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FAC 01-26-2010APPROVED MINUTES FINE ARTS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Tuesday, January 26, 2010 CUPERTINO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE At 7:00 p.m., Chairman Robert Harrison called tree meeting to order in Conference Room A, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Robert Harrison and Commis:;ioners KC Chandratreya, John Fiegel, Jessi Kaur, and Srilakshmi Sitaraman. Absent: None. Staff present: Kimberly Smith. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of November 10, 2009. PRESENTATIONS Chairman Harrison re-ordered the agenda, and th~~ commissioners agreed to postpone their reorganization until after the other items of business were completed. NEW BUSINESS 3. Review of public art proposed for the park site near The Markham (formerly The Villas), 20800 Homestead Road, Cupertino. The applicant is Michael Ducote, Prometheus Real Estate Group. Mr. Michael Ducote, representing the applicant, explained that more residential units were being added to this existing development, as well as a public park which will be given to the city. That park site is proposed locati~~n for the public art. Artist Martin Webb recommended a location near the park entrance, at the corner of Franco Court and Homestead Boulevard, since several pathways converge there from the complex and from the street. Mr. Webb highlighted his background an~i said he was originally a painter doing commercial work creating graphics in flo~~rs, so he has technical knowledge about concrete. The proposal for this location i;~ to incorporate artwork into the concrete paving, and to create athree-dimensional aspect ~~y adding some sculptural plinths which serve as informal seating and an improvised play ~u•ea, although there is a larger play area nearby. The shortest plinth would be 12 inches, acid the tallest 24 inches. January 26, 2010 Fine Arts Commission Page 2 There will be designs in the concrete, and the plinths will be sections that look as if they have been pushed up out of the ground. Tl1e intended theme will represent the history of the area as a convergence of pathways representing migration, both of birds and migration of human populations through immigration. The bird designs would be etched into the concrete and color applied. A similar project created in a Santa Rosa shopping center has held up well in that high traffic area, and requires no additional maintenance than any other concrete. There would also be metal patterned disk; imbedded in the pathway in various locations in patterns reminiscent of other cultures, such as lattice patterns from Indian architecture, Chinese textiles, the designs, etc. Each m~~tif will be different, and will measure 18 inches in diameter, and will be placed in the 7-foot wide pathways. The main circle, where the plinths will be located, will be 17 to 18 feet in diameter In response to a request from the commissioners, Mr. Webb said he would also include some patterns representing Cupertino's a€;ricultural heritage. Senior Planner Colin Jung said that he would provide some aerial photos of the original fields and orchards. Mr. Ducote said that it would be difficult to make the artwork visible from Homestead Boulevard because of the requirements irr~posed on park design and trees, so instead it will be designed for the greatest impact from pedestrians arriving at the park, and one or more of the metal disks will be installed on pathway near Homestead to entice passersby into the park. The commissioners also asked about the I~roposed colors in the concrete and plinths, and the concern about a tripping hazard whicr~ was mentioned by the Public Works Department. Mr. Webb said that the park space has not yet been created so the artwork will be completed at a late stage in the process, but he would take his cues from the colors in the environment. He explained they ha.d deliberately placed the plinths on the main pathway to avoid a tripping hazard, and to avoid problems with maintaining the grass around it if it were off the path. The main circle will be 18 feet in diameter, with 7 to 8 feet of pathway around all the plinths. Mr. Ducote said that he would provide some color photos of the proposed landscaping along with some proposed color schemes for the artwork. Mr. Webb said that he would provide copies of all the proposed patterns for the imbedded metal disks, including some more modern patterns and some reflecting; the region's agricultural history. Mr. Ducote added that there is a condition of approval to have solar lighting in the park, although the park may close at dark. Mr. Webb agreed with the commission's suggestion to install some brass disks closer to Homestead, perhaps even taking them oui: onto the sidewalk. January 26, 2010 Fine Arts (:ommission Page 3 He said that the etchings on the plinths wF;re abstract house shapes, recessed into the plinth, with color applied inside. There will be a strong, breathable acrylic seal on the outside. He explained that anti-graffiti sealers are not breathable, and if moisture gets underneath, the color can peel off. In terms of long-term maintenance, only the brown circular area would need to be resealed and any concrete contractor could do that. Mr. Ducote said that they would incorpor~ite maintenance information into the documents provided to the city when the park is turnf;d over. He summarized his understanding of the next steps, which would be to take into consideration the local agricultural history, provide cut sheets for proposed landscaping and a~lor, provide examples of the different brass inserts, and more specific information about lighting. The commission unanimously agreed to accept the conceptual proposal. 