AGENDA #4L(1)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Jeff Cohen, Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission Chair and
Southern Community Park Artist Selection Committee Co-Chair
SUBJECT: Recommendation for an Artist Selected for the Southern Community Park Design Team
DATE: September 2 7, 2004
The Public Arts Commission recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to execute a contract with Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan to join the Southern Community Park Design Team.
BACKGROUND
On March 4, 2002, the Town Council adopted a Percent for Art Ordinance, which stipulates that 1% of the annual Capital Improvement Plan be considered by the Town Council for allocation for public art. The resolution adopted on that date includes guidelines for the selection of artists and artwork.
On May 10, 2004, the Town Council voted to proceed with a Percent for Art project as a part of the new Southern Community Park. On October 1, 2003, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to proceed with a Percent for Art project as a part of the new Southern Community Park.
The Southern Community Park budget of $2,842,000 was approved by the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Orange County Board of Commissioners, with one percent, or $28,420, for public art.
Following the procedures of the Council’s resolution, the Public Arts Commission has completed an artist selection process and is recommending that Town Council approve Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan as the artist team for the Southern Community Park Design Team.
An Artist Selection Committee was formed that included arts professionals, community members, Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission representatives, Orange County Arts Commission representatives, a representative from the Chapel Hill Town Council, a representative from the Orange County Board of Commissioners, the project landscape architect, a representative from the Chapel Hill Manager’s Office; a representative from the Orange County Manager’s Office, representatives from Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, and representatives from Orange County Recreation and Parks.
The Artist Selection Committee met initially to determine the scope of the project and decided that they would like an artist to be brought in to join the overall Southern Community Park Design Team. The Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and the Orange County Arts Commission distributed a national open Call to Artists and received 48 applications. Several Artist Selection Committee meetings were held in order to select four highly qualified artists/artist teams. The finalists were interviewed in Chapel Hill and the Committee ultimately selected the artist team Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan. This recommendation was approved by the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and the Orange County Arts Commission. Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan are now being recommended to Town Council for final approval as the public artists to join the Southern Community Park Design Team.
ARTIST RECOMMENDED FOR SELECTION
Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan have been working in Seattle since 1994, with a focus on creating public places with strong conceptual content. Projects include public art installations, art masterplans, neighborhood parks, and transit architecture and urban design. Haddad and Drugan have a broad background in public process, design team collaboration, and working with communities.
Laura Haddad is an artist and registered landscape architect, with a Master’s degree in landscape architecture from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in history from Bowdoin College. Her background also includes jewelry and stage set design.
Tom Drugan is an artist and holds dual registrations in architecture and landscape architecture, giving him a diverse technical knowledge. He received a Master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado. His background includes sustainable building and film making.
NEXT STEPS
Assuming the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Orange County Board of Commissioners authorize a contract, the Artists will begin working actively with OBS Landscape Architects on the Southern Community Park Design Team.
RECOMMENDATION
The Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission recommends that Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan, who were selected by the Artist Selection Committee and the CHPAC, be awarded the Percent for Art commission for this project. Minutes of the Artist Selection Committee meetings are attached.
ATTACHMENTS
ATTACHMENT 1
SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK
ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
Chapel Hill Town Hall
August 8, 2004, 1:30 p.m.
Meeting Summary
Present: Jeff Cohen, Chair; Bonnie Fuchs, Chair; Barri Burch; Jimmie Haynes; Jim Hirschfield; Leah Rade; Brian Starkey; Bill Webster; Martha Shannon; Kate Billings; Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan; Andy Dufford; Carolyn Law, Mags Harries and Lajos Heder.
Welcome
Cohen welcomed the group and thanked them for participating in the Southern Community Park Artist Selection Committee. Cohen explained that the goal of the meeting was to interview the finalists and ultimately to select an artist/artist team to join the Park Design Team.
Cohen reminded the group that there were originally 48 submissions from artists around the country for this project. On June 2, 2004 the Selection Committee met to review the submissions and determine a short-list of artists to bring to Chapel Hill for interviews. Four artists/artist teams were selected as finalists: Andy Dufford, Laura Haddad/Tom Drugan, Mags Harries/Lajos Heder, and Carolyn Law.
Cohen explained to the group that in front of them they had copies of the finalists’ application materials, a copy of the original Call to Artists, and worksheets for each of the artists. He commented that the finalists are all successful, accomplished artists who are qualified for the job.
Cohen noted that during the interviews the committee should be looking for a good fit with this project and with landscape architect Brain Starkey and his team. He explained that each artist/artist team was given a tour of the site and the opportunity to have a phone meeting with Starkey prior to the interview.
Haddad/Drugan Interview
Cohen introduced Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Haddad and Drugan talked about their previous work and about how they would approach the Southern Community Park project. The Selection Committee then asked questions of Haddad and Drugan. Following the interviews, the group spent a short time discussing their observations about their work and working style.
Dufford Interview
Cohen introduced Andy Dufford and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Dufford talked about his previous work and his approach to new projects. The Selection Committee then asked questions of Dufford. Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing their observations about his work and working style.
Law Interview
Cohen introduced Carolyn Law and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Law talked about her previous work and general working style. The Selection Committee then asked questions of Law. Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing their observations about her work and working style.
Harries/Heder Interview
Cohen introduced Mags Harries and Lajos Heder and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Harries and Heder talked about their previous work. The Selection Committee then asked questions of Harries and Heder. Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing their observations about their work and working style.
Discussion
The Committee spent the remainder of the meeting discussing the artists, their previous experience, their working styles, and their fit with this project. Billings read through the comments from each of the artist’s professional references. A series of votes were taken throughout the meeting in order to gauge the group’s preferences.
After great discussion the committee ultimately selected the artist team of Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan to join the Southern Community Park Design Team.
Billings noted that this recommendation would first go to the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission and to the Orange County Arts Commission. The recommendation would then go to the Chapel Hill Town Council and to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Cohen thanked the committee for their time and effort. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kate Billings
Executive Administrator