AGENDA #4h(1)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Jeff Cohen, Chair
Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission
SUBJECT: Recommendation for an Artist for the Homestead Park Aquatic Center Project
DATE: November 8, 2004
The Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission (CHPAC) recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to execute a contract with Ray King for the creation of a public art project in conjunction with the Homestead Park Aquatic Center.
BACKGROUND
On March 4, 2002, the Town Council adopted a Percent for Art Ordinance, which stipulates that 1% of the annual Capital Improvements 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 Homestead Park Aquatic Center. On October 1, 2003, the Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed to fund the Percent for Art project as a part of the new Homestead Park Aquatic Center.
The Homestead Park Aquatic Center budget of $5,513,000 was approved by Chapel Hill Town Council and the Orange County Board of Commissioners, with one percent, or $55,130, for public art.
Following the procedures of the Council’s resolution, the CHPAC has completed an artist selection process and is recommending that Town Council approve Ray King as the artist for the Homestead Park Aquatic Center.
An Artist Selection Committee was formed that included arts professionals; community members; CHPAC 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 architect, a representative from Chapel Hill’s 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. The CHPAC and OCAC distributed a national open Call to Artists and received 108 applications. Several Artist Selection Committee meetings were held in order to select three highly qualified artists. The finalists were asked to develop proposals for the project and came to Chapel Hill to present their proposal and interview with the Artist Selection Committee. The proposals were then displayed for public comment at the Chapel Hill Public Library and the Hillsborough Public Library.
Following this process the Committee ultimately selected the artist Ray King. This recommendation was approved by the CHPAC, the Orange County Arts Commission, and the Orange County Board of Commissioners. King is now being recommended to Town Council for final approval as the Homestead Park Aquatic Center public artist.
ARTIST RECOMMENDED FOR SELECTION
Ray King has been working as a professional artist for 30 years and has more than two decades experience in the public art realm. In 1975, he received a Louis C. Tiffany Fellowship to travel to England and study with master stained glass artist, Patrick Reyntiens, at the Burleighfield House Trust in Buckinghampshire. When he returned, he became involved with the craft art movement of the mid-1970s. His modern glass creations were exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan, and other venues throughout America and Europe. The scale and scope of his art has evolved dramatically over the years as King moved into the three-dimensional/public art realm. His repertoire of materials has expanded to include holographic and laser-etched, light-responsive laminate films, and he has mastered the use of advanced 3-D computer technology that allows him to design elaborately engineered sculptures. His unique tectonic, site-specific works are in demand by universities, municipal art commissions and corporations around the world.
King's art reflects his interest in science, geometry, technology, and the manipulation of light and color to create light responsive sculptures that interact with viewers and animate the surrounding architecture. Kings sculptures are inspired by nature and uses light and color to surprise viewers and appeal to their sense of wonder and delight. He uses various durable materials to capture light and manipulate it in unexpected ways by projecting, refracting and reflecting illumination and color into the surrounding space. These rainbow-like emanations shift and change as the viewer moves and/or as the light source changes, creating a magical and enchanting environment. All are site-specific and inspired by the surrounding space and landscape to create a unique sense of place and identity.
King proposed a public art project that would transform the floor of the Aquatic Center’s main lobby into a luminous mosaic promenade by embedding thousands of light-responsive laminated glass elements into the floor.
NEXT STEPS
Assuming the Chapel Hill Town Council authorizes a contract, the Artist will begin working actively with GGA Architects on the design for the proposed public art project.
RECOMMENDATION
The CHPAC recommends that Ray King, who was 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
1. Minutes of August 19, 2004 (p. 4).
2. Minutes of October 4, 2004 (p. 6).
HOMESTEAD PARK AQUATICS CENTER
ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
Chapel Hill Town Hall
August 19, 2004, 1:30 p.m.
Meeting Summary
Present: Susan Leeb, Co-Chair; Gordon Jameson, Co-Chair; Betsy Bullen; Robb English; Jane Filer; Sally Greene; Josh Gurlitz; Bruce Heflin; Sally Bowen Prange; Bonnie Fuchs; Bill Webster; Janet Kagan; Kate Billings; Ray King (by telephone); Charles Partin; Norman Courtney
Welcome
Leeb welcomed the group and thanked them for participating in the Homestead Park Aquatic Center Artist Selection Committee.
