Ann Arbor Municipal Center Public Art Task Force
Summary of Meeting Minutes, 2008
Sept 9
The Task Force met for the first time. The role of the Task Force will be to research and review Municipal Center architectural plans, possible sites for art, artists, selection processes, and funding options, and then make recommendations to the full Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC). AAPAC must approve Task Force recommendations, balancing them against priorities of the Annual Public Art Plan across the community. City Council must then give final approval for any expenditure over $25,000. Task Force members received an overview of the Municipal Center project, its environmental features, and potential public art sites at the Center from Ken Clein of Quinn Evans Architects and Shannan Gibb Randall and Andrea Kevrick of InSite Design Studio. It was felt that a primary goal of public art at the Municipal Center should be to enhance and advance the ecological theme and the LEED Gold standard for the structure. The ecological theme is a key component of the Centerís design as exemplified by its Rain Garden, which will retain and filter the bulk of the storm water from the building site.
Sept 18
Task Force members reviewed slides of notable public art projects collected by Americans for the Arts and recommended by consultant Janet Kagan and Municipal Center lead architect Ken Clein. Slides included work by environmental artists and artists who work with storm water. The Task Force then discussed prioritization of sites for the first round of public art at the Municipal Center.
Sept 26
Herbert Dreiseitl met with the Task Force and offered recommendations for the Municipal Center site, including a suggestion that site architects simplify the design of the Rain Garden area to make it more active and more likely to be used by employees, visitors to the Municipal Center, and pedestrians. Following this meeting, the Task Force discussed how an artist will be selected for the first round of public art at the Municipal Center. It was recognized that public art planning was coming very late in a signature project and that it would be practical to have one artist to interface with architects and landscape designers at this late stage.
Oct 7
The Task Force discussed priority sites for public art at the Municipal Center. A motion was made to concentrate on priorities that affect structure and leave open the possibility of further projects in the future. VOTE: The motion was passed unanimously.
After further discussion of possible sites, members decided on the following three priorities:
- The marker, or plinth, on Huron St.
- The atrium of City Hall
- The lobby of the Courts/PD building
Task Force members felt that these three areas should be integrated in some way and also be related to the rain garden, possibly through an interactive water feature connecting the rain garden and the marker.
The Task Force felt that, while a competition among artists that would offer more options to choose from was desirable, choosing a single artist would be more suitable given the construction timeline and the desire to incorporate art as part of the structure of the Municipal Center. Construction is set to begin in February, and materials will be ordered in the coming months. Members felt that Herbert Dreiseitl was a strong candidate to serve as artist on the project due to his international renown, his experience with storm water and practical engineering, and his practice of involving the community and working with local companies and artisans, among other reasons. A motion was made to recommend to AAPAC for consideration a proposal from Herbert Dreiseitl for the 3 sites listed above with a cap of $750,000. VOTE: The motion was passed with six votes in favor and one abstention.
Oct 22
The Task Force reviewed a new design for the rain garden from Quinn Evans. A discussion of additional sites for art at the Municipal Center and how to prioritize them followed, focusing on areas that will have less of an impact on building construction. Members decided to table discussion of areas that might be affected by design of the initial three sites chosen for public art (the Municipal Center marker, Atrium, and Courts/PD Lobby). The Task Force also discussed possible sites for new placement of mosaics by local artist Gerome Kamrowski that are currently sited at the entrance to City Hall.
Nov 5
The Task Force discussed a back-up plan if Herbert Dreiseitl decides not to submit a proposal for the initial three Municipal Center sites. Members recommended that the storm water management theme be kept no matter who takes on the project. The Task Force agreed on 4 additional public art priority areas: 1) North courtyard, 2) West side of Courts/Police building on Fifth Avenue, 3) North side of Courts/Police building on Ann Street, and 4) security barriers around the building. Of these, the North courtyard was selected as the highest priority, and members discussed possible uses and themes for the area. Artists will be encouraged to think of the courtyard as a transformative space with multiple uses.
Nov 18
The Task Force discussed public art for the North courtyard area of the Municipal Center, including ways that art could make the courtyard appealing for City functions, such as police recognition events. In order to make final decisions on projects for the North courtyard, members generated a list of questions for site architects and suggested inviting Ken Clein to join the Task Force to talk about materials and possibilities at an upcoming meeting.
Dec 2
The Task Force reviewed new information from Ken Clein and continued discussion of possible locations for art in the North courtyard area. Members discussed goals for art in this area, including creation of a space that will facilitate gatherings. To this end, the Task Force discussed the logistics of creating a stage/podium area and a tented space. Members felt that combining permanent and temporary elements would be desirable for stage and tent areas. Members generated further questions to be answered by Municipal Center architects to help in making final decisions about the topics outlined above. The method of artist selection for the North courtyard was then discussed. The Task Force decided to recommend a national competition for artist selection that would allow local, regional, and state artists to apply and would start with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This would be followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) to 5-7 artists who are selected through the RFQ process.
Dec 16
Ken Clein presented information and drawings for the North courtyard area of the Municipal Center along with several new renderings of the entire site. He answered questions from Task Force members concerning areas that could be used as sites for public art, including green areas, promenades, and bollards. He also addressed wiring for a possible stage area and the best site for a potential tent structure. The Task Force decided to discontinue meetings while the City is reviewing and deciding on Dreiseitlís involvement in the project, as that decision will affect other public art projects at the Municipal Center.
|