To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Maia Aman, Town Liaison to the Public Art Commission
Title
Discussion/Direction: Sculpture for Philip S. Miller Park
Body
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Executive Summary
The Public Art Commission identifies priorities and goals concerning the acquisition of art for public buildings and parks within Castle Rock. In October 2017, Castle Rock Town Council adopted the Castle Rock Public Art Commission Public Art Plan, which functions as a guide for public art initiatives.
A key goal identified in this plan is to commission a new public art project for Philip S. Miller Park to deepen the visitor experience. Recommended by the Parks and Recreation Department as a fitting location for high-quality, permanent artwork, the park represents an opportunity to offer unique, site-specific artwork that reflects Castle Rock’s charm and beauty.
Town staff sent out a call for entries to solicit proposals from artists for a sculptural piece in June 2018. Five artists submitted proposals. A Selection Committee including members of the Public Art Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation Board of Directors and Parks and Recreation staff narrowed down the proposals to two semi-finalists.
The Selection Committee heard presentations from the semi-finalists and recommends that Council authorize the Commission and staff to move forward with commissioning a sculpture from artists Mary Williams and John King. Williams and King have 25 years of combined experience working in the field of public art. Their pieces can be found across the Front Range and the nation in many public and private spaces.
The proposal of Williams and King falls within the $50,000 budget established for this project, which like all public art will be funded through the Philip S. Miller Trust Fund and not through taxpayer dollars.
Discussion
As outlined in the proposal in Attachment A, Williams and King will design, fabricate, finish, deliver and install an original kinetic sculpture for Philip S. Miller Park. With over 1 million annual visits, the park functions as a true hub of community action - from the zip lines to the Challenge Hill - the artists believe a kinetic sculpture will represent the active nature of the place and provide entertainment, inspiration, delight and fun to the visitor experience.
The sculpture will be composed of mild steel tubing with stainless steel bearing mounts, sealed ball bearings, galvanized steel and aluminum sheet metal. The sculpture will have a smooth and controlled kinetic motion in both high and low wind. While the overall proposed height of the sculpture is 15 feet, the artwork will include a base tower that will elevate moving sculptural components approximately 9 feet above the ground.
As specified by the RFP, the piece will require minimal maintenance - in addition to cleaning the sculpture with water when dirt is present, the ball bearings will need to be replaced approximately every 10 years and the painted steel may occasionally require touch-up paint.
The artwork is to be attached to a concrete slab on a grade or pier foundation created by the artists. The artists will collaborate with the Public Art Commission and Town staff to finalize an agreed upon location within the park, ideally somewhere with high traffic, as well as to finalize the project’s color selection. A nameplate for the artwork will be included.
The sculpture would be a limited edition, and upon project approval and contract execution, the artists have stated that production and installation will take approximately one year. The Public Art Commission also hopes to host an unveiling event following the project’s installation.
Budget Impact
In its entirety, this project will cost $50,000. Since the purchase was originally budgeted as a 2018 Public Art Fund expenditure, the Finance Department has approved and processed a budget transfer to move the available funds from 2018 to cover the capital expense in 2019.
Upon project approval and contract execution, and as outlined in the RFP:
• 15 percent or $7,500 will be paid to the artists for the contract award;
• 35 percent or $17,500 will be paid upon the start of fabrication;
• 35 percent or $17,500 will be paid upon completion and approval of the project; and,
• The remaining balance of 15 percent or $7,500 will be paid upon installation and transfer of ownership.
Art commissioned by the Town of Castle Rock is funded through the Philip S. Miller Trust Fund not through taxpayer dollars.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council authorize the execution of a contract with artists Mary Williams and John King for a sculpture to be produced for and installed at Philip S. Miller Park.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the selection of the proposal of Mary Williams and John King for the sculpture at Philip S. Miller Park and to authorize staff to finalize and execute a contract for their services.”
Attachments
Attachment A Proposal for Public Art