APPMIN 04 04 1994ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
MIiETING MINUTES
LA QUINTA CITY HALL -NORTH CONFERENCE ROOM
APRIL 4, 1994
The regular meeting of the La Quinta Art in Public Places Committee (APP) was called to order
at the hour of 1:10 P.M, by Chairman Walling.
ROLL CALL: Committee Members Kay Wolff, Kathleen Smith-Schooley, Lia
Gilbert, Kathryn Hull, Carolyn Lair, and Chairman Walling.
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Jerry Herman and Department Secretary
Betty Sawyer.
Committee Member Smith-Schooley moved to excuse Committee Member Nard
Committee Member Wolff seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
I. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Committee Member Wolff asked that the Minutes of March 14 and 16, 1994, be
amended to show [he time the meeting was called to order w:is "P.M.".
Committee Member Hull asked that the Minutes of March 16th, under Business
Items, paragraph B, last sentence be amended to add the word "...would be
available for further...". There being no further corrections, Committee
Members Wolff/Gilbert moved to approve the minutes as corrected.
Unanimously approved.
II. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Chairman Walling informed the members that this meeting was for the purpose
of interviewing prospective artists.
Staff introduced Mr. Jim Swank and Ms. Carrie Waldman who presented
their proposal.
Snrav Towers
a. Tile column for the spray towers, tiles to form desert scene on
each towf;r.
b. Will provide hole for spray nozzles.
c. Will provide the tiles to be applied to the tower structure built by
the building contractor.
d. Project is labor intensive rather than material costs.
d. Product would take 1 to 1'/z months to complete.
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April 4, 1994
Gate
a. Geometric in design, can be any color.
b. Tiles to be welded and applied with construction adhesive.
c. Committee suggested that 8" or 12" tiles be used and. there be a
front and back view on the tiles.
d. The material of the gate would depend on the budget, but it would
be either wrought iron or tubular steel.
e. Regardinl; maintenance, wrought iron would be easier.
Sidewalk
a. Fossil design was their preferred proposal.
b. Felt it was something for the kids to play with while waiting.
c. It would create an environment to make people think of their past.
Discussion relative to the applicants
a. Discussion regarding the possibility of adding lattice work to the
towers.
b. The gate design was too serious.
c. The sidewalk design was not practical for this site.
d. The towers were simple, historical and unique, but not thought
through,:needs a top to finish the look.
e. The tiles on the gate were attractive but the bars made: it feel like
a prison.
f. Gate needed to be a different color with larger tiles.
2. Staff informed the members that Mr. James Campbell, architect (former
Design Review Board Member) had asked to make a short presentation to
the Committee.
a. Mr. Campbell stated that he had been involved with .a project at
Fashion Island in Newport Beach to create a sidewalk with as
much public participation as possible. He went on to di°scribe how
the project was formulated and what its purpose was.
b. Members asked questions regarding the work and stated that this
was similar to what the APP had done for the Civic Center art
work.
c. Chairman. Walling thanked Mr. Campbell for his presentation and
time.
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2. Staff introduced Mr. Alber DeMatteis and Ms. Kim Emerson who
presented their proposal.
Snray Towers
a. Mr. DeN[atteis stated that the architectural element of the tower
was to ke-ep its massive size but open it up with an indentation in
the middle.
b. It would !be made up of hand-made tiles with rocks indigenous to
the azea and relate to the outside environment.
c. The towers would be a geological exploration of the earth as you
progressed up the tile.
d. There would be fossil and animal imprints with venetian glass.
e. Each tower would be a different scene.
f. There wou]d be a copper scroll on the top that would meander
between the three towers and would be welded to the beam. The
amount of scrolling depended on the budget.
g. If the beam was not provided by the building contractor, an
element would be added to shape the top of the tower.
Sidewalk
a. The animal shapes would be put into the concrete as wooden forms
until the concrete dried and then the tiles would be added.
b. The animals could be interspersed rather than located in one area.
c. If the amount of coverage for the sidewalks was decreased then
additional. monies could be added to the towers for added shade.
Gate
a. Gate to be constructed of wrought iron and could be painted any
color.
b. Would be' constructed to utilize the entire entry space. to prevent
climbing over.
c. No problem with time availability to do the project.
d. Reviewed. a large fence drawings and selected several areas of the
fence as possible gate designs.
Discussion relative to the applicants
a. Important: to have a design review period with Committee then
with artist to formulate final designs.
b. Impressed with amount of research for the project.
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c. Very easy to work with as demonstrated by their willingness to
soften the; tower top.
d. Tower very likeable, but needed to be reduced in size.
e. Need to spread the animals out over the entire sidewalk. area.
f. The gate needs to be more playful.
g. Color of the gate should be in contrast to the building and
coordinate with the towers.
h. Artists very creative and enthusiastic.
i. Literal designs will attract the public.
j. Gate is too busy and needs to be rethought.
k. Questioned the need for the indentation on the towers..
1. Like the ;gates to show history.
m. Liked [he copper over the towers to add shade.
3. Staff informed the Committee that the third applicant was unable to get a
flight out and the interview would be conducted by telephone. Chairman
Walling spoke with Mr. Tom Askman regarding his gate design.
4. Following the interviews and discussion regarding the applicants, it was
moved and seconded by Committee Members Hull/Wolff to instruct staff
to prepare a rf:commendation to the City Council that Mr. Alber
DeMatteis and Dds. Kim Emerson be awarded the contract for all three
elements of the art proposal for the Fritz Burns Park. Unanimously
approved. Staff was instructed to notify all the applicants of the
Committee's decision.
B. Discussion regarding Civic Center Art purchases.
1. Members walked through the Civic Center and discussed possible
locations for the art purchases.
2. It was suggested that the selection be continued to the next regular
meeting of the A,PP.
III. OTHER -None
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committea° Members
Wolff/Smith-Schooley to adjourn to a special meeting of the Art in Public Places Committee on
April 25, 1994 at 3:00 P.M. in the North Conference Room. This meeting of the Art in Public
Places Committee was adjourned at 4:28 P.M., April 4, 1994.
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