8.3 South 9th Street Median Public ArtCITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME
04/26/2010 4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR
NO: 8 AGENDA:
Arts and Humanities
ITEM
NO. 3
BY:
BY: Connie Bonfy
Page 1
ITEM:
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Approve and Artist Selection / Project Agreement for the South 9 Street Median between the City of
Salina and Barbara Grygutis.
BACKGROUND:
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In 2008, the South 9 Street Median was identified for artwork placement by City Staff and a Site
Committee was formed. In 2009, the Community Art and Design Advisory Committee recommended
a Limited Invitational Competition Five artists were invited to reply to a site visit and proposal
development opportunity. Proposals would be reviewed by the Site Committee/Artist Selection Panel
and the Community Art & Design Advisory Committee (CAD) for final recommendation. The design
challenge, commission, budget, selection criteria, and timeline were developed and sent to the invited
artists. Four of the five artists accepted the invitation. One artist declined because of a preference to
be involved in the earliest conceptual design phase. One additional artist later declined due to health
reasons.
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE
Propose sculptural artwork that will provide visual interest, integrated within selected median/s and
proposed landscaping enhancements. The project’s landscaping design provides native prairie
grasses and low maintenance plantings…a transition from the more high maintenance plantings in the
northern corridor medians. Median designs provide access to electrical and water. The focus will
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include an emphasis on creating a ‘gateway’ for the community and those entering via south 9 street.
PROPOSAL COMMISSION and ARTWORK BUDGET
The commission for proposal development was $1000 which included $500 travel per trip associated
with the required site visit and one subsequent proposal presentation. Artwork proposals were
presented to the Artist Selection/Site Committee on March 30,2010 who rank ordered project finalists
to present to the CAD Advisory Committee. CAD Advisory Committee reviewed and on April 15, 2010
recommended artist/artwork that is now presented to City Commission for artists/project approval.
The project artwork budget is $230,000 which includesdesign, fabrication and installation. Selected
artist will also provide a written maintenance plan for the artwork. The City’s cost includes landscaping
plan adjustments with the landscaping consultants to accommodate the artist’s plan and provide
access to electrical needs, concrete pad sites, and technical support for the installation.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Artwork was selected based on the following criteria:
Artistic merit and aesthetic quality of work
Artist’s demonstrated professi onal qualifications and experience
Artist’s assessed ability to successfully execute proposed project within the CAD project budget
and timeline.
Appropriate scale and ability to address the gateway context of the site.
Considerations to structural and su rface soundness and on-going maintenance.
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME
04/26/2010 4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR
NO: 8 AGENDA:
Arts and Humanities
ITEM
NO. 3
BY:
BY: Connie Bonfy
Page 2
The artist’s ability to work with City crew and engineering consultants on the site.
The artwork does not present a hazard for public safety.
TIMELINE:
Reply to Letter of Invitation received by November 10, 2009
Site Orientation, January 15, 2010
Proposal and submittal requirements due to Salina Arts & Humanities Commission by March
25, 2010
Finalists Proposal Pres entation, March 30, 2010
Artist/Artwork Selectio n Notification, April 2010
Artwork installed, Fall 2010 – Spring 2011
PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Artwork design proposal
A letter of interest (one page) stating your interest in the project, and a design statement for the
proposed sculpture/s.
A current resume, including e-mail and website addresses.
Up to ten (10) digital jpg images and brief descriptions of previous work.
SITE COMMITTEE / SELECTION PANEL
After listening to three artist presentations and reviewing their proposals, the Site Committee ranked
two artists high enough to forward to the Community Art and Design Advisory Committee for review.
The two artists who were ranked most high presented two very different approaches.
One presented a concept that was a low, undulating, wave-like abstract stainless steel walls
that covered a longer length of the median to be surrounded by grasses and lighted from
fixtures placed within the grass.
One presented a more engineer ed and realistic approach (focusing on the Kansas tree lines
seen in hedgerows) lighted from within the sculpture, more vertical (16-20’) thus offering a more
noticeable gateway presence in a smaller footprint on the median.
The third presentation scored too low to be passed onto CAD for consideration. It utilized five, 20-foot
repurposed windmill towers to be used as pedestals for whimsical decorative cows.
Following the site committee meeting, CAD Advisory Committee met and considered the minutes of
the site committee and highlights from the artist’s PowerPoint proposals. After thoughtful review and
consideration of quality, gateway context, and community, CAD agreed by consensus to recommend
“Silver Lining” by Barbara Grygutis of Tucson, AR for approval by the City Commission. The artist’s
statement and design proposal states the following:
Concept:
The work of art is designed to create a gateway for the southern entrance to the City of
Salina. Currently, the traveler entering the City from the south is greeted by a generic commercial
landscape. The work of art is conceived as a marker for the community that creates a sense of place
and speaks to its place in the landscape. The sculptural gateway will be composed of three elements.
