Title
Recommendation from the Art in Public Places Board for an Expenditure of Art in Public Places Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $195,000 for the Design, Fabrication, Transport and Installation of Art by Evelyn Rosenberg in the 502 Underpass Scheduled for Construction in 2020.
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the expenditure of Art In Public Places Funds for the design, fabrication, transport, and installation of art by Evelyn Rosenberg in the 502 Underpass in an amount not to exceed $195,000 including tax, lighting, contingency funds, plaques, and a dedication event.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Art in Public Places Board approved this recommendation at their regular meeting on August 23, 2018.
Body
Scheduled for construction in 2020, the Canyon Rim Trail Underpass will connect the Canyon Rim Trailhead to Camino Entrada under Highway 502, expanding safe and easy access to trails on both sides of the highway. A visual overview of the location is available in Attachment C.
At a regular meeting of the Art in Public Places Advisory Board (APPB) on December 14, 2017, Desirae Lujan and Eric Martinez from LAC Public Works asked APPB to recommend public art to accompany the Canyon Rim Trail Underpass. The tunnel will be very long - about 85 feet - and the design team sees public art as a way to make using the tunnel a positive experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
Although APPB did not initiate this project, from the Board’s perspective, it provides a rare opportunity for public art by being involved from the design stage, rather than being asked to add art after the fact. From an artistic perspective, the project poses a significant and exciting challenge of turning a long, concrete tunnel into a work of art.
One artist emerged from a recent Open Call for Art as ideal for tackling this project: Albuquerque-based artist Evelyn Rosenberg. Rosenberg’s distinctive style is a process she innovated herself, called Detonography, which uses controlled explosions to create intricate metal sculptures that are beautiful from a distance but have incredible detail when viewed up close. Communities throughout the country have installed her art in public places, and many of her pieces take very unusual forms. Experience developing artwork in unusual structures and working with professional design teams will be essential for success in this project. Her work is also highly specific to the location, integrating themes and styles that reflect the community and respond to their interests.
Attachment A includes additional information about the artist, including examples of her work.
At a regular APPB meeting on July 26, 2018, Project Manager Desirae Lujan and Conrad Ley, the Project Manager from Wilson and Company Design, provided an update presentation, and both expressed support for the proposed artwork. APPB has pursued this project with unanimous support at each stage of the decision-making process, and public comment has been strongly in favor of the artwork.
The proposal
Rosenberg’s proposal is characteristically specific to the format and the community. It blends technology and the natural world, embodying the twin elements of Los Alamos reflected in the current county logo that combines an atom and an aspen tree.
Specifically, she found inspiration for this 80-foot concrete tunnel from a supercollider, a tunnel where “marvelous things are made.” But Los Alamos is more than science and technology, and Rosenberg envisions using organic shapes and themes throughout the tunnel. As just one example, she would transform the cylinders at the entrance to a supercollider into tree branches and roots at the entrance to the tunnel. Attachment B contains the full artist’s description and sketches.
Budget
A project of this scope will be more impressive the larger the budget, but we have limited resources. Thus, APPB approached the budget from two directions: 1) what is the lowest amount that can be allocated and still have art appropriately scaled to the large space, and 2) what is the most we can responsibly budget?
The Board wants to maintain enough funds to pursue future projects and new opportunities that may arise while also providing the means to execute such a large project. With those goals in mind, the Board arrived at the budget of $185,000, not to exceed $195,000.
In response to the Board’s concerns about budget limitations, the artist has adapted the design to stretch our funds, and this proposal reflects the most scaled-down version. Attachment B includes both the current proposal and a description of some ways the design implements cost-saving measures.
The preliminary design is based on a budget of $185,000, with the following rough breakdown provided by the artist:
~25% materials
~60% labor including the blasting (which is quite expensive)
~15% transport, travel expense, and installation (this is a big installation with a lot of parts)
Maintenance
All art surfaces will be covered with an easy-to-clean, anti-graffiti coating that would need to be reapplied every 5-8 years. There is an ongoing contract for maintenance of outdoor sculptures in the County’s collection. If the underpass artwork becomes part of LAC’s public art collection, its maintenance would be included in that contract.
All art inside the tunnel would be above 8 feet high and secured with concealed, nonstandard bolts to deter vandalism while allowing county staff to access the concrete if necessary for tunnel maintenance.
Public Comment
APPB sought public comment for this project during August 2018 at two summer concerts, the farmer’s market, and through an article in the LA Daily Post.
Public comment was overwhelmingly positive, with 44 out of 51 comments voicing unambiguous support for the project.
The primary concern was about potential vandalism, but most written comments do not mention it because after speaking with APPB members, many residents were satisfied that those concerns would be addressed. More detailed information about resident concerns and the full set of comments are available in Attachment D.
The most common thread among supportive comments was praise for the theme. People seemed to appreciate that the proposal is designed specifically for Los Alamos. For example:
-- Love this idea! Art and science together in an outdoor setting.
-- Sounds like this art would really beautify the tunnel and represent our town well.
-- I love the combination of nature with the super collider concept. I say GO FOR IT!
-- I think Evelyn Rosenberg’s designs are perfect-they will beautify the space and represent our community well.
Attachment D contains the full comments and discussion of additional themes.
Alternatives
The Council can ask Public Works to pursue commercial decoration options for the 502 underpass using non-APP funds.
The Council can choose not to put art or decoration in the 502 underpass tunnel.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The funds for the recommended expenditures will come from the Art in Public Places Fund. There are sufficient funds in that account to cover all the recommended expenditures, plus the estimated contingency amount. Any unspent APP money will remain in the APP Fund. The artist will work directly with Wilson & Company Project Manager Conrad Ley and LAC Public Works Project Manager Desirae Lujan to coordinate design elements as appropriate, and the artist will design and create the artwork, arrange for transport, and oversee installation carried out by her own employees. APPB staff liaison will oversee the process and will work with staff from Public Works Department as needed.
Attachments
A - Evelyn Rosenberg Sample Work and CV
B - Proposal for Underpass
C - Overview of Preliminary Design
D - Summary of Public Input