STAFF REPORT
Town Council, August 25, 2011

Public Art Advisory Board Annual Report (PR12-03)
Summary of recent activity and actions made by the Public Art Advisory Board
Speaker:  Ms. Pat Hudson, Public Art Advisory Board Chair 

From:    Danny Hopkins, Director, PRCR 
Prepared by:  Denise Dickens, Public Art Coordinator
Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by:  Mike Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager

Executive Summary: Providing representation for Cary citizens, the Public Art Advisory Board gives advice and makes recommendations to Town Council and staff on matters relating to the administration, acquisition and inclusion of public artworks in Cary. The Board conducts monthly meetings and may serve on specific project subcommittees.  

Background:  The Public Art Advisory Board consists of nine (9) members appointed by Town Council with representation from local visual arts organizations, working artists, architects, the private development community and the general public. Council Liaison is Jennifer Robinson.  The Cary Teen Council actively participates on the Board with representation from three liaisons who volunteer many hours of service and provide youth perspective.  Current members are listed along with their term ending year.

Pat Hudson, Chair (2012)
Jennifer Blakeslee (2012)*
Tom Gruber (2013)*
Venny Holcomb (2012)*
Sheila Morris (2011)*
Smythe Richbourg (2011)
Gray Rinehart (2011)*
Christine Pechner (2013)*
Kristy Pace (2013)*

* First Term expires

The Board conducted 10 regular meetings and Board members served on and attended 2 artist selection panel meetings and collected citizen input on public art projects at festivals and events during 2010-2011. The Board has reviewed 23 public art projects and donations of artworks and they have volunteered over 145 hours during this period.  

The Board adopted the following focus areas and goals for 2011:

1. Public Art Master Plan - Work with staff to accomplish the recommendations of the Council-adopted Public Art Master Plan.  GOAL: Continue to work toward achieving the vision and recommendations of the Public Art Master Plan.
2. Public Art Projects - Continue to advise & recommend public art where appropriate to enhance citizen quality of life.  GOAL: Contribute to the achievement of an aesthetically pleasing and economically successful community by evaluating and recommending public art judiciously.
3. Education – Work with staff on public art education programs.  GOAL: Build a community where citizens and businesses alike recognize public art projects and the value of public art to our shared community vision.

Report:  The Board’s Goal 1 (Public Art Master Plan - Work with staff to accomplish the recommendations of the Public Art Master Plan and to facilitate the achievement of the vision and recommendations of the Public Art Master Plan) was implemented through the following activities:

1. During 2010-2011 activities included follow up on the recommendations of the Public Art Consultant:

• Consider Update Public Art Master Plan (adopted in 2001) – Town engaged Brown & Keener Urban Design firm to assist with the update of the Public Art Master Plan.  The Board will be the main citizen committee assisting with this process.
• Consider creating an Ordinance/Policy - This will be part of the Public Art Master Plan update.
• Consider adding design and engineering expertise to the Public Art Advisory Board – The Council added new Board members with design and engineering backgrounds.
•  Consider Design Charrette process as part of the concept development phase – Initiated this process with the Gates of Hemlock Bluffs public art project.

The Board’s Goal 2 (Public Art Projects – Continue to advise & recommend public art where appropriate to enhance quality of life. Contribute to the achievement of an aesthetically pleasing and economically successful community by evaluating and recommending public art judiciously) was implemented through the following activities:

1. The Board prioritized 3 potential projects for the FY12 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and Capital Improvement Budget (CIB).  The Board used the evaluation criteria from the Public Art Master Plan to evaluate and rank projects for inclusion in the Public Art Work Plan and the CIB/CIP budget process.
    
2. The Board reviewed the following current Town projects:
   

   Walker Street Extension Project Public Art  -  The Board reviewed and made a recommendation on the public art concepts presented by the Design Team Artist Vicki Scuri, OBS Landscape Architects and URS Engineering. 

   Black Creek Greenway Public Art -  The Board reviewed design modifications for the pedestrian greenway bridge plinths presented by artist Brad Spencer. 

   Hemlock Bluffs Gates Public Art -  The Board reviewed design concepts and design for the new entryway gates for Hemlock Bluffs and Stevens Nature Center Park.  The design was presented by artist Lucas House.

   The Cary Arts Center Public Art -  The Board reviewed updates on the progress of integrated public artworks for the new Cary Arts Center.  

   National Veterans Freedom Park -  The Board reviewed design concept for public art for the Park.

   Cary Train Depot Public Art -  The NC Rail Road and Amtrak planed to incorporate public art into the expansion of the Train Depot.  NC Rail selected Matt McConnell a Raleigh artist from the Town’s Artist Registry to make a sculpture that will provide both art and the needed sound proofing in the new addition.  The Board reviewed the design for public art.

3. The Board reviewed and made recommendations on the following projects that can address neighborhood identity and were initiated by organizations and businesses:
   
   The Board typically reviews private development public art projects.  There were no projects to review this past year.

4. The Board reviewed temporary placements for the following:
   
   CVA Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition (OSE)  10 proposed sculptures will be temporarily placed on the Town Hall Campus August 2011 – June 2012.   There are a wide variety of pieces and the artists are from several different states.

   Vollis Simpson’s three whirligigs that were long-term temporary placement at the corner of Academy Street and Chapel Hill Road.

   Artist William Moore’s flock of sheep that were originally designed for Bartley Park public art project were reviewed for long-term temporary placement in the downtown park area.

5. The Board reviewed donations of artwork to the Town:

Fourteen photographs by artists Jim Larcom, Heath Clayton and Joe Lipka were donated from the exhibition “An Icon Transformed”.  The photographs all were on public display at Cary Town Hall, Herb Young Community Center and page-Walker Arts & History Center April – June 2011.

Two additional photographs from artist Heath Clayton from the exhibition and cultural exchange between the Town and Cary’s Sister City County Meath Ireland are being reviewed for donation at the Board’s August meeting.

Additionally, a water color that was the Lazy Daze poster artwork by artist Pam Shank is being offered for donation and will be reviewed at the Board’s August meeting.

Goal 3 (Education – Work with staff on Public Art education programs and build a community where citizens and businesses alike recognize public art projects and the value of public art to our shared community vision)was implemented through the following activities:

1. Board and Teen Council liaisons collected citizen comments on current downtown projects, as well as future capital projects, during the Lazy Daze and Spring Daze festivals. 
2. Provided outreach to community groups and citizens on the Town’s public art projects at Heart of Cary Association meetings, Cary Rotary Club meetings, Teen Council Board & membership meetings, and Cary Visual Art Board and committee meetings.
3. Board participated in the dedication for Black Creek Greenway which incorporates a brick bench with life size figures all made of brick.
4. Board participated in public meetings where public art was the topic and contributed to general public meetings where public art could contribute to the project.

Fiscal Impact:  No fiscal impact.

Staff Recommendation:  Council accepts the report of the Public Art Advisory Board.