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME
04/26/2010 4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR
NO: 8 AGENDA:
Arts and Humanities
ITEM
NO. 3
BY:
BY: Connie Bonfy
Page 3
The shelter belts of trees which dot the landscape to the south along I-135 create a unique Kansas
look. It is this beauty that has inspired me and I choose to celebrate in creating this work of art. The
sculptures I have designed for the medians along the South Ninth Street corridor are based on
photographs taken as I traveled across the state during my recent site visit. These photographs of
shelter belt and river trees create a unique and distinctively Kansas experience for the viewer.
Titled, “SILVER LINING,” the central theme for this work of art, envisioned for the median along the
new and enlarged South Ninth Street in Salina, Kansas, is the creation of a southern gateway to the
city. The newly expanded South Ninth Street links I-135, a major highway across the north south axis
of the country, to Salina. The entrance into Salina, will celebrate the City as a unique community.
The sculpture will be an identifier, a marker inspired by Salina’s familiar landscape, a contemporary art
statement, and a welcoming entrance to your City.
NOTE: The final location for the sculpture in the median will be decided through consultation with the
City of Salina after a thorough review of utility placement, traffic signs and signal poles in the median
location.
Materials:
The sculpture will be fabricated with stainless steel. The two outer layers of stainless steel
sheet will be heavy perforated stainless sheet metal. These two outer layers will form a “light box.”
The inner tree image cut out will be of solid stainless steel secured in the fabrication construction. The
inner forms will appear to float inside the light box. During the day, the natural light will create shifting
patterns. The sculpture will take on different tones with the natural lighting changes throughout the
day. LED night lighting will add a dynamic feature and another way to view the entire piece.
Interesting shadow effects will also add to the overall effect.
Lighting:
LED light fixtures will be placed inside the sculptural forms. The lamp color will be white.
The LED lamps are rated at – 40 degrees Fahrenheit and are able to withstand the very cold weather.
At night, soft white light will illuminate the sculptural cut out and create a glowing effect from inside the
light box. Lighting colors can be changed electronically at different times of the year if desired. The
LED fixtures are rated for 10 years and come with a three year guarantee. Access panels to the
lamps will be designed into the sculpture for easy lamp change when necessary.
Engineering:
The work of art will be well engineered - stamped and sealed by a structural engineer
registered in the State of Kansas.
Fabrication:
The artist works directly with the fabricator to adapt the artwork design fabrication to
meet the best dimension, view placement, and specific site location within the median. The
engineering drawings will provide the specific design for the foundations. The fabrication shop will
provide shop drawings, to be given to the City of Salina after installation. The sculpture will be
fabricated in its entirety in a fabrication studio selected by the artist, based on price quotes received. I
work with a selected few fabricating shops and will determine the best one for this project after
engineering drawings are completed/approved.
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME
04/26/2010 4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR
NO: 8 AGENDA:
Arts and Humanities
ITEM
NO. 3
BY:
BY: Connie Bonfy
Page 4
Installation:
The fabricator will supply a template for the bolt pattern, to be available to the contractor
who pours the concrete foundations.The sculpture will be shipped fully fabricated and will be lifted via
crane onto the site.
Technical Requirements:
(as determined in prior Site Committee Meeting with City Representatives)
1. Foundation to be poured by City of Salina (per final engineering drawings supplied by artist) on
site prior to sculpture installation.
2. Crane to be made available by City of Salina to install sculpture.
3. City of Salina to provide appropriate road closure during installation. (A section of South Ninth
Street will have to be closed during the installation)
4. Electrical wiring to be run through conduit to sculpture, per final engineering drawings, will be
supplied by City of Salina.
Timeline:
Engineering 3 months from signing of contract
Fabrication 6 months from approval of engineering drawings
Installation 1 month fr om approval of fabrication
Arts and Humanities staff on behalf of the Co mmunity Art and Design Advisory Committee
recommends awarding the contract to Barbara Grygutis for $230,000. CAD feels that her work will be
both enjoyed and reflect very well on the Salina community art collection stating, “We are showing the
community trees in the different way without compromising quality. Grygutis’ quality is very high.”
FISCAL NOTE:
These CIP has been budgeted for 2010 at an estimated cost of $240,000.
CONFORMANCE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN:
In full support of the strategic plan Goal 3 to pr esent the highest quality services to the community
consistent with the governing body’s direction and Goal 6 to make the Salina a city with connectivity
both physically and socially.
COMMISSION ACTION:
1. Approve an agreement with Barbara Grygutis for “Silver Lining.”
2. Take other such action as the City Commission may desire.