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File #: 20485-25    Version: 1
Type: Briefing/Report (Dept,BCC) - Action Requested Status: Consent
File created: 7/25/2025 In control: County Council - Regular Session
On agenda: 9/9/2025 Final action:
Title: Approval of Recommendation from the Art in Public Places Board for an Expenditure of Art in Public Places Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $70,000 to Commission a Glass Tiled Mosaic for the Justice Center Wall from Artist J Muzacz
Presenters: Stephanie Haaser; Chelsea Ashcraft; Cory Styron
Indexes (Council Goals): Quality of Life - Educational, Historical, and Cultural Amenities
Attachments: 1. A - Justice Center South facing wall-proposed location for J Muzacz glass mosaic, 2. B - Survey Results for Muzacz three design concepts, 3. C - Final design by J Muzacz, 4. D - Survey Results for final design, 5. E - Info and Pictures about the community participation process, 6. F- Project Plan for Justice Center Wall Art
Title
Approval of Recommendation from the Art in Public Places Board for an Expenditure of Art in Public Places Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $70,000 to Commission a Glass Tiled Mosaic for the Justice Center Wall from Artist J Muzacz
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the expenditure of Art in Public Places funds in an amount not to exceed $70,000 which includes contingency, plus applicable Gross Receipts Tax, to commission a glass-tiled mosaic for the Justice Center wall from artist J Muzacz, to be 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 expenditure of the Art in Public Place Fund in the not-to-exceed amount of $70,000 plus Applicable Gross Receipts tax to commission a Glass Tiled Mosaic for the Justice Center Wall from Artist J Muzacz.
Body
In Summer 2024, the Art in Public Places Board (APPB) issued a call for art proposals for a public art installation at the Golf Course Wall. Of the five submissions received, the proposal submitted by artist J Muzacz stood out as the only one that met both high artistic standards and the County’s 20-year permanence requirement outlined in County ordinance Sec 8-34(b)(2). APPB members were particularly impressed by the visual quality of his mosaic work and the meaningful community engagement component he incorporates into his process. Due to community concerns expressed through a public survey, including opposition to investing further funds into the Golf Course, potential damage from golf balls and carts, and a misalignment of some proposed flora and fauna with native species, the Golf Course Wall Art project was ultimately cancelled. However, the APPB remained strongly supportive of Mr. Muzacz’s work and sought a more suitable location that better aligned with ...

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