4. Review of public art proposed for the T-l~lobile monopole, be a combination cellular tower and lighting stanchion for the baseball fie:~d lights at Memorial Park (corner of Mary Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard). The applicant is Dayna Aguirre. (This project is not subject to the One-Quarter Percent fot~ Art requirement). Senior Planner Colin Jung said that the city recently updated the wireless communications ordinance, and typically the practice is to hide the structure or blend it into the environment. They are trying a new appr~~ach, to use the structures to enhance the city through additional artwork. The Planning; staff did not feel it was appropriate to require this step, so this proposal is considered an aesthetically enhanced monopole in context with the environment, and T-Mobile has been ~Nilling to work with the city to make the idea a reality. The proposal is to replace one of the base'~all field light poles. The current pole is 60 feet high, and the new one will have the monopole on top, making it 75 feet. An abstract figure of a baseball player will be mounted on tree pole about 10 feet above ground. He added that as far as he knew, such a proposal ha:~n't been attempted before in the United States, and may garner attention, local or nationwide. Artist Riis Burwell shared a brochure highlighting his former works of art and showed a maquette of the proposed sculpture, which was an abstract figure of a centerfielder reaching up to capture a ball. The figure vvould be created in bronze, which is fairly maintenance-free, and the final color has ~ZOt yet been decided, and it will be mounted on a pole that is silver-gray in color. At 24 inches in diameter, this pole is slighter larger than the other light poles in order to handle the; weight of the sculpture. He said in this early stage of design, it appears the figure may be 7 feet tall, but it may need to be taller than that. It would protrude about 3 feet from the pole. Ms. Dayna Aguirre representing T-Mobile, said that they had already exceeded the budget for a typical site, but ~if the radio frequency engineers really want to make it happen, T Mobile will commit to it financially. January 26, 2010 Fine Arts Commission Page 4 The commissioners asked that the applicant or artist provide more information or samples about available colors of the sculpture, thE: color of the pole, a sketch of the final plaque and its location. They also asked that the sculpture be made larger and placed about 15 feet above the ground. Ms. Aguirre said they will figure out how large they can make it and provide new photo simulations from different locations. Shc; said they anticipate Planning Commission approval in February, then constructions drawings will take a week, and the bronze will take about two months. The Commission unanimously accepted the conceptual proposal as discussed. 5. 2010 meeting schedule and planning for t]Ze year's work program. The commissioners concurred with the list proposed by Staff Liaison Kimberly Smith, and added the following items: (1) Prepare a ~~esolution for the City Council to declare the first Friday of October as Fine Arts Day, and t:he commission will use that opportunity to highlight new public art and the Zero 1 event; (2) Consider the creation of an Artist Registry; (3) Explore ways to energize thf; Emerging Artist program. SB. Initial review of PW Market/Homestead F:etail project which will have a public art requirement. Ms. Smith distributed artist renderings of and explained how the commissioners could track the progress of the project as it went. through Planning Commission review. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. Report from ad hoc committee (Fiegel an~J Chandratreya) regarding opportunities to leverage grant funds. Commissioner Chandratreya distributed a draft document titled "Evolve -Revitalizing Arts Through Collaboration." He explained that it is the beginning step of a progressive process to connect children from different schools at a central location, such as the Euphrat Museum or the Quinlan Community Center, to get exposed to the arts in the form of free workshops and concerts. That will help to capture the interest of students who may wish to participate more fully in a focused art event, which could be a paid event to raise funding, and would ultimately lead to an interschool competition or exhibit. The Commissioners discussed adding other collaborators such as the Fremont Union High School District, the principals and superintendents of schools, local government representatives, and private corporations ;end sponsors. Chandratreya said that he had discussed tine concept with one of the Council members, and was told to develop the idea and present it, and if it looks good the Council may be interested in providing more funding. He explained that the purpose would be to generate January 26, 2010 Fine Arts Commission Page 5 interest in the arts in general, but also to benefit the Euphrat Museum by increasing visitors to the museum and increasing the number of students taking paid workshops. Chandratreya said that it will take four to five months to plan, and would aim for akick-off event in October 2010 to tie in with the annual Fine Arts Week, in an event oriented for children of elementary and middle school;~ age. COMMISSION REORGANIZATION 2. Appoint the 2010 Commission Chair and Vice-Chair Commissioner Fiegel nominated Commission Chandratreya for the position of Chairman, and the nominations were closed. Fiegel moved and Harrison seconded to appoint K.C. Chandratreya as Chairman, and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Kaur nominated herself for the position of Vice-Chair, and the nominations were closed. Harrison moved and Fiegel ;seconded to appoint Jessi Kaur as Vice-Chair, and the motion carried unanimously. The City Clerk explained that commissioner Christine Hackworth had resigned since the Fine Arts Commission last met because slie and her husband had relocated out of state. Newly-appointed Srilakshmi Sitaraman introduced herself to the group, and said she had been a software engineer in the high tech :industry for 13 years, and was currently a PTA volunteer and running the "Reflections" nationwide art competition for Faria School. She also sings classical Indian music and is te;~ching it to her six-year-old daughter. COMMISSIONER REPORTS -None STAFF REPORTS -None NEWS ARTICLES -None ADJOURNMENT At 9:30 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. ,i ,. ~ r ~_. ~ r -~ - v~-, ~, ___ Kimberly Smith, y Clerk and Staff Liaison v