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CAC - ACTION ITEM: Consideration of (1) Recommending Sonia Romero as the artist for the art component of the Farragut Connector Project to City Council for approval, 2) Recommending the approval of $60,000 artist’s budget estimate to complete the art component for the Farragut Connector Project, and 3) $10,000 to create and install the tribute to the area’s racetrack history within the Farragut Project.
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Meeting Date: August 20, 2024
Contact Person/Dept: Sally Unsworth and Sam Lee / City Manager - Office of Economic & Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission,
(08/15/24)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (08/14/24)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Cultural Affairs Commission consider the recommendation of the (CAC) Public Art Subcommittee and approve a motion that (1) recommends Sonia Romero as the winning artist for the art component of the Farragut Connector project (2) recommends authorizing a professional service agreement with the artist to execute, fabricate, and install a tiled-art installation, (3) recommends authorizing the creation and installation of a tribute to the area’s racetrack history within the Farragut Connector passageway.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The process of selecting the winning artist started in April 2024 and was completed in two-phases: 1) Request for Qualifications, 2) Request for Proposals. For the first stage, the Cultural Affairs Division had invited professional visual artists or artist teams who live or work in Culver City and throughout Los Angeles County to submit their credentials for consideration. Eleven artists responded. The artist selection committee, which was comprised of three community stakeholders, then reviewed the eleven submissions and chose three finalists out of the eleven to compete for the commission in the second and final stage. Through the Request for Proposals process, those three artists were afforded the opportunity to develop their original art concept specific to the art location of the Farragut Connector passageway, which is a pedestrian path connecting Jasmine Avenue to Jackson Avenue in Culver City.
On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the three finalists presented their original art concept to Cultural Affairs Staff, Cultural Affairs Commission Chair, and the Artist Selection Committee. After a lengthy and productive discussion amongst the entire group, the three reviewers had voted Sonia Romero, a Latinx, LA-based artist, as the winning artist based on her original art concept, presentation, and qualifications. The selection committee unilaterally felt that Romero’s idea was the most appropriate and encompassing, capturing the crucial elements for a well-conceived concept.
For her original design, Romero felt it is important to focus the content of the artwork on the immediate surrounding neighborhood. The composition of her artwork is based off an aerial map of the Carlson Park neighborhood, laid out in concentric rings. Each frieze depicts a series of repeated elements that reflect the history of the environs. Romero’s inspirations derived from multiple sources, including the short-lived horse racing track, the car racing track, single-family homes, Ballona Creek, graphics from vintage toys and spinning disks such as phenakistoscopes, all shown in a colorful palette and as a nod to the localities. Using the cuerda seca method, which originated in Persia during the 1400s, Romero’s ceramic tiled installation would involve the application of thin bands of waxy resist to maintain color separation between glazes during firing. This technique prevents different colors from running together and keeps the colors in a designated area, creating a sense of definition to her drawings.
On June 27, 2022, Joe Susca, Public Works, received the approval from the City Council to demolish and rebuild the Farragut Connector and to authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the construction of the passageway (Staff Report: File #22-953). In April 2024, the demolition of the existing improvements and construction of a new concrete path has begun; these elements are expected to be done by August 21, 2024.
From past Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory (BPAC) and Neighborhood Meetings (August 18, 2021, and January 27, 2022, respectively), many attendees voiced a desire to include some form of acknowledgment to the area’s previous automobile racetrack history. The City’s Cultural Affairs Division was asked by Public Works to create and install a tribute within the Farragut Connector, whose vicinity is believed to be one of the former entryways and the location of a speedway ticket booth.
Next Steps
Staff will present the Cultural Affairs Commission’s recommendations to the City Council for approval. If the City Council approves the Project to move forward, staff will proceed with finalizing a contract agreement with Sonia Romero. Staff will work directly with Ms. Romero to oversee and manage the completion and installation of the art as well as the tribute.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Cultural Trust Fund budget includes funding for the Sonia Romero contract agreement in the amount of $60,000 and the tribute in the amount of $10,000 from Account No. 41380000.730100 PO014 (CIP Artwork Farragut Connector), which contains $75,000 for FY 2024-2025.
Sonia Romero’s $60,000 budget estimate includes the artist fee, insurance, fabrication, installation, contingencies, and other fees.
The $10,000 budget is allotted to realize the tribute and/or any potential opportunities for the artist, if she chooses, to work directly with the community to participate in public engagement activities.
ATTACHMENT
24-08-20_CAC_ATT_Sonia Romero Farragut Connector Proposal
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission:
Recommend to the City Council approval of Sonia Romero for the art component of the Farragut Connector project and recommend that City Council approves authorizing a professional service agreement with the artist to execute, fabricate, and install a tiled-art installation and a possible community engagement activity related to the project.