HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes AIPP 072301I?
• CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
MUNICIPAL COMPLEX ART TASK FORCE
July 23, 2001
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The regular meeting of the Municipal Complex Art Task Force of the
City of Palm Beach Gardens, started at 4:51 P.M. in the Council Chambers
at City Hall, 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Present
David Porter
Cynthia Grey
Raymond Katz
Jeff Blakely
Howard Ostrout
Caren Hackman (arrived 5:05 pm)
Sheryl Wood (arrived 5:05 pm)
Absent
Garri Katz
Ted Thoburn
also present:
Approval of Minutes
GardensArt Specialist: Amy Stepper
Joel Straus, Art Consultant to City of Palm Beach Gardens
D.Porter made a motion to approve the minutes of April 23, 2001. Jeff Blakely seconded
the motion. All in favor. The motion carried with a 6 -0 vote.
Discussion: Multi -Media Visual Presentation by Joel Straus
J. Straus explained what his presentation would include and what he was about to show
us with video, slides, and books. He would give us a brief bio of each artist he selected. A
handout (matrix) was given to each Task Force member.(see attached)This matrix could
be used to "score" each artist. Pros and cons for each artist would be discussed as we
went through the presentation.
C. Grey was given confirmation of locations for interior and exterior pieces.
Discussion: Indoor Installation
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Artist presented: Jacob Hashimoto, 28 years old (Kite Installation)
This artist works with small paper kites. A lobby installation for City Hall would be made
up from approximately 4,000 tiny paper kites. Considerations include: light and color
fastness, maintenance issues -dust, cobwebs, water damage. General consensus was
favorable. Pros: Beautiful design, "mobile" would look different from many angles,
transparent material would show light.
Artist presented: Fre IIgen
Series of suspended works in an atrium space that simulate movement. Colorful pigments
on aluminum and wood. Maintenance issues discussed. UV coated materials would be
necessary.
J.Straus mentioned to Task Force that an interior piece would definitely be
commissioned, while an exterior sculpture may exist or may be commissioned.
Artist presented: Tim Prentice, 72 years old, NY artist and retired architect who now is
working full time on sculpture. He lives in CT. wy0-t,
Kinetic work shown on video. Artist uses feathers, aluminum, etc. He has done many
major installations with his latest in Korea. Pros: any age person can enjoy this very
engaging, lightweight, and "fun" kinetic work; constant movement of piece
C.Hackman asked if Tim Prentice were too busy to begin and complete work for this
project. J.Straus replied that he is quite accessible and not to worry about meeting a
feasible schedule.
Artist presented: Lincoln Schatz, 35 year old Chicago artist.
Constructivist background, singular work
A sketch was presented. (Inverted large bell shaped acrylic object hanging in lobby
space) All of his other works were also of acrylic shapes. J. Straus showed us one project
where the art looked like a series of round acrylic satellite dishes mounted to the face of a
multi -story building. Task Force did not like his work.
Artist presented: James Surls, 58 year old Texan, lives in Colorado.
Artist works in wood. Primal figures, anthropological work. Work is not kinetic.
Size of work: approx. 6 -7 ft. His work is not as site specific as others. His work is
powerful and can be colorful. Artist uses organic -type materials that contrast our lobby
space. Overall response was somewhat positive.
Artist presented: Costas Varotsos, Greek artist.
Artist works in glass and stone. This artist really understands space and volume. His work
is powerful. A simulated photo was presented using our actual lobby space. The
committee did not like the particular shape of the presented work but the material
(green glass and individual suspension) received positive comments.
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H. Ostrout left at 6:30 pm but turned in a completed interior voting matrix
Task Force took a dinner break in the council conference room.
At the end of dinner break, Task Force unanimously voted to begin preliminary sketches
or to create a model with Tim Prentice. J.Straus recommends $3,000 for artist to begin.
This would include his trip to see the lobby space and for a "model ". J.Straus tells
committee that Prentice is quite fond of computer- animated models and that is the artists'
best representation for his commissioned works. J.Straus will draft a contract for Prentice
and then forward to Len Rubin via A. Stepper.
Discussion: Outdoor Installation
Artist presented: Howard Ben Tre, 52 years old, Rhode Island
This artist works primarily in bronze and glass, columnar work, elegant, lit from interior,
many major plaza projects.
Artist presented: John Buck, 55 years old, Montana
Figurative work, perhaps would work better in a plaza setting. His work would not be
appropriate for Military Trail location.
Artist presented: Deborah Butterfield, 52 years old
Subject: Horses- Steel or iron construction
These pieces presented a much quieter impact. Interesting and "open" works.
This type of sculpture (animal) may be stand the test of time and may become "dated ".
