HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.2 Safeway Public Art CITY CLERK
File #
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: May 21, 2002
SUBJECT: Safeway-Public Art
Report by Bonnie Leonard, Recreation Supervisor
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Proposal 1 -Dan Dykes
2. Proposal 2 -Caryl Castleberry
3. Verdin Clock Tower - City of Martinez ,
RECOMMENDATION: l . Receive presentation of Art Consultant
2. Select artwork
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Safeway has budgeted $50,000 for public art.
DESCRIPTION: At the January 15, 2002 meeting, the City Council clarified the
public art condition for the Safeway Inc. retail development on Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza
Road. The Council concurred that they would like a clock tower on the corner of Dublin Boulevard and
Amador Plaza Road and artwork at the main entrance at Dublin Boulevard was unnecessary. Staff was
directed to bring back two proposals: one to include a clock tower which integrated art into the design and
one to include an old-fashioned clock with accompanying bronze artwork.
Proposal l Artist Dan Dykes
Dan Dykes is a Walnut Creek sculptor working in stainless steel and bronze. Dykes described his
proposed artwork as "a sculptural clock, which speaks to the unique challenges and opportunities of this
site." This work is entitled "Dublin Time". A model of the clock will be presented at the meeting;
Attachment 1 is a photo of the model.
In his proposal, Dykes indicated that the goal for the artwork at this site is one of "place making". The
sculpture would bridge the concept of tradition and progress. The visual references incorporated in the
development of the sculpture were from local artistic and architectural sources. The base of the sculpture
is stepped like. the boulevard streetlights identified in the Downtown Specific Plan. These forms are also
repeated in the Safeway building. The shape of the tapering tower is designed to reflect the triangular site.
The pendulum design is a reference to the pendulum concept in the Civic Center Clock.
The stainless steel sculpture is approximately 16 feet tall and .has five major elements. The elements
include:
• A stepped stainless base
• A tapering column with overlay pendulum form
• Blossom/plant forms at the transition point on the column
COPIES TO: Lynne Baer
Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission
Safeway
ITEM NO. ~ o
G:\Hrtg Cult Art Comm\Council\5-21 safewayart.doc
• A clock face on the upper disc
• A filigree cutout and lamp on the opposite face of the upper disc
The surround detailing of -the clock face has a subtle visual connection to the Celtic theme used in the
adjacent Freeway Underpass Mural project. The lamp would be a functioning street lantern and was
developed from research in early Celtic metal work. The Celtic filigree pattern would be backlit through
filtered blue green glass.
Proposal 2 Artist Caryl Castleberry
The Verdin Company (Clock)
Proposal 2 consists of artwork by Glen Ellen artist Caryl Castleberry paired with a commercially produced
street clock. Castleberry is a sculptor specializing in bronze figures. Ms. Castleberry's primary work has
been with natural science museums specializing in people and animals. The artist was given direction to
create a piece that would tie-in with an old=fashioned clock.
Castleberry's proposed bronze sculpture consists of two children- sitting upon a 6-foot bench. The piece,
entitled "Sharing Time", would be located in front of a four-faced street clock. The whimsical sculpture
features the children sharing not only the location with the clock; they are sharing a bag lunch. Sma113 to
4 inch high birds perch at the end of the bench awaiting an opportunity to share in the lunchtime activity.
The bench is 19 inches high; the taller child is 28 inches from bench to top of her head. A model of the
artwork will be presented at the meeting; Attachment 2 is a photo of the model.
The Verdin Company manufactures the street clock selected by Safeway (Attachment 3). The 12'-41/4"
tower clock features four rear illuminated clock .faces with spade hands. The black aluminum clock (Four
Score III) includes a photocell to automatically turn the illumination on and off at dusk and dawn. The
Verdin Company has been in business more than 157 years and is well known for the quality and
durability of its products. Verdin clocks can be seen in Livermore and Martinez.
At the May 9 meeting, the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission reviewed the design proposals. The
Commission unanimously dismissed the idea of a commercially produced clock. It was their contention
that such clocks were common, could be found in any city and were not defined as public art.
After discussing each piece of artwork, it was the consensus of the Commission that the Castleberry piece
(Proposal 2) was not appropriate for the Safeway location. Commissioners believed that due to the
location, with the existing streetlight standards, traffic light standards and busy traffic, the bronze piece
would be lost and not appreciated for the detail of the design. Abetter location would be a plaza or a
park. The Commission also agreed that a clock tower the size proposed by Dykes (Proposal 1) was more
appropriate. Although not all Commissioners liked the stainless steel, they unanimously recommend
Proposal 1, the stainless steel clock tower for the Safeway Public Art Project.
In addition, the Commission, unanimously recommended that the City Council consider placing the
sculpture of the children (Castleberry) at a more appropriate location. (However, it should be noted that
the City. does not currently have funds budgeted for this purpose.)
Safeway had budgeted $50,000 for the artwork and both proposals are within the budget. Safeway is
satisfied with either proposal.
It is the recommendation of Staff that the. City Council receive the presentation by Art Consultant Lynne
Baer and make an artwork selection.
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