|
Art at the Mitchell Park Library and Community Center
As the largest public works project to take place in the City of Palo Alto in 50 years, the upcoming library and community center should contain art that reflects the scale, feel, function and programming of the space. The Art Commission, in consultation with a variety of stakeholders, has formulated an overall plan for the art at this site that encompasses little known artists to world-renowned artists, with both temporary and permanent works in various media.
The first project (and the only one for which the artist has been decided) is the Bruce Beasley sculpture funded through the percent for art program. The City of Palo Alto joins approximately 35 other California cities and 27 states that budget one percent (1%) of its capital improvement project construction costs for public art. Examples of these types of projects include: New buildings such as libraries, public safety buildings, community centers, parking garages and lots, transit stations, or a performing arts center. The Bruce Beasley sculpture is being paid for from the 1% for public art program for the library and community center construction project. The restricted bond funds will pay for this artwork as part of the project construction.
Bay Area artist Bruce Beasley is in many major museum collections in the United States and abroad, including SF MoMA, Oakland Museum, The Guggenheim Museum (NY) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The piece he is creating for Palo Alto is an arch-like granite form that will make a beautiful gateway to the new community center and library. While the sculpture does not move, it is the implied motion and interaction between the shapes that he captures. The piece resonates with the programming of this diverse community and the varied activities taking place at this site. The granite from the sculpture is echoed in the architecture and landscaping throughout the complex. The Beasley sculpture will become a point of pride and an integral part of the cultural and artistic fabric of the mid-peninsula. For more on Bruce Beasley, please visit his website at www.brucebeasley.com.
The second group of projects will be funded by the Art Commission. The Art Commission has saved money over several years to purchase new pieces for Palo Alto, and has agreed to contribute $120,000 toward the following three projects within the Mitchell Park Complex: artist designed bollards at the entrance; a large mural in the teen center; and a large piece at the Library entrance - possibly a new media piece. A Request for Proposals is being drafted and these three projects will be part of an open call for artists.
The third art element within the Mitchell Park complex will be the rotating galleries. The architects have incorporated hanging systems within the complex, providing the opportunity to display City’s two-dimensional works, pieces by local artists, exhibitions from our Sister Cities, or other artworks that might be appropriate to the site. Additionally, exhibition platforms are being incorporated into the outdoor courtyard so that sculpture can be displayed on a temporary rotating basis.
The Public Art Commission is proud to contribute to this incredible new complex being constructed for the City of Palo Alto. The Art Commission looks forward to seeing the proposals that artists will bring forward for the 3 commissioned permanent works as well as the endless possibilities that the rotating galleries will provide. The Art Commission has presented these plans to the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Library Advisory Commission, and the Library Bond Stakeholders Group. This plan was developed with the cooperation and guidance of the above groups, Group 4 Architects (the project architects), and City staff.
If you have further questions about the public art for these projects, please contact Kelly Morariu, Public Art Commission staff liaison, at kelly.morariu@cityofpaloalto.org.
|
|
|