C. Grey was strongly in favor of this artist's work. Other task force members were not
sold on this artist.D.Porter said his immeidate impression was that of the skeletal carcass'
of horses. Pros: Very affordable
Artist presented: John Isherwood, British, lives in NY
Stone material. Historic value, good for location, very powerful.
Very positive remarks for this artist. This stone work should be in an area that is more
accessible to the public. Perhaps in the plaza if we can afford him.
We would like to consider this artist & possibly, if the budget will permit, incorporate
this artists' work in a renovated, elevated fountain in the plaza.
Artist presented: Jerry Peart, late 40's
Brightly painted aluminum, abstract, many major works.
Pros: colorful, fun, bright. Very affordable.
Recognizable objects at fast speed (Good for location)
Cons: Could be considered "Plop Art" - not site specific;
used by many developers who want to buy & then, place "art ".
Artist presented: Pedro De Movellan, 33 years old.
Brass & stainless, Kinetic sculptures
• No interest. Frail appearance; moveable parts. interesting but would impose maintenance
& repairs; Hurricane winds might be a problem.
Artist presented: George Rickey, 94 years young
Pros: Important artist, could use an existing piece (non- commissioned work)
Cons: Thin, tall works would not make enough of an impact for Military Trail.
Costly, would not be site specific.
Artist presented: Lincoln Schatz, 35 years old.
Plexiglass material. This artist was not of interest to Task Force.
Cynthia Grey left at 8:00pm
Artist presented: Costas Varotsos, Lives in Greece.
Glass and Steel material.
Artist was e- mailed images of our location on Military Trail (from J.Straus) He output a
color print of a steel and glass outdoor work for us to see (superimposed onto our
location). Task Force unanimously agreed that his work was awesome. Everyone liked
his design for our space. The glass felt `wavelike' and the green glass looked great in the
space. It was agreed that this would be our ls` choice for our outdoor sculpture. Artist
would need to come here and look at the site before he could begin a concept/sketch and
or model.
J.Straus said Varotsos work would be roughly $100M. Since that would leave at least
$125M from the $250M originally set aside for outdoor work, Task Force began
discussion about having Isherwood do a commissioned Stone piece for our plaza as well.
An Isherwood piece inside the existing fountain space was explored. The idea of his
stone work within water excited the task force. Questions came up concerning the re-
vamping of the fountain and how that might be handled both technically and financially.
Would the city provide any funding for the renovation? Should the water lines, technical
work, etc be handled by the city and sent out for bids? Thus leaving the art fund to pay
for only the artists' work. J.Straus was not sure if those issues should be separate. The
two parties should probably work together to avoid problems down the line.
D.Porter and A.Stepper to investigate this further. J.Straus should proceed with an
estimate from Isherwood. .-frl . �..nA
JI M 4th/vLA
J.Straus inquired abouZh'fee .If he is to now oversee three (3) projects and not the two
(2) as his contract statd say that the same person represented the 2 artists that the
Task Force chose Varotsos). Perhaps he would have some power to negotiate
a better price for the both pieces; thus freeing up some of the costs that could be moved
over towards the Isherwood pieces and his fee. This is all to be determined by the new
estimates that J.Straus will be firming up later on this week.
A.Stepper asked that J.Straus include the idea of stone benches around the Isherwood
• piece wherever it may be installed. The sculpture should become a focal point and a place
for the public to gather. The benches or seating area may become part of the art project.
City "green metal" benches would not be desired around this piece.
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D.Porter made a motion to have J.Straus proceed with initiating contracts with both Tim
Prentice and Costos Varotsos. $3,000 for each artist to visit the proposed sites and then
design a model or computer generated animation. Task Force and J.Straus would be
present with the artists when they arrive to inspect the sites. A.Stepper would arrange a
meeting with each artist 1 day apart. This way, J.Straus could meet both artists in one trip
from Chicago.
J.Straus would then present either renderings or models to Task Force when completed.
City Council would then need to approve before actual site work would begin.
A.Stepper to call Len Rubin, City Attorney, to let him know that 2 contracts, to serve as
"boilerplate" examples, would be coming•in from J. Straus. J. Straus said it would not be
necessary for the artists to be present for Joel to show the Task Force the artists'
concepts. If the artists want to present their work, Joel will allow them to do so, but all of
their costs will still have to be a part of the $3,000 initial concept fee. L.Rubin would
need to put them into a standard "city" format for both Prentice and Varotsos. L> Rubin to
coordinate with Joel Straus on specifics.
New Business:
Adjournment:
Approved:
Meeting adjourned at 9:OOpm
David Porter
Raymond Katz_
Caren Hackman
Sheryl Wood
Cynthia Grey
Howard Ostrout
Jeffrey Blakely "�
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