08-25-2016 (Public Arts Advisory - Public Art Selection Committee) Minutes 2016 Thoroughfare Public
Art Selection Committee
CITY OF WYLIE
Minutes
Special Called Public Art Selection Committee Meeting
2016 CIP Thoroughfare Art
August 25, 2016 —5:30 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex
Council Chambers/Conference Room
300 Country Club Road, Bldg. 100
CALL TO ORDER
Announce the presence of a Quorum.
The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. Staff liaison Ehrlich reported that board member Margaret
Robinette had indicated she was unable to attend due to family matters. 2016 Thoroughfare CIP Public
Art Selection Committee members present included: John Pototschnik, Shirley Burnett, Mindy Manson,
Lynn Grimes, Shohn Rodgers, and Kathy Spillyards.
Staff present included: Carole Ehrlich, Public Art Liaison and Craig Kelly, PIO.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
o Presentation and Review of the Semi-Finalists for the 2016 Thoroughfare CIP
Public Art Projects, Site #1 and #2. (C. Ehrlich, Board Liaison)
Staff Comments
Public Arts Liaison Ehrlich addressed the committee stating that the selection committee narrowed the
artists for Site #1 and #2, by unanimous vote to four semi-finalists. These included Mike Szabo, Tom
Latka Studios, Jim Gallucci, and Michael Clapper. All semi-final artists attended a Public Input Meeting
on July 27, 2016 to gather information on the City and hear public comments regarding the art. These
artists have prepared presentations to be given to the Selection Committee tonight.
Ehrlich explained the committee is asked to rank the artists by first choice, second choice, third choice,
and fourth choice. The first choice finalist will be recommended to the Public Arts Advisory Board and
subsequently to the Wylie City Council for final approval and a contract to commission the art. The
PAAB, at their discretion, may change the order of finalist or choose to take the recommendation made
by the selection committee.
The artists will present by order of draw. Total project budget for Site#1 and Site#2 is $260,000.
Mike Szabo presented a proposal for Site 1 entitled Entwine. The sculpture is an abstracted reference
to the connection point between underground roots and above ground grasses similar to the Big and
Little Bluestem and Buffalo grass grown over the years in the area. The sculpture is constructed from
brushed stainless steel with a rich patina bronze. It will stand 30 feet tall.
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Site 2 was entitled Prairie Crossing consisting of an organic, undulating seating bench emerging from a
proposed pathway that would connect to the main trail to the proposed parking lot near the site. The
sculpture spans 50 feet across and echoing the materials of Entwine, ribbons of stainless steel and rich
textured bronze arched over the bench, crisscrossing each other in a dynamic web reaching over 10 feet
tall at its highest point.
Michael Clapper presented Born of Place depicting the link between the Community and the Municipal
Complex trails. Site 1 proposed a 26 foot tall grass element made of stainless steel and made to look as
if the wind is blowing across its tops. The circular portion of the sculpture is approximately 16 feet in
diameter. It will spiral open at the top to envelop, or integrate into the grass element. It is made from
CorTen steel to use as a canvas to display either patterns or high contrast portraits.
Site 2 will be a sister sculpture and similar in its message of a resilient community born of the prairie.
The proposal will use stone benches along with a stone support with steel grass compliments and a
circular canopy made from the same CorTen steel and displaying a sampling of Wylie citizens or
children's silhouettes. This will allow the sun to shine through the canopy displaying the images.
Latka Studios presented Open Arms celebrating the power of connections. A visual testament to the
strength achieved when people, cultures, countries come together to support one another. Each
sculpture (Site 1 & 2) has independent arching elements which connect midway. Surface materials
include recycled colored glass, mother-of-pearl shell fragments, porcelain, and recycled mirror set into
concrete. An off-white concrete gives an organic broken-stone appearance. Setting atop one of the
arms was a lighted extension with colored LED lighting. Each sculpture will be the same in design; Site
1 being 30 feet tall and Site 2 being 20 feet tall.
Jim Gallucci presented Beacon for Site 1. A signpost to meet friends or as a destination at the other
end of the trails. Beacon stands 22 feet tall by 10 feet deep and weighs 5,000 pounds, made of
stainless steel pipes. The bonnet detail is made from stainless steel perforated metal with %" holes. A
bonnet design at the stop creates a "W", symbolic of Wylie that creates patterns as sunlight filters
through the metal.
Site 2, entitled Gateway includes a 24 foot wide stainless steel pipes creating a gateway to the trail and
park. The sculpture is 24 feet tall and weighs 10,500 pounds. The sculpture presents the lush prairie
grass, bending in the wind and denotes the past to the present day development. Among the pipes are
fluttering panels with reproductions of the original land and survey plat maps from the City. Whisper
tubes connect from each side of the pipes for interaction by visitors.
Selection Committee members asked each artist questions pertaining to their presentation and designs.
BUSINESS ITEMS •
1. Consider, and act upon, the ranking of the four semi-finalists and recommending
the first ranked finalist to the Public Arts Advisory Board for the 2016
Thoroughfare CIP Public Art Projects, Site #1 and Site#2. (C. Ehrlich, Board Liaison)
Staff/Committee Discussion
PAAB Liaison Ehrlich addressed the committee members stating that each of the four artists have
• completed their final presentations and answered questions regarding the specifics of their art designs.
