CACMIN 04 17 2000
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CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MINUTES
April 17, 2000
I. CAll TO ORDER
A special meeting of the Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 7:34 p.m. in the Study
Session Room of the La Quinta Civic Center. Chairperson Hull presided over the meeting.
Commissioner Sham is led the Pledge of Allegiance.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioner Jan Blakley
Commissioner Kathryn Hull (Chairperson)
Commissioner Leslie McMillan
Commissioner Elaine Reynolds
Commissioner Rosita Shamis
VACANCY:
Two
STAFF PRESENT:
Dodie Horvitz, Community Services Director
Debbie DeRenard, Secretary
It was moved by Reynolds/Blakley to excuse Commissioner Sham is from the April 13, 2000 Cultural
Arts Commission meeting. Unanimous.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
None.
V. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Presentation by Artists for Civic Center Campus Artwork
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The Commission listened to the information presented by the artists for the Civic Center
Campus Artwork Project. Chairperson Hull called upon each artist to make a presentation and
answer any questions the Commission may have:
Gwen Hughes/Patrick Keenan: Discussion took place regarding the "Walk Through Time"
concept of a sculpture that would begin in a Cahuilla village, surrounded on three sides by
walls, with the tribal story teller seated with children seated around his feet. There would
be Cahuilla women in the back of the sculpture weaving baskets. On the floor of the village
would be bear tracks that turn into human footprints as they lead through a "cave" door. On
the other side of the cave door, the footprints would turn into shoe prints with cleats,
depicting the golf atmosphere of the present La Quinta. Bronze statues of golfers would be
standing on a green patch of grass, in various golf stances. This sculpture is designed to be
an interactive piece, with participants able to walk through the "cave". The back side of the
walls would be covered with pictographs.
The Commission asked Ms. Hughes for a "ballpark" figure on the price of the piece. Ms.
Hughes, did not feel comfortable quoting a price, due to the uncertainty of the size of the
piece. An estimate for a piece approximately 40 feet long would be $100,000. If the lifesize
statues were cast in bronze, the cost per figure would be $30,000-50,000 each.
The Commission thanked Ms. Hughes for her presentation.
Mr. Bill Ware presented his concepts of sculptures for the Campus project. Mr. Ware
presented a road runner made of bronze, that is made to 200% of life size that could be
placed on the Campus, perhaps on a bench. Mr. Ware stated that should the City purchase
any of his sculptures, he would not sell a duplicate statute to anyone in the Coachella Valley.
Mr. Ware then provided sketches of a wall comprised of large boulders with steel tubing to
represent water flowing down behind the boulders. Mosaic tiles would then be installed
behind the tubing to provide color to the project. Mr. Ware's proposal alsb showed two
figures standing on the boulders. Mr. Ware stated that real water could be incorporated into
the project. Along the backside of the wall, the memorial areas for sports figures, celebrities
and veterans could be incorporated, preferably in the bronze relief style.
Mr. Ware then presented the idea of a cube sculpture, where various sized cubes are stacked
in an uneven manner.
Mr. Ware presented a concept for the bridge railings: a flock of birds in flight off the bridge
railings. Discussion took place regarding attaching the birds to the railings and the safety of
the birds in a strong wind.
The Commission thanked Mr. Ware for his presentation.
Ms. Jennifer Johnson and Mr. Jim Taylor: The Commission reviewed the concepts for mosaic
sculptures for the Campus. The concept included six sculptures of various shapes to be
placed in locations throughout the Campus. The base would include mosaic work depicting
the history of La Quinta and the top part of the sculpture would be constructed of steel. The
shape and materials would react to the changing position of the sun, casting dramatic
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shadows upon the ground throughout the day.
The Commission discussed the possibility of lighting to be included on the sculpture.
The Commission discussed possibly using only one or two of th'e sculptures, instead of the
six that were being proposed. It was also discussed that the balls on the piece be made to
represent a basket or a stone seat for people to sit upon. Some discussion took place
regarding the contemporary look and feel of the pieces being proposed by Ms. Johnson and
Mr. Taylor, in relationship to the historical aspect that the Commission would like to see
represented on the Campus.
Sandy Swan: Bronze Relief Map: Ms. Swan is proposing a 24" X 34" project for the Civic
Center Campus, depicting the original boundaries of La Quinta at the date of incorporation,
May 1, 1982. Ms. Swan would like to provide a braille aspect to the map, for the visually
impaired visitors that visit the campus.
