HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9794 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9794
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 4, 2015
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•a SUBJECT: SITE SELECTION FOR PUBLIC ART AT BOB BOLEN PUBLIC
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Staff would like to advise the City Council about the process by which a new site will be selected
for artist Beliz Brother's artwork for the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex.
Artist Selection: Beliz Brother was competitively selected through a process outlined in the Fort
Worth Public Art Master Plan and conducted by the Contract Manager with oversight of the Fort
Worth Art Commission (FWAC); and the FWAC unanimously approved the artist selection panel's
recommendation of the Artist on August 12, 2013; and recommended that Beliz Brother be
retained to design permanent artwork for the project.
Preliminary Design: Artist Beliz Brother's concept for the sculpture is based on the shape of the
City's Police and Fire patches. The design enlarges the two shapes and tilts them towards each
other, creating a joined form where each half supports the other. The artist envisioned the interior
grassy courtyard (between the two historic depot buildings that now house the Fire and Police
departments) as the location for the sculpture. The artist felt the sculpture would be embraced by
the buildings and metaphorically demonstrate the connection and support between the City's Fire
and Police Departments.
Originally Proposed Courtyard Location: The transparency of the Administration building lobby and
sight lines through the front entrance through the building and out to the courtyard (and from the
rear glass wall of the auditorium to the courtyard) were factors in the artist's choice of location.
Police and Fire Departments support locating the sculpture in the courtyard, and have commented
on how the public will have a chance to see the artwork up close at graduations, awards
ceremonies, public meetings and school tours. In addition, Police and Fire Departments in
conjunction with FWPA staff have offered to lead monthly tours of the artwork so the public can
experience it up close at regularly scheduled times. The artist's Preliminary Design was approved
by the Fort Worth Art Commission at the June 8 meeting, but NOT a location for the artwork (the
two items were considered separately at separate meetings). Based on the artwork being available
to the public via monthly tours and their site visit, the Fort Worth Art Commission approved the
artist's recommendation of locating the artwork in the courtyard.
Site Selection Criteria: In accordance with the City Council's expectations, the artwork location
should be readily available to the general public; not requiring taking a guided tour in order to view
the artwork. The location must be ADA accessible and adjacent to parking. The location should not
be so remote as to encourage vandalism or tagging, and it should offer an appropriate setting for
the artwork. The Art Commission will be informed of these changes at the regular August 10, 2015
Fort Worth Art Commission meeting.
Next Steps: New Location Selection Prior to Final Design: The artist, with the aid of FWPA staff,
will revisit the site to evaluate alternate locations that meet the above criteria, and will present a
new location to the Art Commission and the community in the next few weeks. Then an M&C will
be taken to Council in October or November to authorize the Final Design contract, which it will
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9794
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 4, 2015
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•a SUBJECT: SITE SELECTION FOR PUBLIC ART AT BOB BOLEN PUBLIC
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include the new public location for the artwork. After Final Design is approved, a subsequent M&C
will go to Council, authorizing a Commission contract for the project.
Council Members may contact Anne Allen, Public Art Project Manager for the Arts Council of Fort
Worth at 817-298-3028 (aallen(a)fwpublicart.org) or Martha Peters, Vice President of Public Art for
the Arts Council of Fort Worth, at 817-298-3025 (mpeters(a)fwpublicart.org) for further information.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Attachment A: Artwork Preliminary Design
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