05-31-2012
PUBLIC ART & DESIGN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 31, 2012
Present: Howard Warshauer Chair
Alex Plisko Jr. Vice-Chair
John P. Timberlake Board Member
Judith B. Powers Board Member
Sultana S. Volaitis Board Member
Roberta S. Klar Board Member
Absent: Robert J. Entel Board Member
Also Present: Felicia Leonard Administrative Support Manager
Christopher Hubbard Cultural Affairs Specialist
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the Long Center.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 – Approval of Minutes
– April 27, 2012
Member Powers moved to approve the minutes of the regular Public Art & Design Board
meeting of April 27, 2012, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board
member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 - New Business
3.1. Cliff Garten’s Proposed Artwork “Middens”
Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard said the selection committee had based
their decision on renderings that were not to scale, although artist Cliff Garten did tell the
committee that the actual sculpture would be 8-feet or taller. When Marine and Aviation staff
suggested that left over funds from the boat slip CIP (Capital Improvement Project) may be
used for the art installation, Parks & Recreation staff requested that the artist propose a larger
sculpture. Meanwhile, the Legal Department opined that Penny for Pinellas, source of the boat
slip project funds, could not be used for public art. Ms. Leonard reviewed the process to this
point, noting staff recently saw a scaled rendering, set to the budgeted 8-foot sculpture height,
for the first time.
Cultural Affairs Specialist Christopher Hubbard said staff has worked on this project
since March 2011. He discussed the two proposals for the “Middens” artwork. Both would be
mounted on the same sized mound, to be constructed by the Parks & Recreation Department
with a standard slope. LED lights will be sunk into concrete at angles to play against the
sculpture. An interpretational panel will explain the sculpture’s symbolism. The original
proposal for an 8-foot sculpture would cost $235,000, including contingency funds. The total
cost for the 12 ½-foot sculpture would be $325,000, including contingency funds. The
discretionary fund has sufficient money for either proposal. The artwork was envisioned to be
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visible from the Intracoastal and Cleveland Street bluff. It may be 5 to 10 years before the
public art program can commission another large piece of art.
Discussion ensued with comments that the artwork is an important component of
Coachman Park redevelopment. It was felt people will interact with the sculpture, have their
photographs taken by it, and children will climb on it; concern was expressed the sun will make
the marine grade stainless steel too hot to touch. Disappointment was expressed that the final
product is non descript, resembles a satellite dish, and may be viewed by citizens as a waste of
resources. It was felt it is too late in the game to redesign the piece and find fault with its
intrinsic quantities. Concern was expressed that the sculpture appeared to be significantly larger
in the artist's original rendering. It was suggested that approving the larger artwork would be a
disservice to artists who may have submitted proposals for a larger budget.
Member Powers moved to recommend approval of the upgraded project as the art work
will be a signature piece for the City. The motion was duly seconded.
Discussion ensued with comments that the sun would bounce off the larger sculpture,
attracting more attention, and would provide more "bang for the buck." In response to a concern
that the selection committee will be disappointed by the sculpture's diminutive size, it was noted
the artist had advised the committee regarding the artwork's scale. It was stated that the
difference between the two renderings is not worth the higher cost and neither art work would
be visible to motorists on the Memorial Causeway Bridge. It was felt the sculpture will need to
be viewed close up as from a distance it will appear to be a mound topped with two gray discs.
It was stated the smaller sculpture is more to human scale and will be located in a prominent
location. It was suggested the entire art budget should not be invested in one piece; additional
pieces could be commissioned for Coachman Park in the future. Concern was expressed the
larger piece would attract negative press coverage. It was felt the artwork was not intended to
be viewed from afar.
Member Powers withdrew her motion. The seconder agreed.
To move the project along, it was recommended that the City limit the time it takes to
negotiate the contract with the artist.
Member Plisko moved to recommend acceptance of the Selection Committee's
recommendation for the "Middens" artwork, based on the original budget and rendering of two
sculptures, the larger being 8-feet in height, with a budget of$235,000, including contingency
funds and site preparation provided by the City. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
4—Items not on the Agenda: None
5 -Adjourn
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The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
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Attest: Chair
Public Art & Design Advisory Board
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