Public Art Commission - August 28, 2024

Commission backs two Code:ART measures totaling up to $370,000

The Public Art Commission backed up to $370,000 for Code:ART 2025 through two votes. It voted 5-1 to approve using up to $300,000 in private-development-generated in-lieu funds for 3-D projection-mapping artwork on the City Hall facade, then voted 5-0 to allocate up to $70,000 from the Art in Public Places Capital Improvement Budget for a major Lytton Plaza installation and other downtown artworks.

Staff’s City Hall concept calls for original, immersive content from at least three artists with projection-mapping experience. Three works, approximately five, three and two minutes long, would loop on the facade. Of the $300,000, about $200,000 was described as covering setup, equipment, materials, labor and event operations, while approximately $100,000 was budgeted for artwork production.

Staff reported just over $2 million available in the private-development public-art fund and characterized the proposal as a one-time $250,000 request beyond approximately $50,000 used annually from the fund. The prior Code:ART was reported to have cost about $130,000.

Commissioners questioned the projection’s cost and temporary nature, including whether its downtown economic benefits could be quantified. Staff cited approximately 13,000 attendees at the previous Code:ART and survey results indicating visitor interest and downtown business activity. Commissioners also raised concerns about crowd management, City Hall access and possible street closures or pedestrian improvements near the viewing area.

Environmental concerns focused on disposal of the perforated material used to cover windows during the projection. Staff said it would investigate recyclable or lower-plastic alternatives. Staff also said the $300,000 funding recommendation would proceed to the City Council during the midyear process and that a production company would be selected through a competitive solicitation.

The separate $70,000 allocation will come from a baseline capital-improvement budget used for temporary public-art projects and related project management. Staff’s proposal envisioned a major Lytton Plaza installation and four temporary urban-intervention artworks at downtown sites still to be determined, although the approved motion did not set a number for the additional downtown works.

Commission adds donated wood artwork to city collection

In a 6-0 vote, the commission accepted “Forever,” a donated artwork, into the city collection. Staff described the piece as a wood box made from sinker redwood and reclaimed old-growth Douglas fir.

Staff said works in the collection can be viewed online and may be seen in person by contacting staff, although not all are publicly installed at all times.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet