Title
Approval of Recommendation from the Art in Public Places Board for Approval of the Acquisition and Installation of “Los Alamos Heritage Gate” at the Betty Ehart Senior Center Using Art in Public Places Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $21,000
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the acquisition of “Los Alamos Heritage Gate”, by artist Brendan Lanicek and Jonathan Watson’s team from Modern Steel and Fence, with an expenditure of Art in Public Places funds in an amount not to exceed $21,000 which includes the artwork purchase, installation, plaque, ribbon cutting ceremony, and contingency costs, excluding gross receipts tax. I further move that the gate be installed at the Betty Ehart Senior Center and included in the Los Alamos County Art Collection.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Art in Public Places Board (APPB) recommends that County Council approve the purchase of “Los Alamos Heritage Gate”, a security gate by artist Brendan Lanicek and Jonathan Watson’s team from Modern Steel and Fence for the Betty Ehart Senior Center, with a total project not-to-exceed amount of $21,000, which includes the artwork purchase, installation, plaque, ribbon cutting ceremony, and contingency costs, excluding gross receipts tax (GRT).
Body
At the May 2024 APPB meeting, the Executive Director of the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO) provided public comment requesting an artistic gate for the base of the north-side exterior stairwell at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center. (See Attachment A for a photo of the proposed location.) She expressed concern that unauthorized individuals were using the stairwell to access the roof, creating safety risks and potential liability for the Center. A previous request to the County for a standard gate had been denied due to budget constraints. Drawing inspiration from “Odetta”, a functional art gate by K.R. Ernst located at Mesa Public Library, she decided to approach APPB for support with a creative solution.
After evaluating the feasibility of the project and receiving support from County Facilities staff, APPB voted unanimously in August 2024 to move forward with a call for art. The project is intended both to improve safety by limiting unauthorized access to the stairwell and to enhance the visual appeal of the surrounding area. The gate will overlook a patio used for LARSO programming and a planned outdoor classroom at the neighboring Mesa Public Library.
In early 2025, APPB issued a Call for Art encouraging proposals that balanced aesthetic value, cultural relevance, and functional utility. Artists were asked to submit designs for a durable gate capable of withstanding outdoor conditions and meeting the County’s 20-year permanence requirement. Since this call was released before the Council approved updated APPB acquisition procedures in June 2025, the selection process followed the previous policy guidelines.
The call yielded six artist proposals, which were evaluated based on criteria such as artistic merit, cultural appropriateness, durability, safety, and cost. APPB scored the submissions (with input from LARSO’s Executive Director), down-selecting to three finalists. These top proposals were then presented to the public for feedback using an opinion survey that was launched in March 2025. According to survey results presented at the April 2025 APPB meeting, 75% of the 181 respondents preferred the design “Los Alamos Heritage Gate” by Texas artist Brendan Lanicek over the two other New Mexico-based finalists. See Attachments B & C for selected proposal and survey results.
“Los Alamos Heritage Gate” Design Highlights:
• Powder-coated steel gate with layered plasma-cut panels
• Imagery includes native tree species, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the Zia sun symbol
• Lower designs inspired by Pueblo pottery and Bandelier petroglyphs
• Functional, secure, and low-maintenance with a 20+ year life expectancy
• Designed to accommodate a County-supplied panic bar
• Final gate will measure 106” high by 55.75” wide
Due to the cultural importance of the Zia symbol that is included in Lanicek’s design, APPB worked with the artist’s team to formally request permission from Zia Pueblo to use the symbol in the final design. Official approval was granted in a letter dated June 26, 2025, from Angela Young-Geffre, Tribal Administrator, who wrote, “We appreciate your respect for our emblem and its significance.”
APPB voted unanimously at its July 24, 2025 meeting to recommend purchasing “Los Alamos Heritage Gate” for installation at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. A quote (see Attachment D) from Los Alamos Landscaping, LLC was acquired for the installation of the gate. The recommended not-to-exceed budget is $21,000 (excluding GRT), which covers the artist fee, fabrication, installation, plaque, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and contingency expenses. The Art in Public Places Fund has sufficient resources to cover this expense without impacting other planned APPB projects.
Alternatives
Council could not approve the expense, and the project will be cancelled.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The current fiscal impact will not exceed $21,000 plus GRT from the Art in Public Places Fund. There are sufficient funds in that account to cover this expense. The APPB staff liaison will coordinate the acquisition and installation logistics.
Attachments
A- Picture of proposed location for Senior Center Security Gate
B- Los Alamos Heritage Gate Proposal by Jonathan Watson
C- Community Opinion Survey for Senior Center Security Gate
D- Los Alamos Landscaping gate installation quote
E- Project Plan for Senior Center Gate