Public Art Committee

Durham Cultural Advisory Board’s PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Meeting, June 21, 2017, 8:30 a.m. at Durham Arts Council Members Present: _X__ Chris Ogden (Chair) ____ Jennie Barbour ____ Kathy Bartlett _X__ Margaret DeMott _X__ Dan Ellison ____ Nola Paterni _X_ Charlene Reiss _X_ Katie Seiz ___ Sarah Serventi ___ Gail Williams City of Durham Present: Brian Smith, OEWD Stacey Poston, General Services Cason Whitcomb, General Services Lance Fontaine, Public Works Laura Webb Smith, Public Works Megan Walsh, Public Works Others Present: Peri Manns Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Linda Salghero, Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Brenda Haynes Bright, Durham County Engineering and Environmental Services Sandra Lovely, Durham County Library Amy Unell, Duke University Stephanie Ford, Duke University Libraries David Wilson, Hinnat, Utley, and Wilson Vandorn Hinnat, Hinnat, Utley, and Wilson Deborah Craig Ray, Durham County Angela Allen – Wildlands Engineering Kat Zempolich The meeting was called to order by Chair Chris Ogden at 8:35am. Brian Smith introduced public art intern Cason Whitcomb. She will be working alongside fellow public art intern Eliza Meredith on the Durham Police Department Headquarters public art project as well as other public art projects at OEWD and General Services. Given summer travel schedules, Chair Chris Ogden proposed moving the next PAC meeting to second Wednesday of July (7/12). He announced he would email a Doodle poll to determine the exact time for next month’s meeting. Durham County Administration Building- Element of Interest Perri Manns introduced artist David Wilson from the design collaborative Hinnant, Utley, and Wilson to speak on the team’s response to the RFQ for the County Administration Building’s Element of Interest. Wilson noted that he and his partners, Hinnant and Utley, have a wide breadth of experience with public art in Durham. Some of Wilson’s work includes the Hayti Mural on the side of the Winn Dixie. Wilson spoke to his and his partners’ creative process; the team first considered the history the site. Through their research they discovered that the site was once home to the Melbourne Hotel. The hotel was originally going to be named Taurus. The team proposed using the name Taurus as a starting point for their concept, as Taurus represents the Bull and the oldest constellation. Vandorn Hinnant arrived and joined Wilson in his presentation. The art will be located along E. Main Street but close to the Roxboro St. side of the plaza. Placement will likely be shifted to activate Main Street and offer an iconic landmark as one enters Downtown. Wilson presented the concept sketch; material include polished aluminum, glass, and dynamic lighting. Form would stand 30-40ft. high, as a mapping of the pathway of the constellation’s stars, with the potential for lighting from within. Stacey Poston expressed interest in the programmable aspects of the art, in particular the lighting. Dan Ellison mentioned the potential for reflective issues, as highly polished aluminum is very reflective of sunlight and headlights. He also noted the importance of low level maintenance when choosing materials. Chair Ogden inquired directly about the use of anti-graffiti coating. Wilson confirmed that anti-graffiti coating is standard practice but it will not guarantee protection against vandalism or damage. Poston inquired about the accessibility of the piece. Hinnant informed the committee that physical interaction with the piece will not be encouraged but it will have excellent site lines for photographs from many different angles. Ellison asked how landscaping may affect these photographs and if the artists’ had considered seating. Margaret DeMott mentioned the reflective-nature of mirrors and the risk posed to drivers and those working in nearby office buildings. The project has a proposed budget of $100,000 broken down as follows in dollars: 20k Artist Fee  28k Frame and Cladding Fabrication 15k Art and Glass Fabrication 12k Technologies and Lighting 15k Delivery and Installation 2k Insurance 8K Contingency Chair Ogden inquired if the budget included an engineering study. DeMott stressed the importance of community engagement, as the design for the piece did not stem from the public. She inquired if the team would hold a public explanation of the art. Wilson agreed and noted community engagement efforts of the team. Hinnant followed up as well with the thought of documenting the entire creative process on video to be accessible on a website. DeMott asked if the Hinnant, Wilson, and Utley team were familiar with the stakeholders. Chair Ogden offered to connect team with Amy, who had photography resources including drone photography. Wilson expressed interest in using this technology in a proximity beacon to activate mobile devices or tablets to automatically send users to the site housing videography and photography. Durham County Administration Building is scheduled to open August 2018. Artists’ are comfortable with the tight