HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/09/2015 - City Arts Commission - 05 Staff Report Selection of Alternate for Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center ParkRECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission:
1. Select an alternate piece to recommend to City Council to replace Loomings;
2. Place La Cage Aux Folles away from the driveway and foot path;
3. Place Re-cycled in a site in which glare will not affect the homes or motorists across MacArthur
Blvd.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 23 regular Meeting, City Council approved the pieces recommended by the City Arts
Commission but also directed City staff to review the selections from a liability perspective and
determine if a selection should be replaced with an alternate.
The City Attorney’s office and Risk Management have reviewed each of the proposed pieces for Phase 2
of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park. They advise that each sculpture, like the pieces in Phase
1, should have signage instructing viewers not to climb or hang on the artwork.
In addition, they advise that William Bennett’s Loomings should not be included in the exhibition
because of safety issues. The main concerns about the piece are the features that have sharp edges or
points. In addition, City staff feels that situating the piece in close proximity to a steep slope is a safety
concern. The piece also invites interaction and it may prove difficult to dissuade viewers, particularly
juveniles, from sitting or climbing on the piece despite signage prohibiting this behavior.
In place of Loomings, the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Ad Hoc Subcommittee recommends
Kenneth Capps’ Act/Equator z360 for City Arts Commission approval.
City staff asserts that Warren Techentin’s La Cage Aux Folles is an acceptable piece to include in the
exhibition, with two caveats:
1. The piece should be moved further away from both the foot path and the driveway. The
Photoshopped rendition of the piece in situ depicts the piece much closer to the foot path and
TO: CITY ARTS COMMISSION
FROM: Cultural Arts Division, Library Services Department
Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director
949-717-3810, thetherton@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Tim Hetherton
TITLE: Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park – selection of an alternate and response
to Council direction.
the driveway than the site recommended by City staff from Municipal Operations. The concern
is that viewers may be forced to stand too close to the driveway which is the main entrance/exit
by automobile into the Civic Center;
2. The piece should be rotated so that the part of the sculpture that flares outward (see photo
excerpt) is redirected away from both the footpath and the driveway:
This part of the sculpture implies an entry point to access the interior of the piece. As for
climbing on the piece in general, sculptor Warren Techentin states in his letter that climbing on
the piece was only allowed in the presence of two on-site supervisors.
Lastly, City staff recommends that the piece Re-cycled be moved to a location further down from the
proposed site near the dog park. The concern over this piece is that it may reflect glare to both the
homeowners and to drivers on MacArthur Blvd. A very similar spot closer to the tables and benches
where the view from MacArthur is obscured by trees and bushes is a potential replacement site. This
space is very similar to the initial spot, with the proposed placement of the piece on the footpath.
NOTICING:
This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at
which the City Arts Commission considers the item).