HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.1 Bray Commons - Public Art .
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19 I 82 AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
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MEETING DATE: October 9, 2008
SUBJECT: Bray Commons-Public Art
Report by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Photo of"Wind, Light, Shade=Tranquility"
2) Re-location options for artwork
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Report -
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: At the August 14, 2008 Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
meeting, the Commission received a report on the Bray Commons artwork "Wind, Light, Shade =
Tranquility" by artist Bill Gould (Attachment 1). The report indicated that Staff had received complaints
from local residents of the Dublin Ranch Terraces regarding the level of noise created by the sculpture
and the fact that some of the metal leaves were also falling off the artwork.
In response to the complaints, Staff conducted two sound tests which indicated that even under windy
conditions; the sound level was within the normally acceptable levels of the General Plan. Additionally,
Staff presented other options to reduce the sound level including removing some leaves or re-hanging'the
artwork in a different fashion. The Commission was not in favor of either option.
At the meeting, Dublin resident John Zukoski spoke on behalf of Mr. Rod Bugowan, Dublin resident and
author of a petition requesting removal of the artwork, due to metal leaves falling off and noise
disturbance from the artwork. Mr. Zukoski presented the petition which included 62 signatures from 55
households.
After much discussion, the Commission recommended that the artist continue to inspect, maintain and
secure the artwork and that Staff investigate additional sound mitigation options. Options the Commission
suggested included coating the leaves with a sound reducing material, planting mature trees to block the
sound or re-locating the artwork.
Over the past few months, Staff has conducted site visits to address the noted options with Parks &
Facilities Development Staff and the Code Enforcement Officer, as well as conferred with the artist and
Public Works Department. The following is an assessment of the information.
COPIES TO: Dublin Fine Arts Foundation(DFAF)
ITEM NO.: 7.1
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G:\HERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA_STMTS\2008\10-9-08 Bray Commons PA.doc
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Coating the Metal Leaves
The artist Bill Gould does believe that the leaves could be coated with a plastic type of material that
would create a more muted sound that would not be metallic in nature. The artist also feels that coating
the leaves would not significantly alter the look of the leaves. This would most likely also reduce the
overall noise level to some extent, although the exact decibel level can not be determined at this time. In
order to accomplish this option, the artist would remove the leaves, coat them, and re-hang them. The cost
for this service would be$5,000.
Planting Mature Trees
After conferring with Parks &Facilities Development Staff,Public Works, the Code Enforcement Officer
and the artist, this option doesn't appear feasible for a number of reasons. First of all, the sound from the
artwork goes in all directions 360 degrees as well as up and down (not directional, like a speaker system).
Surrounding or blocking the artwork with mature trees, in Staffs assessment, will not reduce the noise
level. Additionally, since the artwork is 20 feet in height, trees approximately 25 feet or greater would
need to be planted, and the cost is prohibitive at$2,500 per mature tree.
Re-locating the Artwork
Staff looked at options to re-locate the artwork within the park by placing it in different locations along
the perimeter of the lawn area (Attachment 2). At present,the artwork is approximately 147 feet from the
Dublin Terraces. In all cases, moving the artwork to a different location puts it within closer proximity to
another complex surrounding the park. The farthest location from all buildings was 200 feet, which is
only about 50 feet more than its distance from the Dublin Terraces. Staff does not feel that this is a great
enough distance to make an impact. The cost to re-locate the artwork would range from $8,000 to
$10,000.
Inspection and Maintenance of Artwork
Artist Bill Gould and a team of three assistants spent a full day on Saturday, September 6th, inspecting the
artwork. The team utilized plastic "twist ties" to reinforce any group of leaves that needed re-hanging. In
doing so, when the twist ties were pulled tight, it was noted that the leaves did not swing as freely in the
wind, possibly further reducing the sound level. The artist feels that this method of hanging the leaves
may reduce or eliminate the possibility of leaves falling off in the future.
CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the sound level and fortify the hanging leaves,
Staff believes that the most viable options available are: •
• Continue to have the artist inspect the artwork periodically, if needed, and when appropriate re-hang
unfortified leaves with twist ties—no cost.
• Remove all the leaves and re-hang with twist ties or some other method—cost$3,500.
• Remove all the leaves, coat with plastic material and re-hang with twist ties or some other method—
cost$5,000.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
receive the report. If the Commission is in favor of pursuing any of the options to potentially reduce the
sound level from the leaves where a cost will be incurred, City Council approval will be required in order
to authorize a budget change.
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