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AGENDA STATEMENT � _ 30
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 4, 2005
SUBJECT: Dublin Transit Center Art Project
Report by Diane Lowart, Parks& Community Services Director
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Artists' Proposals
2) Photo of Bryan Tedrick's Maquette
3) Photo of Yoshio Taylor's Maquette
4) Photo of David Middlebrook's Maquette
RECOMMENDATION: Consider recommendations of Selection Committee and Heritage
and Cultural Arts Commission and select artist to create artwork for
the Village Green or provide Staff with alternate direction.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT: $250,000 is available from the Alameda County Surplus Property
Authority for construction of Public Art for the Project.
DESCRIPTION: In 2004-2005, the City Council rated as a high priority goal: work
with the developer to locate significant works of art in two key places of the Dublin Transit Center, the
Village Green Center and the Iron Horse Plaza.
In May 2003, the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority (ACSPA) entered into a Development
Agreement with the City of Dublin for the Dublin Transit Center Project. As part of the agreement, the
Developer agreed to contribute Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($ 250,000.00) for construction of
public art. The focused area for the artwork will include the Village Green and the BART plaza. The
project will be undertaken in two phases with the first phase being public art for the Village Green. The
commission for the Village Green will be $123,000, with $2,000 having already been expended for
maquettes and publicity. As proposed,the artwork will be paid for by the ACSPA and will be installed on
the Village Green which is owned by Avalon Bay Communities, Inc. The artwork will subsequently be
maintained by Avalon Bay.
In July 2003, the City Council approved formation of a seven member Art Selection Committee to work
with the City and the ACSPA on selection of public art for the Village Green project. A pool of artists was
invited to submit their qualifications for the Village Green design. The Art Selection Committee met to
review the works of all of the responding artists and selected three (Bryan Tedrick, Yoshio Taylor, and
David Middlebrook), to each develop a maquette of their proposed artwork as well as a detailed written
description of their proposal. Due to conflicts with scheduling, David Middlebrook was given permission
to place an existing bronze monolith sculpture representing his concept for the project at the Civic Center,
in place of a maquette. The maquette designs and sculpture were displayed at the Civic Center starting
COPIES TO: Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
Selection Committee
Artists
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Novemher 15, 2004 and a public reception to view the submittals was hcld on November 18, 2004. Public
comment was invited regarding the individual designs. The Art Sclcction Committee forwarded the artist
submittals to the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission for consideration. The Heritage and Cultural
Arts Commission met on November 18, 2004 to share their thoughts on the artist submittals. The Heritage
and Arts Commissioner comments /Tom the meeting are summarized as fol1ows:
A majority of Commissioners (4) favored the Fountain by Y oshio Taylor. One Commissioner felt that the
fountain may creatc a safety hazard with noise and wind as factors. Another Commissioner felt that the
statue in the fountain does not relate to Dublin's heritage and should be changed. A few of the
Commissioners liked the sculptures by Bryan Tedrick but felt that they were not appropriate for this
projcct. A few Commissioners thought David Middlebrook's work was interesting, but one Commissioner
didn't understand the interpretation. The consensus of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission was to
recommend the Fountain by Y oshio Taylor as the selected public art project for the Village Green.
Staff advised the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission that since the Transit Center project is privately
funded, the process for artist selection differs from other projects. The Commission's recommendation
would go to the Selection Committee and the Selection Committee's recommendation (along with the
Commission's if it differs) would go to thc City Council.
On November 22, 2004, the Selection Committee conducted individual interviews with the three artists.
Based on the result of the interviews, the Selection Committee chose the Dragons by Bryan Tedrick as the
selected public art project for the Vi1lage Green. Although the Selection Committee looked favorably on
thc artwork submitted by Yoshio Taylor, there were concerns regarding the ongoing operational costs for
the fountain element of the work.
On December 13, 2004, Staff met with representatives from the ACSPA, the Development Company
(Avalon Bay Communities, Inc.), and artist Bryan Tedrick, to discuss feedback from the Selection
Committee, Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission, and other interested parties that might give the artist
somc ideas on modifications to the art design and materials that would best fit the concept and location for
the two designated sculptures. Details shared with Bryan Tcdrick included:
I. Attempt to soften the look of the Dragons by curving some edges and making modifications to the
head and feet. Some people felt that the sculptures were cold and intimidating.
2. Consider adding some color through use of alternative materials such as brass and wood to
mitigate the coldness associated with steel.
3. Meet with the Landscapc Architcct for the project prior to initial development to consider size aDd
location, as it relates to the project.
4. Choose materials that wil1 provide little or no maintenance and could add character to the
sculptures as the matcrials age.
An artist for over twenty years, Bryan Tedrick possesses a B.F.A. in Sculpture from the San Francisco Art
Institute. He has earned and participated in twenty seven selected awards and exhibitions over the past two
decades. He has also written articles and published artistic contributions in dozens of magazines and
newspapers throughout his career. His kinetic sculpture "Dreams of Longing after Nothing" was
commissioned and installed at Dublin's Dolan Park in 2004. Tedrick's expertise is in using found objects
to depict his work, allowing for an aging process that coincides with the natural surrounding. He uses
steel, galvanized steel, redwood, bronze, copper and wood in many of his works.
For the Dublin Transit Center - Village Green project, Tedrick proposes two columns spaced equal
distance from the center point of the Vil1age Green. Each column will be topped with a winged balancing
dragon sculpture, which will rotate like a weathervane, Dragons were chosen as a symbolic representation
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of natural elements such as wind, rain, elouds and fire. They will providc a visually strong element to
enhance the focus of the Village Green and providc a portal between the Transit Station and the
condominium complex.
