HomeMy WebLinkAboutC32400 - Art In Public Places - Loan of Artwork - Big Big Root - Civic Center ParkContract No. C32400
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LOAN OF "BIG, BIG ROOT"
SCULPTURE BY STEVE TOBIN FROM MELISSA MORGAN FINE
ART AND STEVE TOBIN
SUBMITTED BY: Deborah L. Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
APPLICANT: Melissa Morgan Fine Art
73040 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260
DATE: November 15, 2012
CONTENTS: Images of "Big, Big Root" and Potential Pad Location
Draft Agreement
Steve Tobin's Resume
Recommendation
By Minute Motion: 1) Approve the proposed loan of artwork, "Big, Big Root", by
Steve Tobin from Melissa Morgan Fine Art and Steve Tobin for placement in
Civic Center Park for a duration of at least one (1) and up to two (2) years; 2)
authorize the Mayor to execute loan agreement — funds for installation and
maintenance are available in Account No. 436-4650-454-4001 — Capital Budget
and Account No. 436-4650-454-3372 — Repairs and Maintenance Art in Public
Places.
Commission Recommendation
At its regularly scheduled meeting of October 17, 2012, the Art in Public Places Commission
was presented with the option of a loan of sculptures "Big Root" and "Big, Big Root" or just
"Big, Big Root" by Steve Tobin from Melissa Morgan Fine Art and Steve Tobin for temporary
placement in Civic Center Park. The Commission unanimously recommended the loan of "Big,
Big Root".
Background
Melissa Morgan Fine Art and Steve Tobin approached the Public Art Division with a proposal
to loan "Big Root", and "Big, Big Root", both sculptures by Steve Tobin, to the City for
temporary display. Upon review of the proposal, staff determined that the sculpture(s) would
be appropriate for placement on or near a vacant art pad in Civic Center Park. At its meeting,
the Art in Public Places Commission recommended that the City accept only one of the
sculptures, "Big, Big Root', for placement on the vacant pad. Upon further investigation, staff
Contract No. C32400
Staff Report
Proposed Loan of "Big, Big Root'
November 15, 2012
Page 2 of 2
determined that the pad was not the appropriate size for the footprint of the sculpture and that
it should be located elsewhere within the Park. A new site was located in an area of
decomposed granite near the tot lot, which will allow enough room for the footprint of the
sculpture.
"Big, Big Root' is part of Steve Tobin's "Steel Roots" series, which exemplifies his work that
often explores natural forms. The artist cites nature as his earliest influence, one that
continues to inform his work. He is known for turning aspects of nature into sculpture. His
work has been shown internationally at venues including the American Museum of Natural
History; the Page Museum/La Brea Tar Pits and Los Angeles County Museum of Natural
History; Carpe Diem Gallery, Paris; Retretti Art Center, Finland; and Moore College of Art and
Design, Philadelphia. It is in the permanent collections of the American Craft Museum;
Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Switzerland, among others.
Fiscal Analysis
Melissa Morgan Fine Art will be responsible for all costs related to delivery of the artwork to the
installation site, with the exception of crane rental. Costs incurred by the City's Art in Public
Places Fund will include crane rental, installation and eventual de -installation, and a plaque, all
of which is estimated to cost less than $1,000.00. Additional costs will include as needed
maintenance and insurance. The sculpture is valued at $320,000.00, and insurance costs will
be nominal (estimated at less than $75 annually) or waived.
