(Photo: Open Heart by Mathew Duffy; courtesy of City of Redmond)
The Redmond Committee for Art in Public Places (RCAPP) is in the process of sending out an RFP for a glass artwork to be installed in one of the inside arched windows of the new Redmond City Hall (the historic Evergreen School building is being renovated to serve as city hall), slated to open in February 2017.
According to Linda Gilmore Hill, RCAPP chair, a $6,000 donation from Hayden Homes has been allocated toward art glass piece. The Committee will work with the Oregon Arts Commission and local artists to gather proposals for the newest public art.
“We’re really pleased with the work of the RCAPP,” said Gilmore Hill. “We have almost $7,000 of loaned or permanent (21 pieces) works of art on display. The artists are thrilled to work with the art program and especially with our public works department who have built pedestals, welded pieces and installed the art. I think the change of pace for the staff is something they enjoy doing as it’s out of the ordinary.”
The RCAPP was created on May 23, 2006 by City Ordinance No. 2006-08. Its purpose is to introduce art into select public locations and situations in order to create a unique sense of place and enhance community identity throughout Redmond. The City of Redmond’s Community Development Department provides staff support for the Committee’s activities.
The Committee members include Gilmore Hill, Betty Jo Simmons, Gillian Burton, Frank Graham, Katie Harris, Dan Mooney, Jessica Rowan, Ethan Stelzer, Bruce Taylor, Madison Hill (youth ex-officio) and Ann Graham (council liaison).
The Committee is entrusted with the following powers and duties:
-Provide recommendations regarding specific art projects and their locations to the City Council for approval.
-Support the City Council with developing the City art collection by making recommendations on the acquisition of artwork through various means including donations and commissions.
-Inventory and maintain the City art collection including an annual inventory and work with the Public Works Department to facilitate any necessary repairs.
-Develop an inventory list of all publicly owned sites for potential future art installations.
-Recommend funding procedures for ongoing programs from various sources.
-Identify and provide educational and awareness opportunities associated with public art and help facilitate their implementation.
-Assist other City commissions and agencies in using public art to enhance and enrich the lives of visitors and residents.
-Provide connections with other local, regional and national organizations working for the benefit of art and preservation of artistic values, and other similar activities.
-Identify and establish communications with groups and organizations that enrich Redmond life by bringing cultural and artistic values and artifacts to the City.
-Collaborate with public and private agencies to consider the aesthetics of art and its placement in the community.
The RCAPP has recently commissioned Kim Chavez, a local Redmond artist to create three bronze pieces of the mascots from the Evergreen School over the years: panthers, wolves, owls. they will be placed in the entry way of new city hall. Chavez also created the fifth pedestal of Art Around the Clock, Rant of Ravens, located mid-block on Sixth Street between Cascade and Deschutes.
Gilmore Hill says the RCAPP has quite a collection of paintings at the Redmond Airport. “We will be bringing some of the permanent collection to city hall….there are just so many opportunities to share art with the public.”
Art Around the Clock is an outdoor gallery designed to enhance the beauty and livability of the Redmond community. The rotating collection of art featured in Redmond is selected by a jury on an annual rotating basis. These beautiful works of art are available for purchase. At the completion of each gallery season, the community will vote on a People’s Choice Award. The RCAPP will then purchase the piece for the city’s permanent public art collection.