She asked the committee to rank the four semi-finalists and recommend by motion the first ranked artist
to the Public Arts Advisory Board for their review and recommendation to the Wylie City Council. Ehrlich
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noted the selection must be by majority vote.
Committee members discussed at length each design and comments regarding the suitability of design
to the site, environment, and other factors relating to site specific needs.
Committee members liked Michael Szabo's designs best and asked if the artist could increase the
height of the sculptures and increase the lighting within his budget. Also mentioned was to add some
type of artistic design relating to the two sites to the mile markers to give encouragement to continue to
walk to the other side of the trails to view the other design.
Committee Action
A motion was made by Committee member Manson, seconded by Committee member Grimes to rank
Michael Szabo first, Latka Studios second, Michael Clapper third, and Jim Gallucci fourth and to
recommend Michael Szabo as the final artist to the Public Arts Advisory Board to commission art for
Sites 1 and 2. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with Committee member Robinette absent.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
❑ Presentation and Review of the Semi-Finalists for the 2016 Thoroughfare
CIP Public Art Projects, Site#3. (C. Ehrlich, Board Liaison)
Public Arts Liaison Ehrlich addressed the committee stating that the selection committee narrowed the
artists for Site#3, by unanimous vote to three semi-finalists. These included John Davis, Adrian Litman,
and Howard Kalish. All semi-final artists, with the exception of Howard Kalish, attended a Public Input
Meeting on July 27, 2016 to gather information on the City and hear public comments regarding the art.
These artists have prepared presentations to be given to the Selection Committee tonight.
Ehrlich explained the committee is asked to rank the artists by first choice, second choice, and third
choice. The first choice finalist will be recommended to the Public Arts Advisory Board and
subsequently to the Wylie City Council for final approval and a contract to commission the art. The
PAAB, at their discretion, may change the order of finalist or choose to take the recommendation made
by the selection committee.
The artists will present by order of draw. Total project budget for Site#3 is $52,000.
John Davis created a design that celebrates the function, setting and context of the site (Disc Golf
Park). The proposed artwork uses the vocabulary of the circle and the spiral in forming a colorful and
gestural celebration of the essence of the park. The spiral (ribbon design) suggests energy and
propulsion of the disc at its end. At the opposite end, a wind vane in the shape of a disc connects to the
airborne aspect of the golfing activity and can also give golfers an indication of wind direction as it may
affect the path of long throws. The disc stands above the spiral design and is lit from below the disc.
The spiral is fabricated from corten steel and has a fluoropolymer coating for superior durability, color
and, gloss retention. The design stands 9 feet tall at the highest point and 15.6 feet long.
Adrian Litman presented Whoosh creating stainless steel discs connected and starting larger and
continuing to get smaller to depict the motion of the disc. The discs stand on a concrete base that is
approximately 5 feet tall. Ground spot lighting was suggested by the artist. Litman also presented two
alternate designs; one more abstract in stainless steel that related the motion of a disc moving through
the air and one similar to Whoosh that included the same size disc in bright colors.
Howard Kalish presented Flying Disc, a 3-dimensinal form consisting of 12 brightly colored posts, each
one a different color of the spectrum to create a color wheel. Standing 17 feet tall, they project outward
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from a center axis like spokes of a wheel. Atop each post is a "flying disc" which are made from
translucent urethane pigmented in the same colors of the spectrum but arranged on the posts in the
opposite color. Each disc is 20 inches in diameter.
BUSINESS ITEMS
2. Consider, and act upon, the ranking of the three semi-finalists and recommending
the first ranked finalist to the Public Arts Advisory Board for the 2016
Thoroughfare CIP Public Art Projects, Site #3. (C. Ehrlich, Board Liaison)
Committee Discussion
•Committee members discussed at length each design and how it would fit within the site.
Committee members liked John Davis' design and asked if the artist could increase the height of the
sculpture and increase the base to allow seating and extend the overall height of the sculpture.
Committee liaison Ehrlich stated she would ask the artist if he is chosen as the finalist.
Committee Action
A motion was made by Committee member Spillyards, seconded by Committee member Grimes to rank
John Davis first, Adrian Litman (Whoosh with color) second, and Howard Kalish third; and to
recommend John Davis as the final artist to the Public Arts Advisory Board to commission art for Site
#3. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with Committee member Robinette absent.
3. Consider, and act upon, the minutes from the June 7, 2016 Thoroughfare CIP
Public Art Selection Committee Meeting and the July 27, 2016 Thoroughfare CIP
Public Input Meeting. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB liaison)
Committee Action
A motion was made by Committee member Manson, seconded by Committee member Spillyards to
approve the Selection Committee minutes from June 7, 2016 and July 27, 2016 as presented. A vote
was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with Committee member Robinette absent.
ADJOURNMENT
Committee Action
With no further business, a motion was made by Committee member Grimes, seconded by Committee
member Spillyards to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
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Caro e Ehrlich, Pu Arts Advisory Board Liaison