Submitted By:
Deborah L. Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
Department Head:
Lauri Aylaian, Director of Commu
Revi
Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance
App
John V. Wohlmuth, City Manager
CITY COUNCILA ON
APPROVED i DENIED
REGEIVED OTHER
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ABSENT:
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Original on File with City C k's Office
STEVE TOBIN - BIOGRAPHY
Education
1979
B.S. Theoretical Mathematics, Tulane University, New Orleans LA
Residencies and Teaching
1993
Triangle Artists' Workshop, Allentown PA
1989
Seguso Vetri d'Artes, Murano, Italy
1985-1986
Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan
1983-1984
Fellowship, Creative Glass Center of America, Wheaton Village, Millville NJ
Seguso Vetri d'Artes, Murano, Italy
1982
Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood WA
New York Experimental Glass Workshop (now called UrbanGlass: New York Center for Contemporary
Glass), Brooklyn NY
Solo Exhibitions and Installations
2011
Steve Tobin's Natural History, Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples FL
Touching Earth & Sky, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, University of Minnesota, Chaska MN
2010
Steelroots, Morton Arboretum, Lisle IL
2009
Steelroots, public installation, Chicago IL
2008
Steelroots, Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami FL
Weeds in the Garden, installation at Fordhook Farms/Burpee Seed Gardens, Doylestown PA
Steelroots, Kouros Gallery, New York NY
2007
[Type text]
Steelroots, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, part of 40 Years of Public Art Anniversary, New York NY (catalog)
Cocoons, installation at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia PA
Steelroots, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco CA
2006
Steve Tobin Paintings, OK Harris Gallery, New York NY
Exploded Earth, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona CA
Steelroots, Kouros Sculpture Center, Ridgefield CT
2005
Trinity Root, permanent 9/11/2001 Memorial, Wall Street and Broadway, Trinity Wall Street Church,
New York NY
Steve Tobin Paintings, The Banana Factory, Bethlehem PA
Earth Bronzes and New Nature, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay ME
2004
Roots, installation at Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis MO
Roots, installation at Lincoln Park, Chicago IL
2003
Lantern House, Portland Museum of Art, Portland ME
Earth Bronzes, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor ME
2002
Tobin's Naked Earth, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and George C. Page Museum, La
Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles CA (2002 — 2003)
Lantern House, George Eastman House, Rochester NY
2001
Earth Bronzes, Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA
Earth Bronze Trilogy, Buschlen-Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2000
Earth Bronzes, American Museum of Natural History, New York NY
Earth Bronzes, Montefiore Park, West Harlem, New York NY
1999
Cocoons, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY
1998
Earth Bronzes, Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton MA (catalog)
Earth Bronzes, OK Harris Gallery, New York NY (catalog)
Earth Bronzes, artetindustrie Gallery, New York NY (catalog)
1997
Broadway River, Broadway Windows, New York University, New York NY
1996
[Type text]
Matzoh House, Gallery B.A.I., New York NY
1995
Steve Tobin: Reconstructions, Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Collegeville PA
(catalog)
Steve Tobin: Reconstructions, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe NM
1994
Steve Tobin, Sanske Galerie, Zurich Switzerland
Steve Tobin, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton FL
1993
Steve Tobin at Retretti, Retretti Art Centre, Punkaharju, Finland (catalog)
1992
Steve Tobin Transformations: Three Installations in Glass, Wilson and Hall Gallery, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem PA (catalog)
Steve Tobin, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton FL
1990
Cocoons, Youens Gallery, Houston TX
Steve Tobin, Sanske Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland
1989
Cocoons, Holsten Galleries, Palm Beach FL
1988
Steve Tobin: The Glass Garden, Levy Gallery, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia PA (catalog)
1987
Dream Glass, Axis Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Glass for Tea Ceremony, Tazawa Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
1986
Wheaton Ware, LaVaggi Gallery, New York NY
Glasscapes, Glass Gallery, New York NY
1985
Steve Tobin, David Bernstein Gallery, Boston MA
Manhattan Bowls, Snyderman Gallery, Philadelphia PA
1982
Glass Sculpture, Gallery 10, New York NY
1980
Glass Portraits, Hanson Gallery, New Orleans LA
Glasscapes, Spring Street Enamels Gallery, New York NY
[Type text]
1979
Sculptured Glass, Bienville Gallery, New Orleans LA
Group Exhibitions and Installations
2008
Retrospective of the Permanent Collection, inaugural exhibition in the Museum of Art and Design
(formerly American Craft Museum), 2 Columbus Circle, New York NY
2007
Shattering Glass: New Perspectives, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah NY (catalog)
2005
Earth Bronzes, installation in the park, Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton NJ (2005-2007)
El Basque (The Forest), Federico Silva Sculpture Museum Park, San Luis Potosi, Mexico (traveling
exhibition with catalog)
2000
Roots, Vancouver International Sculpture Project, Vancouver, Canada (catalog)
Exploded Clay with Glass Riverbed, Americans in Venice Exhibition, American Craft Museum, New York
NY (catalog)
1994
Waterworks, Palm Beach Community Museum, Palm Beach FL
Group Exhibition, Robert Morris Gallery, New York NY
Public Collections
Museum of Art and Design, New York NY
Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Collegeville PA
Gratz College, Elkins Park PA
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park, Boca Raton FL
The Sculpture Foundation Collection
Lehigh University Museum of Art, Lehigh PA
Moravian College, Bethlehem PA
City of Calgary, Canada
Florida International University, Miami FL
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia PA
Museum of American Glass, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville NJ
Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Switzerland
Selected Bibliography
Exhibition Catalogues and Books
[Type text]
Barnes, Lisa Tremper. Steve Tobin: Reconstructions. Collegeville PA: Philip and Muriel Berman Museum
of Art, Ursinus College, 1995.
