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CAC - Consideration of a Permanent Entry Canopy Concept by Luna Ikuta Toward Fulfillment of the City’s Art in Public Places Program Requirement for a Development Project at 11924 Washington Boulevard (Haven)
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Meeting Date: December 15, 2020
Contact Person/Dept: B. Christine Byers / Administrative Services - Cultural Affairs
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (12/11/20)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (12/10/20); Serena Wright-Black, Assistant City Manager (12/10/20)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission (“CAC”) consider the information provided, together with the recommendation of the CAC Public Art Subcommittee, and approve Luna Ikuta’s art concept for an entry canopy toward fulfillment of Culver City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement for a new development project located at 11924 Washington Boulevard (Haven).
BACKGROUND
Cityview is the developer (Applicant) of the property located at 11924 Washington Blvd., a mixed-use residential project now branded as “Haven”. The project includes 97 residential units and 13,000 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial and retail space; it is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Washington and Inglewood Blvds.
Pursuant to CCMC Section 15.06.120, new commercial development projects with a building valuation of $500,000 or more are subject to the City’s Art in Public Places Program (APPP) requirement. The 1% APPP allocation that Cityview is required to fulfill is $310,263. This amount is based on the 1% APPP allocation associated with four Building Permits (B17-0268, B17-0154, B19-0020, and B19-0940) issued to Cityview since October 2017.
On December 17, 2019, the CAC considered and conditionally approved a mural concept by Antonio Antonaccio (2Alas) for the Inglewood Blvd. elevation of the building. The mural concept was approved as part of a two-part installation that would include an artist-designed entry canopy on the Washington Blvd. side of the building, a concept which was to be brought forward to the CAC for consideration in 2020. The developer and the art consultant (Beau Basse of LeBasse Projects) continued to work with 2Alas on the canopy concept into 2020 before deciding to engage another artist to focus on a canopy design only (the CAC approved mural concept would therefore not be installed).
DISCUSSION
Luna Ikuta, a Los Angeles based artist who graduated in 2015 with a B.F.A. from Rhode Island School of Design, was selected to prepare a new entry canopy concept for the Haven project. The canopy’s placement and scale were to conform with what was approved by the Planning Commission during the entitlement process for the project. All other aspects of the concept as presented were conceived of by Ms. Ikuta, with some modifications made in response to comments from the CAC Public Art Subcommittee and staff.
The proposed canopy structure will measure approximately 87’ long by 8’ deep by 15’ at its highest point. The canopy structure will be made of stainless steel and includes 14 vertical 3” diameter round posts which support a series of triangular panel roof sections of varying dimensions. The triangular roof sections will each contain an array of leaf vines. The leaves will be stamped from a thin metal and then individually welded to round rods measuring from .375” to .5”; the artist is proposing five different leaf vine styles. The individual leaf vine styles will be organically intertwined with one another forming the canopy roof. Each vertical post will be capped with a finial and the entire canopy structure will be finished in white and assembled at the site.
Haven's Gate is intended both as a functional canopy and stand-alone sculpture that will act as an immersive experience for pedestrians passing underneath. The canopy design is an extension of Ms. Ikuta’s existing body of work which takes inspiration from nature and will be her first permanent public art commission. The framework of the canopy echoes the slopes and perpendicular lines of the building’s profile and with the intricate foliage roof, is intended to encourage people to look upward while also casting a leaf pattern onto the sidewalk below.
The CAC Public Art subcommittee (Commissioners Pali and Williams) met with the Applicant, LeBasse Projects and Luna Ikuta twice since August 2020. At the second meeting on November 17, 2020 the subcommittee agreed that they supported the concept for Haven’s Gate by Luna Ikuta as conforming with the City’s APPP requirements per CCMC Section 15.06.135. There were some technical details, however, that required preparation of samples and further review (e.g., the type of paint finish and areas of the canopy structure where different sections would join together). It was agreed that the concept would come forward to the CAC with subcommittee support but that these remaining details would be evaluated and addressed separately with the subcommittee and staff pending review of samples which would be made available the week of December 7th.
Fabrication and installation of the artwork will require an additional 2-3 months after concept approval. Completion of the APPP requirement also requires installation of a plaque and execution and recordation of a covenant.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost for design, fabrication and installation for this project is borne entirely by the Applicant. The responsibility and cost for future maintenance and restoration of the artwork is the responsibility of the property owner pursuant to Section 15.06.150 of the CCMC. There are, however, City staff costs associated with project coordination, preparation of a covenant, other documentation and outreach materials.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 20-12-15_ATT_Art Concept for Haven’s Gate
MOTION
That the Cultural Affairs Commission:
Approve a permanent entry concept by Luna Ikuta toward fulfillment of the City’s Art in Public Places Program requirement for a development project at 11924 Washington Boulevard (Haven).