design Proposal