Koskinen, Ulla. Steve Tobin at Retretti. Punkaharju, Finland: Retretti Art Centre, 1993.
Kuspit, Donald. Steve Tobin's Natural History. Manchester VT: Hudson Hills Press, 2003.
Metzger, Robert P. Steve Tobin: Paintings. Bethlehem PA: ArtsQuest, 2005.
Perreault, John. Earth Bronzes. Brockton MA: Fuller Museum of Art/New York NY: OK Harris Gallery and
Art et Industrie, 1998.
Princenthal, Nancy. Glass Installations. New York NY: American Craft Museum, 1993: 64.
Young, Mark C. ed. "World's Largest Blown Glass Bottle." The Guinness Book of World Records, 1995
edition. London, England: Facts On File, 1994: 78-79. Print.
Articles and Reviews
Burklow, Jennifer. "Roots Are Showing." Chicago Sun -Times (Section W) 9 April 2010: 1.
Cash, Stephanie. "Public Sculpture." Art in America Annual 2001-2002: 50. Print.
Check, Erica. "Preserving a Bug's Life." Newsweek 6 November 2000: 73. Print.
Clifford, Catherine. "Our Deepest Roots." New York Daily News 11 September 2005: 13. Print.
Conlin, Michelle. "Sculptor Creates a Tribute to Victims of the Holocaust." Philadelphia inquirer (Section
M) 6 November 1994: Print.
Connors, Thomas. "Sculpting the Landscape." Town & Country Magazine April 2010: 56. Print.
Crow, Kelly. "Not Quite Creatures from Outer Space." New York Times (Section B) 19 November 2000: 1.
Print.
Cotter, Holland. "Glass Sculptors Whose Work Transcends Craft." New York Times 18 June 1993. Print.
Csaszar, Tom. "Steve Tobin: Reconstructions." Sculpture January 1996: 80-81. Print.
Dibble, Susan. "Hidden Strength." Daily Herald of Chicago 7 April 2010: 1-2. Print.
Feldman, Kathryn Levy. "The Material World of Steve Tobin." Inside Magazine Spring 1997: 47. Print.
Fiedler, Konrad. "Bronze Sycamore Takes Root." The New York Sun 11 September 2005: 1. Print.
_. "Steve Tobin: Steelroots Maquettes & Drawings." Gallery Guide November 2007: 94. Print.
Genocchio, Benjamin. "Really? It's All Made of Glass?" New York Times (Section B) 30 December 2007: 1.
Print.
Glueck, Grace. "Gladly Glassy -Eyed at the American Craft Museum." New York Observer June 1993:
Print.
Goodale, Gloria. "The ROOTS of his ART." Christian Science Monitor 18 October 2002: 13. Print.
Goodman, Jonathan. "Steve Tobin at Art et Industrie and OK Harris." Art in America September 1998:
Print.
Gross, Richard. "A House of Glass." Stained Glass Quarterly Summer 2002: 116-117. Print.
Julian, Debbie. "Earth Bronzes." Gallery Guide New York Summer 1998: 17 and cover. Print.
Kaplan, Michael. "Art Goes Alfresco." American Airlines' Celebrated Living Magazine Summer 2010: 42.
Print.
Kennedy, Randy. "Uprooted in the Attacks, Now Memorialized in Bronze." New York Times (Section B) 6
July 2005: 1-4. Print.
King, Kelly. "The Natural." Philadelphia Magazine June 1999: 25. Print.
Klein, Paul. "What a Beautiful Day for Outdoor Sculpture!" The Huffington Post (Culture Section) 8 April
2010. Web.
Lawrence, Jenny. "Events in Nature." Natural History May 2001: 16. Print.
Leffingwell, Ed. "Steve Tobin at OK Harris." Art in America June/July 2006. Print.
Naedele, Walter F. "Artist Sees Nature's Secrets in Termite Hills." Philadelphia Inquirer 1 May 1998.
Print.
[Type text]
"Ideas and Theatre." Ceramics Monthly March 2001: 59-63 and cover. Print.
