MEMORANDUM

 

To:     Dave Corliss

Assistant City Manager

 

From:  Michael Tubbs

          Management Analyst

 

Re:     agenda item

 

Date:  November 23, 2004

 

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their November 30, 2004 meeting:

 

PerCent for Art Project - Sculpture titled “Free” by Stephen Johnson

Attached please find a recommendation from the Lawrence Arts Commission to approve an Art project for the Grassy Verge site in celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the City of Lawrence.

 

Project History. 

The Lawrence Arts Commission recommended to the City Commission that a sculpture be installed at the Grassy Verge site in celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the City of Lawrence on November 17, 2003.  The proposed location for the sculpture is the center of the flower bed located at the SW corner of 6th and Massachusetts Street.  The proposed sculpture was selected from among 62 proposals that were submitted in response to a Call for Entries sent out in May 2004.  The selection committee was comprised of 14 persons including city staff, members of the Arts Commission, neighborhood representatives and artists.  The committee reviewed the proposals and selected 4 finalists.  The finalists were invited to visit Lawrence and meet with the committee.   Following the site visits and meetings with the committee, Mr. Stephen Johnson’s proposal was selected for the project.    Mr. Johnson plans to create a 10’ tall painted steel sculpture that rests on a 2’ limestone base and is situated in the center of the flower garden area

 

A public unveiling of the sculpture is planned for April 30, 2005.  The total project budget of is approximately $53,000.

 

 

Project Status.

The Lawrence Arts Commission voted 7-0 at its November 10, 2004 meeting to recommend the sculpture titled “Free” by Stephen Johnson to the City Commission for approval.  The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission at its meeting on November 18, 2004 voted 5-0 to approve the project.  The approval was based upon a determination that the proposed sculpture would not encroach upon, damage or destroy any historic property or the environs.   

 

Action Request.  The Lawrence Arts Commission recommends that the City Commission authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Stephen Johnson to complete the above-referenced request.

 

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.

 

c:       Mike Wildgen, City Manager

          DiAnne Damro, Chair

         

att.