HomeMy WebLinkAboutC25690 - J. BranstetterContract No. C25690
CITY OF PALM DESERT
COMMUNITY SERVICES
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO COMMISSION JOHN
BRANSTETTER TO CREATE A RECYCLED ART
PROJECT USING RECYCLED MATERIALS
SUBMITTED BY: RICHARD L. TWEDT
DATE: AUGUST 24, 2006
CONTENTS: 1. COLOR DESIGN PROPOSAL
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, approve the commissioning of John Branstetter in the amount
of $15,000 to create a recycled art project using recycled materials. Funds are
available in account nos. 436-4650-454-4001 and 236-4195-454-3090.
Executive Summary:
For the past several months, the Art in Public Places Commission has been
interested in creating a recycled art project that draws attention for the need of
recycling. At its meeting of May 17, 2006, the Art in Public Places Commission
adopted a mission statement for the recycling program that states, "To support
the City of Palm Desert's Recycling Program and energy initiatives with public
artwork that educates and encourages its citizens to recycle and conserve." The
Commission strongly believes this project is a direct reflection of the intent of the
mission statement and fulfills its purpose. Staff will advertise the workshops in
the BrightSide and contact teachers inviting their students to participate in the
workshops, which will occur from November 2006 to March 2007. The sculpture
will be unveiled at Earth Day at the Living Desert in early April, where the artist
will be present to discuss the process of creating the piece and hand out
recycling educational materials to the public. Afterwards, the Commission is
recommending the sculpture be installed on the pad in front of City Hall for
approximately one year and then permanently installed in a location determined
by the Art in Public Places Commission.
Mr. Branstetter is proposing to create a permanent sculpture from recycled
materials in conjunction with workshops he will conduct at the Civic Center Park
with school children and interested Coachella Valley citizens. The sculpture will
spell out the word "recycle" and be made from a variety of recycled materials,
including glass, aluminum, brass, bronze, plastic, wood, paper, and e-waste.
Each letter on the front side will be composed of recycled materials arranged
inside the aluminum housings. On the opposite side, each letter will be created
from recycled brass and bronze melted and poured in the technique of
61petrobond casting" (a metal casting technique that molten metal is poured into a
depression made by the form of each letter). Each letter will be welded to an
armature constructed from recycled aluminum irrigation tubes. Funding for the
proposed project will be allocated jointly from the art and recycling funds. At its
July 19, 2006, meeting Mr. Branstetter presented his proposal to the Art in Public
Places Commission, which voted unanimously to approve it.
Discussion:
The Art in Public Places Commission supported inviting Mr. Branstetter to create
a proposal for a recycled art project based upon his previous work with recycled
materials and his participation in recycled programs in the Valley. He is an
extremely well respected professional artist residing in the Coachella Valley. He
originally relocated to Palm Desert to manage and teach bronze casting at the
sculpture foundry at the College of the Desert. Subsequently, the foundry was
closed and Mr. Branstetter went on to create his own art and manage his own
foundry, sculpture restoration, and maintenance business.
'Richard Twect, Public Arts gr. Sheila Gil*gk,Assis,�t�)�J City Mgr.,
Community Services
Approval:
Carlos Ortega, C' Manager Paul Gibson, Director of Finance
SITY COUNCII�XTION:
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
k
T
P.YE S :
NOES
ABSEN
ABSTAIN:
VERIFIED BY
Original on File w.t'h City Clerk's Offir
I