The recommendation was made by Ms. Swan that a shade tree or structure be placed over
the map, to provide shade to participants viewing the map as well as to help keep the map
protected from the sun, given that heat would build up on the bronze. Chairperson Hull asked
Ms. Swan if the map could be a different shape, other than a rectangle. Ms. Swan said that
the map could be any shape desired.
The Commission thanked Ms. Swan for her presentation.
The Commission then heard the presentation from Gwen Hughes/Rick Barber regarding the
bridge railing enhancements. Ms. Hughes is proposing 3/8" steel figures welded onto the
bridge supports, these could be of a pack of coyotes crossing the bridge, or a herd of Big
Horn Sheep. The figures would be painted with enamel paint and the spacing would allow
for viewing through the bridge railings.
Ms. Hughes did not have a price for the concepts she was presenting. She would need to
consider the size of the bridge railings before she could quote a price.
The Commission thanked Ms. Hughes for her presentation.
The Commission then reviewed the submittal by Gene Montez-Flores regarding the bridge
railing enhancements. The Commission determined that Mr. Montez-Flores's work was
designed to be a structural component of the bridge and not an addition.
Dr. Carl Aggiolosso recommended that the gazebo on the island have an artistic component.
The Commission pointed out that the gazebo was not commissioned in the Request for
Qualifications.
Ms. Hughes then presented a concept of a 10' round replica of a Cahuilla basket. This would
be made out of wire rope and would have details "woven" throughout the basket. Ms.
Hughes stated that the budget for the basket project would be approximately $10,000.
Artist Tom McGraw addressed the Commission stating that he would like to submit a
proposal when the next Request for Qualifications is issued.
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Staff informed the Commission that the City Council will have to authorize another Request
for Qualifications for the Civic Center Campus project.
After some discussion, the Commission made the following recommendations to be
forwarded to the City Council for consideration:
· Bronze Relief Map as submitted by Sandy Swan
· Include Braille type on the map's major points of interest and include a
Braille legend
· Set the map on a tapered base that allows wheelchair users to access the
map without hitting the base
· Include major streets, including the Cove street grid
· Bridge Railing Enhancements
· Do not accept concepts proposed by Gene Montez-Flores
· Do not accept concepts proposed by Gwen Hughes-Rick Barber
· Request additional proposals via a Request for Qualifications
· Acknowledgment Areas
· Request additional proposals via a Request for Qualifications, as no
proposals were submitted
· Linear Water Feature
· Request additional proposals via a Request for Qualifications, as no
proposals were submitted
· Pavement Amenities
· Request additional proposals via a Request for Qualifications, as no
proposals were submitted
Additional projects that were submitted for consideration but not identified by the City
Council as components of the Civic Center Campus include five sculptures: a fourteen foot
sculpture as presented by Jennifer Johnson and Jim Taylor; a tower of cubes as presented
by Bill Ware; a granite mural with bronze figures by Bill Ware; a ten foot diameter Cahuilla
basket by Gwen Hughes and Patrick Keenan; and a "Walk through Time" sculpture by Gwen
Hughes and Rick Barber.
The recommendations from the Commission regarding the sculptures include:
· Jennifer Johnson and Jim Taylor Sculpture
· Mosaics included in the base to depict a historical aspect of the La Quinta
area
· Tower of Cubes by Bill Ware
· Cubes to portray historical or memorial etchings or portraits
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· Granite/Bronze lv1ural by Bill Ware
· Figures to be three dimensional
· Figures to be cast 125 % of life size
· Basket by Gwen Hughes and Patrick Keenan
· Eight feet in diameter
· Commission to work with the artist in choosing a pattern for the basket
· Walk Through Time by Gwen Hughes and Patrick Keenan
· Do not accept concept proposed for this project
The Commission has also requested that a Request for Qualifications be re-issued for the bridge
railings, linear water feature, acknowledgment areas and pavement amenities.
Also provided as a recommendation by the Commission is that the geyser contained in the lake be
constructed with an artistic component included.
The Commission has also requested that they be included in the final decision regarding the bridges
for the project. The Commission believes that the structural railings of the bridge must be
considered as a component of the artwork.
VII.
CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS
None.
VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
None.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Commissioners Shamis/Blakley to adjourn the Cultural Arts Commission meeting.
Unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
NEXT MEETING INFORMATION
May 11, 2000 7:00 PM
La Quinta Civic Center Study Session Room
. Update on Civic Center Campus Art Work Proposals
Secretary
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