Leeb reminded the group that there were originally 108 submissions for this project from artists around the country. The Selection Committee met to review the submissions on June 3, 2004 and determined a short-list of three artists to create proposals for this project and interview in Chapel Hill: Ray King, Charles Partin, and Norman Courtney.
Leeb explained that the artists would present their proposals to the Committee. She went on to explain that, as stipulated in the Call to Artists, these proposals would then go on view at the Chapel Hill Public Library followed by the Hillsborough Public Library for public comment.
Leeb then informed the group that Ray King was supposed to be present for his interview, however, was delayed in Alaska, and therefore FedExed his proposal to Chapel Hill. She explained that he would be interviewed via conference call.
Leeb explained that when choosing an artist for this public art project the Committee will be looking at the artist’s proposals as well as the best fit with this specific project. She explained that each of the artists was given the opportunity to have a phone meeting prior to the interview.
Leeb 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.
She commented that the artists being interviewed today are all successful, accomplished artists who are qualified for the job.
King Interview
As King was not at the meeting to present his proposal, members of the committee reviewed the materials that he sent ahead of time. King proposed to transform the floor of the Aquatic Center's main lobby "into a luminous mosaic promenade by embedding thousands of light-responsive, laminated glass elements in the terrazzo floor." He talked to the group on speaker phone and answered specific questions from the Selection Committee about his proposal.
Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing the proposal.
Partin Interview
Leeb introduced Charles Partin and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Partin then made a presentation which included examples of his previous work as well as his proposal for this project. Partin proposed a serpentine, wave pattern wall of carved brick. Partin then answered questions from the Selection Committee about his proposal and the process that he uses to create the carved brick.
Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing the proposal.
Courtney Interview
Leeb introduced Norman Courtney and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.
Courtney then made a presentation which included examples of his previous work as well as his proposal for this project. Courtney proposed large raindrops suspended from the ceiling in the reception area, and either a glass raindrop pattern on various lobby windows or a ripple-pattern terrazzo floor. Courtney then answered questions from the Selection Committee about his proposal.
Following the interview, the group spent a short time discussing the proposal.
Discussion
The Committee spent the remainder of the meeting discussing the artists and their proposals. Billings read through the comments from each of the artist’s professional references.
Leeb reiterated that the proposals would now be put on view at the Chapel Hill Public Library followed by the Hillsborough Public Library for public comment.
Leeb thanked the committee for their time and effort. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kate Billings
Executive Administrator
HOMESTEAD PARK AQUATICS CENTER
ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
Chapel Hill Town Hall
October 4, 2004, 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Summary
Present: Susan Leeb, Co-Chair; Gordon Jameson, Co-Chair; Sally Greene; Gwen Harvey; Lori Taft; Bruce Heflin; Kathryn Spatz; Josh Gurlitz; Sally Bowen Prange; Bonnie Fuchs; Bill Webster; Janet Kagan; Kate Billings; Martha Shannon
Welcome
Leeb welcomed the group and thanked them again for participating in the Homestead Park Aquatic Center Artist Selection Committee.
Discussion
Leeb reminded the committee that the three finalists for this public art project, Ray King, Charles Partin, and Norman Courtney, presented their proposals and were interviewed by this committee on August 19, 2004. She went on to explain that, as stipulated in the Call to Artists, these proposals were then displayed at the Chapel Hill Public Library and the Hillsborough Public Library for public comment. Photocopies of the comments were distributed to members of the committee.
Leeb cited that the goal of the meeting was to select a final artist. The committee discussed the public comments. They went on to discuss the overall design aesthetic and specific maintenance issues for each proposal. The committee then revisited the original project description in the Call to Artists.
After great discussion the committee ultimately selected Ray King as the recommended public artist for this project.
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.
Leeb thanked the committee for their time and effort. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kate Flory
Executive Administrator