SR-305-003-01 (5)
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Council Meeting 6/14/88
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JUN 1 4 1988
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and city Council
FROM: City staff
SUBJECT: Main Library Percent for Art Project
Introduction
This Staff Report contains a recommendation that Jeff weiss be
commissioned to produce an artwork for the Main Library lobby
entry.
Background
As enumerated in the Council approved 1987/1988 "Art Plan" the
sum of $10,000 from the Main Library renovation/remodel project
was set aside for the purchase of an art work for the library as
part of the Percent for Art program. The City Librarian and the
Cultural Arts Administrator recommended that an artwork should be
installed on a prominent wall in the remodelled entry lobby, and
that the library's collection of historical photographs should be
used as a source of inspiration. A Selection Committee was
assembled to oversee an open pUblic competition for the
commission consisting of Roger Genser, Arts Commissioner, Carol
Aronoff, city Librarian and Robert Heinecken, artist and teacher.
The selection committee was advised by Deborah Irmas, former
Associate Curator of Photography at the San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art.
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competition Process and Results
A Request for Proposals notice was published in several art
journals and periodicals. In addition, artists with experience
using photographic media were invited to compete. Interested
artists were encouraged to view the library's collection of
historical photographs as a part of their preparation for the
competition.
Forty-one artists submitted proposals in a variety of media. The
selection committee reviewed the proposals and selected five
finalists: George LeGrady, Jacqueline Draeger, Arthur Mortimer
and Steven Anaya, Karen Koblitz and Jeff Weiss. Their proposals
were put on display at the Main Library for three weeks, from
March 20 until April 8, and input was solicited from the public.
Votes for the pUblic's first choice selection were received as
follows: Koblitz - 84; Draeger - 81; weiss - 63; Mortimer and
Anaya - 54; and LeGrady - 38.
Based on the results of the public opinion poll and the selection
criteria outlined in the Request for Proposal, the Selection
Committee recommended Jeff Weiss' proposal. Their selection was
based on both the artistic quality of the weiss proposal and the
degree to which the project met the selection criteria, including
extensive use of the Library'S historic photographic archive.
Both the Arts commission and the Library Board voted in unanimous
support of the Jeff Weiss proposal.
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Budget and Fiscal Impact
$10,000 is available in Percent for Art General Fund Account
#01-740-560-000-905.
RECOMMENDATION
This staff report recommends the selection of Jeff Weiss to
create the library photo mural for the following reasons:
1. Mr. Weiss was the most successful in meeting the selection
criteria of artistic quality, creativity in use of the
library's historical photograph collection, technical and
budgetary feasibility, and consideration of and
appropriateness to the site.
2. While successfully integrating elements from the historical
photograph collection, Mr. Weiss has created a historical
contemporary work that stands on its own.
3. The variety of images and elements in the piece will give it
lasting interest to both the casual and discriminating
viewer, and to those who see it only once, or those who see
it over many repeated visits over time. It will not become
dull after repeated viewings, because the viewer will be able
to discover some new facet not previously noticed. In this
respect, it evokes a significant characteristic of the
library institution itself, where users can discover a
limitless variety of information and ideas.
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4. Mr. Weiss's proposal was unanimously recommended by the Arts
Commission at its meeting of May 18, 1988 and by the Library
Board at its meeting of May 17, 1988.
A copy of Mr. Weiss's narrative description and sketches are
available for inspection in the Council Office.
Prepared by: Henry Korn, Director, Arts Division
Carol Aronoff, City Librarian
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