_. "The Murano Mystique." Glass 81 December 2000: 28-35. Print.
_. "The Roots of Healing for Ground Zero." Philadelphia Inquirer (Section B) 18 July 2005: 1-6. Print.
Porges, Maria. "Breaking the Rules of Glass." ArtToday 1 1990: 32-37. Print.
_. "Glass Does Not Grow in the Forest." American Craft October/November 1990: 32-39. Print.
Schmerler, Sarah. "New Art Sparks Parks." New York Post 13 November 2007: 1. Print.
Sherman, Mary. "Tobin's Termite Hills Beg Us to Consider the World Anew." Boston Sunday Herald
(Section A) 15 February 1998: 6. Print.
Small, Michael. "Bronzed Beauties." People 29 June 1998: 65. Print.
Smith, Roberta. "Creativity Overhead, Underfoot and Even in the Air." New York Times (Section E) 27
July 2001: 25. Print.
Sorvig, Kim. "Art, Archaeology, and Landscape." Landscape Architecture April 2004: 26-35. Print.
Sozanski, Edward. "The Art of Nature." Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine (Section F) 14 November 2000: 1.
Print.
Stemle, Lisa A. "World of Water." Palm Beach (FL) Sun -Sentinel (Section L) 29 April 1994: 1. Print.
"Steve Tobin Debuts New Steelroots Series at The Morton Arboretum." artdaily.org 10 June 2010: Web.
Temin, Christine. "Making Mountains Out of Termite Hills." Boston Globe (Section F) 31 January 1998: 1.
Print.
Tobin, Steve. "When the Unreal Becomes Real." Chronicle of Higher Education 13 November 1995: 76.
Print.
Torchia, Richard. "Steve Tobin: Glass and Environment." Neues Glas March 1989: 216-221 and cover.
Print.
Uslan, Rachel. "Termites and Roots, But It's No Problem." Los Angeles Times October 2002: 30-37. Print.
Vaudour, Catherine. "Le Verre." Neues Glas February 1992: 65 and cover. Print.
Wallach, Amei. "Back to Nature." Smithsonian Magazine June 2004: 124-129. Print.
Warmus, Bill. "The Event Itself is the Only Truth." Sculpture March 2001: 30-37. Print.
Zackowitz, Margaret G. "A Growing Remembrance." National Geographic August 2005: 29. Print.
[Type text]
STEVE TOBIN, "BIG, BIG ROOT":
LOAN PROPOSAL FOR CITY OF PALM DESERT
Melissa Morgan Fine Art. 73040 El Paseo, Palm Desert CA
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AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF SCULPTURE
This Agreement is entered into this 15th day of November 2012, by and between the
City of Palm Desert, California ("CITY"), Melissa Morgan Fine Art ("Gallery") and Steve
Tobin ("ARTIST"), for display of an artwork entitled "Big, Big Root" (the "Sculpture") in
the City of Palm Desert's Civic Center Park.
RECITALS
A. The Gallery and Artist desire to loan the Sculpture to the City for public display;
and
B. The Art in Public Places Commission and the Palm Desert City Council have
approved a temporary exhibition of the Sculpture in a public place located in Civic
Center Park ("Exhibition Site").
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation,
the mutual promises, conditions, and agreements set forth herein, the City, Gallery and
Artist agree as follows:
1. Ownership
Except as provided in Section 2, below, the Sculpture will remain the property of
the Gallery or Artist. However, by virtue of this Agreement, City is entitled to
possession, and the Gallery and Artist agree to relinquish possession of the Sculpture
for the "Exhibition Period" described in Section 4, below.
2. Sale of Sculpture
Gallery or Artist may sell the Sculpture during the term of this Agreement and, if
sold, may assign his or her rights under this Agreement. However, under no
circumstances shall sale of the Sculpture terminate this Agreement or adversely affect
City's rights hereunder including, but not limited to, City's right of possession. Gallery or
Artist shall notify City immediately upon sale of the Sculpture and include instruction
regarding the party to whom the sculpture should be released. Regardless of sale,
artwork must remain on its site for no less one (1) year and no more than two (2) years
from the date of installation. Removal of the artwork from Exhibition Site is the sole
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financial responsibility of the City. The City must be notified at least two (2) weeks prior
to removal in order to facilitate work orders for removal of the sculpture.