Yoshio Taylor has an M.A. in Ceramics from CSU - Sacramento and an M.F.A. in Sculpture from
University of California - Berkley. He has been commissioned for twelve public art projects from 1984 to
2003. During this period, Taylor has also conducted sixteen Selected Exhibitions and thirteen Group
Exhibitions. He has also won Public Art awards, given numerous lectures, and has been a Professor of Art
for the past twenty five years. Taylor specializes in sculptures using materials such as terra cotta, porcelain
and glazed tile, concrete, granite and bronze. Many of his works include water features.
For the Dublin Transit Center - Village Green project, Taylor proposes a three-tiered circular fountain
which may also serve as a seating element. In the center of the fountain is a stylized figurc of a woman
symbolically welcoming visitors to the Village Green. At the base of the seating element will be terra
cotta tiles with images depicting heritage, geographical locations and historical events of the City. The
fountain sculpture wil1 provide a visual enhancement and a peaceful and tranquil reflection for the public.
It is the rccommendation of Staff that the City Council consider thc recommendations ofthe Art Selection
Committee and Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission to select an artist to create artwork for the Village
Green or provide Staff with alternate direction.
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Bryan Tedrick - Sculpture/Design
I envision wind propelled sculpture which acts as a portal between the Transit
Station and the condominium complex. There will be two columns spaced
approximately thirty feet apart and equal distance from the center point of the
Village Green. Each column is topped with a winged balancing sculpture and
allowed to rotate like a weathervane. The overall form of these sculptures will
resemble dragons.
I chose dragons for many reasons, including their association with natural elements.
They are the symbolic personification of clouds, wind, rain, and fire. Traditionally,
they are guardians of transition and vehicles to celestial realms; their power and
balance evokes reverence and awe. They are visually strong enough to hold the
focus of the Village Green.
The scale of my maquette is 1""'1'. The spacing between the supporting columns
allows ample space for pedestrian traffic. Minimum distance from ground level to
the sculpture is 11' as shown, but can be adjusted If needed. Structurally, the work
will be built to withstand any conceivable loads. The maquette is a sketch of an
idea and a method of working. I use found objects to create a spontaneous
gesture, suggesting the form of a dragon rather than a traditional representation.
The materials used include steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, bronze, redwood,
and stone. I prefer to allow for the natural aging of materials without sacrificing
structural integrity and enjoy the given juxtaposition of colors, textures, and
shapes. This means "maintenance free," and easily cleaned if graffittied - no
hassling with fussy finishes.
While a maquette cannot completely depict details of larger scale or include
necessary structural additions, it is my intention to be faithful to the model without
sacrificing the essential spirit of the piece.
Yoshio Taylor
My proposal for the Dublin Transit Center will focus on creating "sense of place" and
making it interactive for publiC and Village Green residents as well as Transit Center
users.
I am proposing a Three Tiers Circular Shaped Fountain Sculpture at the center of
the lawn strip between exiting BART Parking and village Green on lot #3. The
circular collecting pool's diameter Is 14 feet, it is 18" high and 12" wide. It will also
serve as a seating element, and surface will be polished black/green granite tiles
with gold speckles. At the base of the collecting pool/seating element will be bas
relief terra-cotta tiles (1" thick x 6"~12" tall) with stylized images depicting
heritage, geographical location and significant historical events of the City of Dublin.
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Such as the arrival of the Ohlone in the region around 500 A.D, the first arrival of
the European in, land purchase by the Irish immigrants 1850 (clover images to
symbolize Dublin's heritage), incorporation of Dublin in 1982 etc. It will also
include: stylized images of horses, carriages and train wheels (they suggest Iron
Horse Trail, Iron Horse Parkway) as well as 1-580 and 1-680 to identify the location
and the historical events.
At the center of the fountain/sculpture, I placed highly stylized figure of a woman
with wind-blown cloth wrapped around hqlf of her body, symbolically well coming
public/visitors, transit users and residents of the Village Green. The figure (4'-10"h,
total high for fountain is 9'-8") is standing on top of the spiral (12"dia) form and it is
placed on the surface of the first square shaped bronze plate. All together there are
9 plate, they will descend in size as they go down ward to 6", each plate will be
placed every 4". The water will cascade from the top plate and down.onto the
smaller plates then onto the second tier (4'-6"x12" deep bronze bowl). Then the
water will fill the bowl to the rim and flow over onto the 3rd tier, (in the shape of
circular platform 7'dia x 2'h with exposed aggregate surface for more water
movement) then finally into the collecting pool.
I envision my artwork to be a part -of the development as a visual enhancement as
well as a sanctuary of peace and tranquil reflection for the public and also to
promote an awareness for the City of Dublin's heritage and it's environment.
David Middlebrook
The spacious horizontal nature of the village Green could best be served with a
project that flows from both ends and moves toward the central play area. I
envision several vertical marble and basalt monoliths of varying sizes placed along
the tree and sidewalk areas. We know that there are a least three strong ethnic
groups In the Dublin heritage: Ohlone, Irish, and Spanish. I would like to have a
series of neighborhood meetings to collect demographic, ethnic, and historical data
as well as fingerprints from a cross-section of Dublin residents. A representative
sampling of those finger prints would then be enlarged and carved into stone,
marble, or basalt monoliths. These small and large vertical stones would be placed
at selected points along both the tree and sidewalk areas near the pedestrian
corridor. Abstract and realistic cast bronze elements will be inserted and intersect
points on these stone elements. These bronze forms will be cultural icon
celebrating the history and spirit of the contrlbutiop of the ethnic groups whose
fingerprints appear on the stones. Each piece would be labeled for the education
and enjoyment of all who view them. It would be a kind of historical heritage
snapshot of abstracted sculptural. icons. This piece would be a visual language to
capture the shared cultural heritage of Dublin.'
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