Subscribe free to our daily email newsletterContributor Opinion by Eric Raynor: ERCA Response To East Rockville Art Decision
Oct 14, 2010 14:49 - 3 Comments
Posted by: Cindy Cotte Griffiths
Department: Contributor Opinion,Opinion
Tags: art, by Eric Raynor, Opinion
Department: Contributor Opinion,Opinion
Tags: art, by Eric Raynor, Opinion
Below is a letter from the East Rockville Civic Association (ERCA) submitted to the Mayor and Council yesterday concerning their vote at the Mayor and Council Meeting on Monday to approve artwork for the property behind the East Rockville sign by the Rockville Metro Rail Station.
At our monthly meeting on October 12, 2010, members of the East Rockville Civic Association (ERCA) reviewed and discussed the proposed sculpture (aka “The Blossom” by East Los Streetscapers) planned for placement at the corner of Park Road and S. Stonestreet in East Rockville, across the street from the Rockville metro station parking lot.
We understand that opinions about public art are highly subjective and that not everyone will or can agree on what is aesthetically appropriate; nevertheless, ERCA members are displeased with this choice of artwork, and do not feel it befits our residential neighborhood. In fact, the consensus opinion at our meeting was that we would rather not have any public art at that location; we’d prefer to just have enhanced landscaping. (For the record, ERCA members did not like any of the three proposed artwork options that were on view at city hall; members felt that none of the options adequately capture or reflect the character of our residential neighborhood. )
ERCA members are also concerned about the process by which art is chosen and placed in our (and other) residential neighborhoods. We don’t recall ever having been specifically asked if we even wanted artwork at that location, and we feel that the process to select and approve this artwork has been too rapid and without adequate neighborhood/community input. Where in this process is there an opportunity for the community at large to say we’ve taken a vote and we don’t like any of the proposed options and feel that none of these should be selected?
We are, however, mindful of the fact that you have already voted 4 to 1 in favor of this project the night before we had an opportunity to discuss it. Therefore, if it is too late to cancel this project, we respectfully request that this artwork be considered for placement in some other area within the city – perhaps a municipal or corporate location, which we think would be a more appropriate setting for this artwork.
On behalf of ERCA I will be happy to further discuss this matter with you and/or city staff. Thank you for your consideration.
Eric Raynor
President, East Rockville Civic Association (ERCA)
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I have responded directly to Mr. Raynor, as follows:
Dear Mr. Raynor:
Thanks for writing.
What was represented to the Mayor and Council was that the Cultural Arts Commission worked with three neighborhood associations and then made a unanimous recommendation of the work that was selected.
Your e-mail raises serious questions in my mind about whether what was represented to the Council was indeed fully accurate (the Council’s ability to make good decisions is only as good as the information that is available to us).
Presently, having heard from you and others, there is enough of a question in my mind to want to explore reconsideration. I will bring this up with my colleagues.
I don’t agree that no art installation would befit this location….and only landscaping would. But I agree any art piece will be totally subjective-some will like and some won’t. I don’t want us to come across as the grouchy neighborhood that doesn’t want such installations in our neighborhood at all…but I do agree the consensus at the meeting was that no one liked any of the choices.
This discussion makes me think of the Denver Art Museum in Colorado. My Mom lives out there, and while visiting and driving by it one day I saw the building and instantly loved it. My Mom then piped up about that “monstrosity”…..lol….subjective, indeed!
I do share Councilman Gajewski’s concern about whether Council is getting good information, though…..clearly something went amiss on this issue.
Dear Mr. Raynor,
Since you published your letter to the Council on behalf of the ERCA in a public forum, I am responding in a public forum.
Specifically, I want to address the process employed for public arts projects and the chronology of that process in this case. As I was not present at any of the meetings that I will be describing, and you were apparently present at several (I understand); please correct me where I stray from your recollection.
The process involves an Artist Nomination Committee (ANC) with multiple neighborhood representatives and Cultural Arts Commission (CAC) members, public input, an ANC recommendation to the full CAC, and a joint recommendation to the Mayor and Council.
1) Artist Nomination Committee is recruited. The committee typically includes representatives from the neighborhoods adjacent to the site, plus CAC members, and an art expert.
For the Park Rd/Stonestreet project, in January 2010, staff invited the presidents of the three associations that use that intersection as a gateway to the community to be on the ANC. Marilyn Al-Mansoor, ERCA; Fran Hawkins, LPCA; and Angela Younger, Legacy at Lincoln Park, volunteered to participate on the committee. You, then the ERCA president elect, also participated in each of the three committee meetings. Three CAC members also participated.
2) Community input is an important part of the Committee’s work. The neighborhood representatives on the committee typically facilitate that outreach to their neighbors as they deem appropriate.
For the Park Road/Stonestreet artwork, a presentation on the art project was provided at an ERCA meeting last April, at the request of the association president. ERCA members were given materials about the selected site, project schedule, and information about the public art selection process. At the meeting, no one questioned the appropriateness of the site or the desirability of commissioning an art piece for the site questioned.
3) Artist Nomination Committee met to discuss and approve the concept for the artwork, and to review slides of previous works from interested artists who have submitted expressions of interest.
For the Park Road/South Stonestreet project, the ANC met in June 2010, with all members present including you, to review the expressions of interest from artists and select three finalists. ERCA was represented by Marilyn Al-Mansoor and Eric Raynor; LPCA by Fran Hawkins and Legacy at LP by Angela Younger. The ANC vote on the three finalists was unanimous, with you also voting in the affirmative.
At no time during the meeting was the appropriateness of the site or the desirability of commissioning an art piece for the site questioned. The meeting focused on artist selection.
4) Artist Nomination Committee typically view in-person proposals by the three finalists and vote on their choice for the final award. This recommendation then goes to the CAC.
For the Park Road/Stonestreet Project the three finalists made their presentations at meeting held on September 2, 2010. The ANC voted unanimously, with you voting in the affirmative (Note: Ms. Al-Mansoor was absent), to recommend the piece forwarded to the full CAC – the recommended Wayne Healy sculpture.
At a subsequent meeting held on September 15, the artist presented requested modifications to the piece, which the committee voted unanimously, with you voting in the affirmative, to accept. Three additional ERCA neighbors were able to attend that meeting as well. The ANC voted unanimously to accept the modified proposal.
5) CAC, after typically endorsing the recommendation, then forwards it to the Mayor & Council.
In the Park Road/Stonestreet Ave Project, the CAC unanimously endorsed the recommendation and the chair of the CAC made a presentation to Mayor and Council last Monday evening.
If the above chronology is indeed substantially accurate, I would be satisfied that the City’s process (which has served the City well since the mid 1980s) has been followed to a successful decision. Of course, art is subjective and there will be some who like the final outcome and some who do not.
Again, I invite you to please set the record straight, if the chronology outlined above is wanting in any way. Again, I was not there and you were; but so were many others, including staff members who took contemporaneous notes on which this chronology is based.