3. Reproduction Rights
Gallery and Artist hereby grant City, in perpetuity, the right to photograph, film,
videotape, or otherwise depict the Sculpture at any time during the Exhibition Period
and to use such photographs, film, videotapes, or depictions at any time thereafter for
purposes of promotion relating to the Exhibition or the City, provided that City gives
artistic credit to the Artist concurrently with such uses.
4. Exhibition Period
The "Exhibition Period" means a period during the approximate dates of XXXXX
XX, 20XX, and ending on XXXXXX XX, 20XX. The Exhibition Period may be shortened
or extended in duration by mutual agreement between Gallery, Artist, and City.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, City reserves the right, in its sole discretion and with or
without cause, to decline or terminate exhibition at any time.
5. Transportation, Installation, Maintenance, and Removal
5.1 Transportation of the Sculpture to and from the Exhibition Site shall
be the responsibility of Galley or Artist. City shall bear the crane cost of removal
of sculpture from current location and installation and removal at Exhibition Site.
"Reasonable Cost" means those sums set forth in Attachment "A", which is
attached hereto and incorporated by this reference. Gallery or Artist will be
responsible for supplying a truck for transportation to Exhibition Site. Once the
Sculpture is removed from the Exhibition Site, it is solely the responsibility of the
Gallery or Artist.
5.2 During the Exhibition Period, City shall be responsible for the
maintenance of the Sculpture. City shall take reasonable steps to utilize the
maintenance procedures and/or methods described by Gallery or Artist and set
forth on Attachment "A", which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference, but City reserves the right to decline implementation of any or all, or
any part thereof, of such procedures and/or methods if circumstances, including
but not limited to considerations of cost, render such implementation
unreasonable. In the event City declines to implement such procedures and/or
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methods, Gallery or Artist may undertake such procedures and/or methods at
Gallery's or Artist's sole expense.
6. Liability for Damage or Injury
6.1 City shall insure the Sculpture against damage or loss in the
amount of three hundred twenty thousand dollars and no/100ths ($320,000.00),
which the parties agree is the fair market value of the Sculpture and the extent of
the City's liability in the event of its damage or loss.
6.2 City's obligation to provide insurance is solely for the duration of the
Exhibition Period and only while the Sculpture is located on City property.
Gallery and Artist are responsible and liable for any damage or destruction that
may occur during transportation of the Sculpture to and/or from the Exhibition
Site, and during installation and during deinstallation if Gallery or Artist is
performing the installation and deinstallation.
6.3 Gallery and Artist shall indemnify and hold City harmless from any
and all claims, losses, damages, injuries, and/or liabilities, of any kind
whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs, arising out of
or related to the transportation,, installation and/or deinstallation of the
Sculpture if Gallery or Artist is performing the installation and
deinstallation. Gallery and Artist shall further indemnify and hold City
harmless from any and all claims, losses, damages, injuries and/or
liabilities, of any kind whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees and
costs, arising out of or related to defects of the Sculpture, faulty
workmanship of the Artist, or any acts of negligence by Galley, Artist or
Gallery or Artist's agents.
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7. Entire Agreement
This Agreement represents the entire Agreement between City, Gallery, and
Artist and no other representations, whether oral, written or implied, have been made
nor may be relied upon by either City, Gallery, or Artist. This Agreement may be
modified only by writing made after the date of this Agreement and signed by both City
and Artist.
8. Governing Law
This Agreement is entered into in and shall be governed by the laws of the State
of California.
9. Death of Artist
In the event of Artist's death during the Exhibition Period, next of kin must
contact City and provide name, address, and phone number of party who will be
responsible for the sculpture for the remainder of the Exhibition. In the event of
Gallery's closure, artwork will be returned to Artist at his sole expense.
CITY OF PALM DESERT
Mayor, City of Palm Desert
ATTEST:
Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk
Dated:
Dated:
Ell
ARTIST:
Dated:
Gallery
[printed name and title]
David J. Erwin, City Attorney
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ATTACHMENT A: Transportation, Installation, Maintenance, and Removal
Methods and Associated Cost
Artwork Transportation
Installation/deinstallation coordinated and performed by City of Palm Desert. The City
is responsible for the crane costs associated with removing Sculpture from its current
location and placing it at Exhibition Site. Gallery or Artist is responsible for transporting
Sculpture to Exhibition Site.
Maintenance Requirements and Procedures
Artist and Gallery specify maintenance procedures or methods to be followed by the
City to maintain the artwork titled "Big, Big Root" as presented by Artist Steve Tobin.
Specifics are as follows:
L