HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-02; Arts Commission; ; Receive the Staff Update on Public Art for Fire Station 2
Dec. 2, 2021 Item #2 Page 1 of 2
Meeting Date: Dec. 2, 2021
To: Arts Commission
From: Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager
Tonya Rodzach, Public Art Coordinator
Staff Contact: Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager, richard.schultz@carlsbadca.gov
Tonya Rodzach, Public Art Coordinator, tonya.rodzach@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Receive the staff update on public art for Fire Station 2
District: All
Recommended Action
Receive the staff update on public art for Fire Station 2.
Executive Summary
Public Art Coordinator Tonya Rodzach will provide a review of the four artists who shared their initial
design concepts for the city’s Fire Station 2 project and provide results of the Public Art Advisory
Subcommittee’s final selection of the artist to enter into an agreement to develop a site-integrated
permanent public artwork.
Discussion
Tied to city’s Capital Improvement Program budget and plan, Carlsbad Municipal Code 2.18.110
(Appropriations for arts) allocates 1% of the total cost of the construction project to fund permanent
public art. The overall construction budget of the new Fire Station 2 Project No. 4060 allows for
$130,000 to be put toward the permanent public art budget.
The Request for Proposals was developed to elicit artist and artist teams to respond with a design
concept that incorporated an illumination feature that enhances the architectural elements and/or
treatments to the glass panels or exterior facades. This request aligns with a national public art trend
and ultimately furthers Carlsbad’s public art reputation.
The Request for Proposals was released nationwide through multiple outlets on July 6, 2021 and the
deadline for submissions took place on Aug. 10, 2021. There was a total of 12 submissions. Staff
reviewed and rated each submission and identified four proposals that rose to the top and rated 85 or
above.
The four highly ranked artists included: Shan Shan Sheng from San Francisco, California; Bill FitzGibbons
from San Antonio, Texas; Mary Carter Taub from Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Sijia Chen from Los
ARTS COMM I SSION
Staff Report
Dec. 2, 2021 Item #2 Page 2 of 2
Angeles, California. Each artist proposal captures the spirit of innovation, which aligns to the design and
spirit of the building and to the Fire Department’s focus on having an innovative approach with their
daily work.
Staff met with each of the four artist finalists and had provided them with feedback on their initial
design concepts. The artists prepared their presentation materials and to share information about
themselves, about their proposed work of art, and about their past public art commissions. Each artist
was prepared to receive interview and discussion-style questions from the Public Art Advisory
Subcommittee panelists.
The Public Art Advisory Subcommittee meeting took place virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021
through the city’s website. The nine voting members of the subcommittee was comprised of city staff,
project representatives, Arts Commissioners, and community stakeholders. The Public Art Advisory
Subcommittee’s role was to ensure the permanent public art for the city’s Fire Station 2 met the criteria
and guidelines for the selection of an artist, artwork, and artwork location as established in the city’s Art
in Public Places Program guidelines. The subcommittee evaluated the artist’s proposed work of art for
its artistic merit, appropriateness in terms of scale, materials, and in context relative to this site and
approach to community outreach. The selection of the proposed artwork was based on artist
qualifications as demonstrated by past work, appropriateness of the proposal for this project, and its
probability of successful completion. The subcommittee selected artist, Mary Carter Taub, for being of
the highest aesthetic and artistic quality, and for fulfilling the overall goals of the project.
Fiscal Analysis
A total budget of $130,000 has been identified to fund permanent public art for the new Fire Station 2
Capital Improvement Program Project No. 4060.
Next Steps
Staff will work with selected artist, Mary Carter Taub, to enter into a design agreement for project. After
the design agreement has been fully executed, community engagement will commence. Public input will
help shape the final design concept for the public art. Once final design concept has been developed,
Ms. Carter Taub will present to the city’s Arts Commission, and then to City Council. Once approved by
City Council, Ms. Carter Taub will enter into a fabrication contract. Once the fabrication contract has
been fully executed, Ms. Carter Taub will work with the city’s Cultural Arts and Public Works for
installation.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the state's Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available
for public viewing and review at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting date. The public will be
notified about upcoming community engagement opportunities with the selected artist using methods
such as email, website and other city communication channels.
Exhibits
1.City Council Staff Report dated April 21, 2020
2.Public Art Advisory Subcommittee Special Meeting Agenda dated Nov. 10, 2021