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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-2016 - City Arts Commission - 05 Staff Report Acceptance of Donation of Sphere 112 From NB Arts FoundationABSTRACT: Sphere 112 is one of the works featured in Phase 1 of the Inaugural Newport Beach Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition. Because of issues with oxidization resulting from Newport Beach’s coastal environment, the City Arts Commission authorized artist Ivan McLean to fabricate a replacement piece from a more durable marine grade stainless steel. After a determination by staff that the piece is of sufficient durability to be displayed in Civic Center Park, the Newport Beach Arts Foundation is offering to purchase the piece and donate it to the City. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission approve the Newport Beach Arts Foundation’s offer to purchase the piece from Mr. McLean at a cost of $15,000.00 and donate it to the City for placement in Civic Center Park. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Sphere 112 will be purchased by the Newport Beach Arts Foundation at a cost of $15,000 and donated to the City. Maintenance, estimated at $250.00 annually, will be expensed from account # 10160603- 811008, Professional and Technical Services. DISCUSSION: Sphere 112 by Ivan McLean (see ATTACHMENT A) is one of the works featured in Phase 1 of the Inaugural Newport Beach Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition. The piece was named for the size of its diameter, 112 inches. Mr. McLean assembled the piece from stainless steel rods of various shapes and sizes selected randomly and welded together. Currently installed adjacent to Avocado Avenue just north of the intersection with San Miguel Drive, Sphere 112 was voted as the People’s Choice for best sculpture at the Grand Opening of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park on September 13th, 2014. Mr. McLean is an acclaimed sculptor who has many examples of public and private art on display throughout the country. The Newport Beach Arts Foundation, upon City Arts Commission approval, has expressed interest in purchasing Sphere 112 and donating it to the City. TO: CITY ARTS COMMISSION FROM: Library Services Department Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director 949-717-3810, thetherton@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Tim Hetherton TITLE: Replacement of Sphere 112 Sculpture. An initial concern, however, was the durability of the piece in Newport Beach’s coastal environment. Cursory inspection in January 2015 revealed that the piece had oxidization present where the stainless steel rods were welded together as well as some oxidation on the rods themselves. Discussions with the sculptor, Ivan McLean, indicate that Sphere 112 was fabricated from 304 grade stainless steel which is durable in most situations but does not fare well in a corrosive marine environment. In response to this concern, the City Arts Commission in March 2015 agreed to authorize Mr. McLean to create a replacement piece for Sphere 112 with a similar piece fabricated from the more durable marine grade 316 stainless steel. The refabricated piece was installed in December 2015. The City Arts Commission in January 2016 listed the purchase of Sphere 112 as a potential funding opportunity for the Newport Beach Arts Foundation on the condition that the replacement piece demonstrated that it was resistant to oxidization. Staff has monitored the condition of Sphere 112 closely, and the replacement piece has fared well through the rainy season, with no signs of oxidization (see ATTACHMENT B). The piece meets the criteria as established in Council Policy I-9, Art in Public Places, and Council Policy I- 11, Acquisition of Art by the City of Newport Beach. The Fine Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee has reviewed the Application for the Review and Consideration of Art submitted by Mrs. Carmen Smith of the Newport Beach Arts Foundation and has approved the acceptance of the donation. Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission recommend that City Council accept the donation of Sphere 112 from the Newport Beach Arts Foundation, pending the approval from the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission to place the piece in Civic Center Park. The recommendation to accept the donation would then be brought to City Council for approval. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Arts Commission considers the item). d a graph describing any methods of notification, if applicable.]