SUBJECT: AGREEMENT BETWEEN City of San JosE AND CLIFF GARTEN TO FABRICATE AND INSTALL A PUBLIC ARTWORK FOR THE TULLY ROAD BRANCH LIBRARY

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 7

RECOMMENDATION

Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement between the City of San José and artist Cliff Garten to fabricate and install an artwork for the Tully Road Branch Library in an amount not to exceed $137,484.

BACKGROUND

With the passage of Bond Measures O and P in November 2000, the City of San José is undertaking reconstruction and/or construction of 20 branch libraries, and renovation and/or replacement of nearly 100 city parks and recreation facilities. Each Bond Measure project with a budget over $500,000 generated 2% for public art.

The Bond Measure recommendation for the Tully Road Branch Library calls for design and building of a new 24,000 square foot facility to be located at 870 Tully Road. A $191,157 budget for public art has been identified as part of the Tully Road Library capital project ($28,673 for administration, $25,000 for design; and $137,484 for fabrication and installation).

In May 2000, the Arts Commission approved a selection panel’s recommendation of a pool of pre-qualified artists for the branch library facilities. In order to create that pool, the Office of Cultural Affairs utilized a nationally advertised Request for Qualifications.

In December 2001, a community-based panel met to review artists materials from the pre-approved pool with the purpose of selecting an artist for the Tully Road Branch Library art project.

HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

April 23, 2003

SUBJECT: AGREEMENT TO FABRICATE ARTWORK FOR THE TULLY ROAD BRANCH LIBRARY

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Three finalists were identified and following interviews on February 21, 2002, the panel recommended Cliff Garten, a highly-experienced public artist with a number of successful projects, be commissioned to begin working in collaboration with the project team to design an artwork proposal for the project. At its March 13, 2002 meeting, the Arts Commission approved the panel’s recommendation.

ANALYSIS

Following meetings with the community, the project architect and the project landscape designer, the artist developed a design proposal for the library which consists of two cast-aluminum sculptural elements to be called Two Clouds, to hang from the ceiling: one over the internet café and the other over the new books section. The sculptures, one a tree formation with hanging fruit; the other composed of cast shapes of human beings, is intended to be a metaphor of San Jose’ agricultural past and technological future (see attachment). At its March 9, 2003 meeting, the Arts Commission approved the artist’s design proposal.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Public outreach for this action included release of a Request for Qualifications seeking artists for the commission, and inclusion of representatives from the community on the selection panel. The artist participated in multiple community meetings to elicit feedback from the public on the direction of the artwork design proposal.

The recommendations of the selection panel are reviewed by the Public Art Committee, the Arts Commission, and City Council, all of which are publicly-noticed meetings.

COORDINATION

This item has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, the Risk Manager, and the Budget Office.

COST IMPLICATIONS

Consistent with the February 4, 2003 Budget Strategy memo approved by Council, section B.3, this Measure O & P Bond Project has neutral impact on the General Fund, and spurs construction spending to help local economic recovery.

HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

April 23, 2003

SUBJECT: AGREEMENT TO FABRICATE ARTWORK FOR THE TULLY BRANCH LIBRARY

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BUDGET REFERENCE

Fund: Branch Libraries Bond Project Fund (472)

Amount: $9,480,000*

Appropriation: Tully Road Branch Library (6845)

Budget Document: 2002-2003 Adopted Capital Budget, Page 190, as amended on October 15, 2002, Ordinance Number 26755

*Public Art portion of this appropriation is $191,157

CEQA

Exempt status, PP03-03-086

JIM Mc BRIDE

Acting Director, Conventions, Arts and Entertainment