HomeMy WebLinkAboutC36890C 19-20 Sculpture Xhbtn Rplcmnt - J.DescantSTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
MEETING DATE: May 23, 2019
PREPARED BY: Amy Lawrence, Management Analyst
REQUEST: Approve Jimmy Descant's Sculpture The Strength of Sky as a
Replacement for Mario Pikus' Music in the Air in the 2019/2020 El
Paseo Sculpture Exhibition
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, approve Jimmy Descant's sculpture The Strength of
Sky as a replacement for Mario Pikus' Music in the Air in the 2019/2020 El
Paseo Sculpture Exhibition.
Commission Recommendation
At its meeting of May 8, 2019, the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Commission
recommended approval of replacing Music in the Air by Mario Pikus with The Strength
of Sky by Jimmy Descant for display in the 2019/2020 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition
with a 6-1-0 vote with Commissioner Boren absent.
Strateqic Plan Objective
The installation of public art creates a better community for residents and visitors to
Palm Desert. This concept is in line with the Arts & Culture Mini -Vision of the 2013-2033
Strategic Plan, Envision Palm Desert — Forward Together which states:
"Arts and culture give a community its soul. Palm Desert is the cultural core of
the Coachella Valley. Cultural tourism drives economic growth in Palm
Desert. The community is host to internationally recognized cultural events
that bring significant economic benefits to the City. Palm Desert is a leader in
arts education, ensuring a well-rounded population that possesses high levels
of creativity and critical thinking skills."
Discussion
The Art in Public Places (AIPP) Commission recently approved Music in the Air by
Mario Pikus as the public art component for a local Palm Desert business. Because
Music in the Air is currently part of the 2019/2020 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition, staff
contacted Mario Pikus' representative to discuss replacement options as per the
contract for the exhibition, "at the time of removal, a comparable artwork in scale and
May 23, 2019 - Staff Report
The Strength of Sky by Jimmy Descant
Page 2 of 2
medium that has been approved by the City must be installed on the empty site." Staff
was sent photos of two replacement options, both of which were not aesthetically
appealing to the AIPP Commission.
As such, the Commission directed staff to contact Jimmy Descant who is one of the
alternate artists that was previously approved by the AIPP Commission and the City
Council for the 2019/2020 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition. Mr. Descant indicated that the
sculpture he initially submitted for display in the exhibition, and that was approved by
the AIPP Commission and the City Council for the exhibition, Chief Eye -Heart -Gut,
Archer of the West, was no longer available. He noted however that his sculpture, The
Strength of Sky, is the same scale and medium as his previous submission and is
available for immediate display. Staff presented Jimmy Descant's The Strength of Sky
as a replacement for Mario Pikus' Music in the Air, to the AIPP Commission at its May
8, 2019 meeting, which was unanimously approved.
Fiscal Analysis
On April 12, 2018, the City Council approved a $5,000 honoraria for each of the
participating artists in the 2019/2020 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition. Upon City Council
approval, staff will begin the contract process with Jimmy Descant for The Strength of
Sky to be displayed in the exhibition. Funds for the honoraria are available in the Public
Art Fund 436. No General Fund monies will be expended.
In addition, the City paid Mario Pikus $4,500 of the $5,000 honoraria for Music in the Air
to be displayed as part of the exhibition. Mr. Pikus' representative has agreed to
reimburse the City the balance of the honoraria upon deinstall of the sculpture. This
amount will depend upon the month of deinstall which staff anticipates will occur in
June/July 2019, and therefore, reimbursement will either be $2,812.50 or $2,625.
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER
N/A��
Ryan Stendell
Robert W. Hargreaves Director of Community )Moore Lauri Aylaian
City Attorney Development Director of Finance Citv Manager
APPLICANT: None
ATTACHMENTS: Photos of The Strength of Sky by Jimmy Descant
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