On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council agreed to move forward with a $192k art project that would be placed on Sand Creek Road near Highway 4 in the City of Brentwood.
Tuesday’s action was a continuation from the January Meeting where the council had concerns of the Balfour Road location in which the council agreed the Sand Creek location was a better fit for this piece of art because the area was not as “busy” on the eye.
The agreement comes after City staff had worked with Seth Palmiter of Motivated Metal after being selected by the Arts Commission and Ad-hoc Committee. The artist, who is out of the State of Maine, was chosen after a national search which resulted in around 125-applicants before being narrowed down to 5 artists. The process has been two-years.
According to the resolution, the city will execute an agreement for art services at a cost of $175k with a 10% contingency for a total of $192.5k
The final cost is within the City Council approved amount for this project and was budgeted in the adopted FY 2019/20-2023/24 Capital Improvement Program, which includes the Public Art Spaces CIP Project #337-37244. Funding for this project comes from the Public Art Acquisition, Public Art Administration and Capital Infrastructure Funds. The Public Art Acquisition and Public Art Administration funds can only be used for public art projects.
According to staff, Palmiter’s artwork would help Brentwood become a “public art destination” after he has other artwork in the Boise Airport, Washington DC, Colorado, Alaska, Florida. Staff further said the artwork would help put the city on the national stage.
Council Member Johnny Rodriguez explained that last time this project was brought to the council it was difficult to understand and that this presentation cleared up some of their concerns.
“I think Sand Creek looks a lot better. It doesn’t look at cluttered with the trees, the bridge, and the mountain. It was a lot going on,” said Rodriguez. “I think it’s a great opportunity to put it there. It is not as busy, and it looks great.”
Vice Mayor Joel Bryant asked Palmiter if the location would change the artwork in which Palmiter replied either location would work for his design.
“For me the process is a give and take with the community,” explained Palmiter. “I am really not precious about my vision of the art all the time. I don’t place work in gallery. Its public art for me, its something that really works well for the community that is owning it. My intent is to make something that has a material selection, craftsmanship that is worth adding to the community’s collection that is timeliness and enduring to go the distance.”
Cindy Lee, a Brentwood Arts Commissioner, highlighted they didn’t want to be an “ordinary city”.
“We saw Brentwood as a really up and coming cool city,” explained Lee. “We just didn’t want a monument cement block that said Brentwood. We wanted to really shower the City of Brentwood with being educated with different kinds of art. That also would attract people to come here. Something for everyday people to come and look at as well just to enjoy. That was really our goal. To fill Brentwood with public art of all kinds.”
The council approved the artwork in a 5-0 vote which would place the artwork on Sand Creek Road and approve the resolution to execute the agreement.
9 comments
They should have used that money to synchronize the traffic lights on Lone Tree Way. That way it wouldn’t take you 20 minutes to get 2-3 miles. Plus, it would save on fuel, since we are so environmentally thoughtful.
People need to slow down anyway. Oh and this so called art is ugly, and so many other important needs like fire we get this. Oh well.
Art Vs. Fire Hoses.
These politicians are nuts??.
http://www.eastcountyvoters.com
Fire and emergency medical services is not a priority. Not the tax paying citizens
It would be bad if it catches fire as there will not be any firemen to put it out.
Ugly and a waste
In a month vandals will eventually mess up this statue. Money badly spent.
Dumb all these wanna be thugs coming from the city and town on bart they gonna mess this uo anyway
Just as I suspected, the idea of public art really upsets people. Heaven forbid we get ART. OMG! Talented people put their hearts and souls into making something and then have to hear the unappreciative run the project down. How about we just chill out and, before you know it, the art will be an everyday part of your life in East County
Come on George. Art is beautiful. Today people take art and vandalize it or rip it down because they disagree with it. More importantly there are far better ways to spend a couple hundred thousand tax dollars. Years ago Santa Clara put up an expensive art piece similar only to tear it down years later because of vandals and community outcry. The city can spend our tax dollars much more intelligently and effectively.
It is a drop in the bucket. Compared to what they usually spend money on. Also, most of that is grant money, not taxpayer money. Yeah, some knucklehead might deface it. And some people will hate it. Guess what? It’s art. Much better than putting up cow sculptures and whatever other reference to what Brentwood used to be.
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