Public Art Commission - November 21, 2024

Commission approves $25,000 for Code:ART staffing

The Public Art Commission unanimously approved $25,000 for special-events team staffing for Code:ART. The 6-0 vote funds support for event setup and breakdown, street closures, accessibility ramps, security and rentals. Staff said the allocation was higher than the prior year’s budget because additional funding had been needed previously.

The three-evening festival is planned for Oct. 16–18, 2025. In a separate informational update that required no action, staff said an artist-selection panel had reviewed submissions for an anchor installation at Litton Plaza and four smaller urban interventions. More than 100 artists submitted proposals.

The panel’s ranked recommendations are not final commitments. Staff will continue evaluating feasibility, customization and site fit, moving to the next-ranked applicant if a proposed project is not viable. Commissioners also discussed the anchor installation’s relationship to projection mapping and potential festival partnerships, with further discussion expected at a January retreat.

Garbage Man mural restoration receives up to $9,912

The commission voted 6-0 to allocate up to $9,912 from the public art maintenance budget to restore Garbage Man, a 1977 mural by Greg Brown that is part of the city’s permanent collection. A recent assessment found the mural in fair condition, with lifting and missing paint as well as ultraviolet damage.

The allocation comes from an annual maintenance budget of $36,000. Staff said capital improvement funds cannot be used for maintenance work. Because the mural is on private property, treatment must be coordinated with the property owner, who is interested in repainting the wall. Staff said weather and that coordination could push the work to December or later in the winter.

Roth Building restoration nears the end of its first phase

The first phase of exterior artwork restoration at the Roth Building, planned as the home of the Palo Alto Museum, was nearing completion. Staff reported that fencing and protective coverings had been removed and the courtyard had reopened, although cleaning and repairs remained in areas previously covered by wood protections.

Testing and cleaning of the lower grisaille panels produced mixed results. Staff said it would likely return in December with a final report, after which a decision on a second restoration phase remained to be made.

Primary sources

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