deadline, assuring piece would be installed a few months in advance of opening so building could be certified for occupancy. Chair Ogden asked for motion to support proposal. Charlene Reiss made motion to support concept as presented. Stacey Poston and Katie Seiz seconded motion. Motion passed unanimously with no abstentions. South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan – Feedback on Incorporating Public Art Laura Webb Smith introduced Lance Fontaine. Fontaine presented the committee with the concept plan for the South Ellerbe Wetland. The future wetland will be created on the site of the former Duke Diet and Fitness Center (Duke St. and Trinity St.). The wetland is necessary to reduce the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen draining in to Falls Lake Trinity Basin and the Downtown Basin. Plant materials will clean the water naturally as it absorbs into the ground. Feasibility studies pointed to stream restoration and wetland features. The wetland creation is a Storm Water project. The wetland will lay along the Duke Beltline and South Ellerbe Creek trials. Fontaine asked the committee for suggestions, ideas, and feedback on incorporating public art in to the project. There is not money in the storm water budget for art, unless the art can be incorporated directly into storm water functional pieces within the wetland. If art does not directly relate to storm water the money must be found elsewhere. Poston inquired if pedestrians will be able to walk in the wetland. Fontaine responded that due to its fast-changing water levels, the wetland will not be accessible but surrounding trails will be. There is potential for an overlook. DeMott suggested the opportunity for education materials. Fontaine noted that education signage dealing directly with storm water would be eligible to receive funding. Reiss and Ellison noted the opportunity for public art within the signage. Reiss also mentioned the Health Communities grant as potential outside funding for public art initiatives within the wetland. Poston and Reiss made note of the high traffic of runners along the trails, as the wetland will be at the gateway to Downton. Poston commented that the City of Durham owns the land at the corner of Washington and Foster and there is potential to have it incorporated in the project as well. Chair Ogden mentioned Ellen Cassilly and Rails for Trails as a potential contact for best practices. Fontaine noted that Durham County Engineering will hold a design charrette at the Arts Council on September 27, 2017. PR and social media pushes to come. Reiss suggested incorporating Whirligigs. Chair Ogden said that Jeff Bell is now the director of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum in Wilson and noted that there is potential for partnerships here as the Vol Simpson project is another SmART Grant recipient. Reiss suggested creating a Wetland’s Pinterest board, similar to Durham Police Department Headquarters Pinterest. She also pointed out the proximity of the Durham School of the Arts to the wetland site and potential for partnership. Reiss suggested low cost tile making. Ellison mentioned trails he had seen in Atlanta featuring educational artwork by fifth graders. Chair Ogden thanked Public Works and Durham County for their interest in incorporating public art, and their early stage collaboration with us. Other Discussion Chair Ogden asked for any urgent agenda items to be brought forward as the meeting was running long. Consensus to pick back up with agenda items at July meeting. Ellison asked to talk about ADA signage with Poston. He request that there is uniformity between signage efforts across various public art projects. Ellison introduced his summer intern Kat Zeimpolich and then confirmed that the Bull City Art design had been officially endorsed. Chair Ogden suggested that the Durham Police Headquarters Agenda item be the primary topic for next month’s meeting. Reiss asked is anyone knew the status on the Black Wall Street Garden lighting project. Cason Whitcomb replied the design of the lights had been determined and Brian Smith had met with Duke Power. Reiss said she would follow up with Smith for more details and to see if he would be interested in pursuing a Neighborhood Improvement grant. Chair Ogden noted his appreciation for the Durham Arts Council’s presentation of the Arts and Economic Impact study results Monday night. He noted that it was focused on ticketed events. As a such he emailed Patricia Walsh at Public Art Network to inquire about an ROI study for the return on public art investments. She seemed interested and asked for example survey questions which he provided her. DeMott will send out Durham’s numbers. Results included: $2.12 billion of income in NC & 72,000 jobs $132 million of income in Durham & 5,700 FTEs $6.9 million to local government $20.5 million revenue to Local and State Governments on only $8M investment 26 million event attendees 109,000 volunteers with 4.6 million hours donated Chair Ogden closed the meeting at 10:03am. Respectfully submitted by Cason Whitcomb.