HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.2 Bray Commons Public Art OF DU���
82 AGENDA STATEMENT
- PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
ON
MEETING DATE: September 21, 2009
SUBJECT: Bray Commons Public Art
Prepared by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: In August 2008,the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission received
a report on the artwork at Bray Commons Park. The artwork was commissioned by the Dublin Fine Arts
Foundation in partnership with the City as part of the "Art in the Parks" program. The report outlined
complaints that had been received regarding the noise generated by the artwork and safety issues related
to leaves falling from the artwork. A few options suggested by the artist, Bill Gould, to modify the
artwork and address the concerns were reviewed in the report. The Commission asked Staff to investigate
some other sound mitigation options, including:
1) Coat the leaves with a sound reducing material
2) Plant mature trees to block the sound
3) Re-locate the artwork to another area within the park
In December 2008, the City Council received a report outlining suggestions from the artist on
modifications to the artwork. This process included:
• Remove all the leaves from the artwork;
• Coat the leaves with a plastic/rubber high solid polymer coating to deaden the metallic sound;
• Reinforce the hanging-hole on each leaf with a metal grommet;
• Re-hang the leaves using a sturdy S-hook and cable to reduce friction and sound placing a metal
crimp underneath each leaf to eliminate the leaf from sliding off.
A few leaves were to be hung on each cable, and the cables would be spread out to allow for more space
between the leaves to reduce the noise factor, especially in the wind. Additionally, less total leaves would
be hung to further reduce the noise factor. The Council accepted the suggested modifications and
approved an allocation of $5,000, with funds to be appropriated from the Public Art Fund. The
modifications of the artwork were completed by the artist in early May 2009.
COPIES TO:
ITEM NO.: 8.2
GAPARKS C0MM1SS10N\AGNDSTMT\2009\9-21 Bray Commons Artwork.doc
During the past few months, even with the modifications that artist has made to the metal leaves, a
number of the leaves have still fallen off. During extremely windy conditions, the metal leaves are ripping
through the grommets and cable that the artist installed on each leaf In conferring with the artist, he
acknowledges at this point that his modification methods have not deterred the leaves from continuing to
fall off the sculpture and he does not have a design solution to remedy this problem, given the strong
winds encountered at times in Dublin.
Therefore the artist recommended removing all the leaves from the artwork. He feels the sculpture still
has value and appeal without the leaves.
As outlined in the City's public art policy and the agreement with the artist, the Heritage and Cultural Arts
Commission and the City Council are the bodies that must approve any modifications to the artwork
proposed by the artist. Both the Commission and the City Council concurred with the artist's
recommendation to remove the leaves.
Staff is currently working with the artist to schedule the work.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Parks and Community Services
Commission receive the report.
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