05-21-2012 (Public Arts Advisory) Minutes Wit Public Art — Community Park
Art Selection Panel
CITY OF WYLIE
Special Called Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2012 — 2:00 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex
Council Conference Room
300 Country Club Road, Bldg. 100
Wylie, TX 75098
CALL TO ORDER
Announce the presence of a Quorum.
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. Community Park CIP Art Selection Panel members present were:
Margaret Robinette, Susan Spurgin, Anne Hiney, Constance Woods and Jennifer Price. Also present were Mike
Sferra, Public Services Director and PAAB Liaison Carole Ehrlich.
PRESENTATIONS BY SEMI-FINAL ARTISTS
Presentations and Review of the final proposals including a Maquette of each of the
Semi-Finalists for the Community Park CIP Art Project. (C. Ehrlich, Board Liaison)
Board liaison Ehrlich addressed the panel and stated that at the April meeting of the Community Park Selection
Panel, the panel narrowed the artists to a short list of three semi-finalists. Madeline Wiener was one of the artists
chosen but due to other commitments Wiener could not meet the timeline for the Community Park project and
declined participation.
David Hickman was the alternate and was asked to become one of the semi-finalists which he agreed to. Ehrlich
presented each artist to the panel.
David Hickman presented two sculptures to be placed at both site 4 and 5 at the park site. The metal poles were
16 feet high and had a moving sculpture on each. One sculpture presented a pitcher and the other presented a
batter. He explained that the sculptures would move with the wind in sequence and present a very whimsical
view of the sports that would be played at the park. He noted that circular designs were used to enhance the
architecture of the park improvements. Each sculpture had an additional circular piece on each sculpture that
depicted a baseball and would reflect by the sun at intermittent time throughout the day "strike three" and "home
run".
Johnny Edwards was the second presenter and presented two sculptures made from reinforced concrete. The
first sculpture depicted an octopus which he called "octo-pitcher". Each tentacle included a baseball which the
octopus was throwing; one tentacle presented a catcher mitt. The sculpture tentacles would measure 20 feet in
height. The sculpture would measure between 12 and 15 feet from center with a height of 6 feet at the tallest
tentacle. It would be placed in site 5.
He presented the second sculpture which was a 9-9.5 foot caterpillar which he called "bat-a-pillar". The sculpture
would have several bats and the sculpture would be in full motion. This sculpture was presented for Site 4. Both
sculptures would be made of reinforced concrete to appear like carved-weathered wood. He explained the
sculptures would be interactive for children both in their animated presentation and ability to play with the
sculptures.
Jack Westerhold presented one stainless steel playing card that was set on a 4 foot concrete base. The card
was cut in a flat dimension and would be 7 feet in height. He explained it would depict the baseball cards
collected by many children over the years and would be designed as a batter.
Panel members asked questions regarding maintenance and each artist replied that if the sculptures were spray
painted the artists would remediate at no additional charge for some time after installation. Overall maintenance
was minimal on all three proposals.
Ehrlich reported that references had been checked for all three semi-finalists and were positive references.
The panel reviewed each artist and began to rank the artists. In the first round, the panel unanimously ranked
Johnny Edwards first, David Hickman second and Jack Westerhold third.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Consider and act upon raking of the finalists to the Public Arts Advisory Board
for the Community Park CIP Art Project. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB staff liaison)
Panel Recommendations
Consensus of all panel members was to choose Johnny Edwards first ranked finalist, David Hickman,
second ranked finalist and Jack Westerhold third ranked finalist. The panel recommends to the Public
Arts Advisory Board Johnny Edwards as the final artist for the Community Park CIP Art project.
ADJOURNMENT
Panel Action
With no other business before the panel the meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
C ole Ehrlich, Staff Liaison/Secretary
May 21,2012 Wylie Public Arts Advisory Board Selection Panel(Community Park) Page 2 of 2
Minutes