PLACEMENT: New Business
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PURCHASE OF FIVE (5) PUBLIC ART PIECES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:executive summary
The Martin County Art in Public Places program has been given a unique opportunity to purchase 5 award winning sculptures for our public art program.
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BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
Mr. Gary Gresko, a professional award-winning artist and sculptor is looking for a new home for five (5) of his large, outdoor pieces. Originally from North Carolina, Mr. Gresko has lived in Barefoot Bay (Sebastian area) for the last three years, is president of the Barefoot Bay Artist Guild and participates in the All Florida Juried Art Show in Stuart. He has a passion for working in different mediums and sculpts in steel, cement and wood. Much of his work, across the United States, has been for cities and universities.
The following is a description of each of the five pieces, including maintenance requirements and potential locations. Pictures of each are attached.
1. Transponder - steel; 11’ tall, 18” wide and weighs approximately 1000 lbs. Transponder starts as a solid pipe on the bottom and then seems to break off and float up, or is it coming down and forming the solid? It is a commentary on the signals that drive our lives. The segments may be incoming or outgoing, it is up to the perspective of the observer. Minimal maintenance, hurricane proof. This piece needs to be bolted to a cement pad.
2. Tumbling Toward the Sun - steel, 7’ tall, approximately 1200 lbs. Tumbling Toward the Sun won the Norvell Award for Best in Show at the Salisbury, NC Sculpture Show in 2010. This piece challenges our senses as it portrays the concept of tumbling upwards toward the sun and its warm orange color is reflective of the Florida sun creating interplay of shadow and light. Minimal maintenance, hurricane proof. This piece needs to be bolted to a cement pad.
3. Yap Money Stones - fiberglass reinforced cement; diameters vary from 3’ to 5’ and each weigh up to 300 lbs., depending on the size. In times past, large stone wheels displayed outside a home were used as a show of wealth on the Island of Yap in the South Pacific. The observer may ask if we are really any different today?! They anchor directly into the ground with rebar stakes and the wooden stick in the middle is what holds them up. Once installed they do not move or tip over. Minimal maintenance.
4. Silent Sounds of Service - military artifacts in light weight aluminum, 8’ high, approximately 200 lbs. This is a kinetic piece that is wind driven. As it turns it winds a nylon cord and continues the spinning/unspinning motion. This piece represents the five branches of service and is silent in honor of those who have paid the ultimate price. Sounds of Service would require more maintenance because it moves and has pieces. It would also require to be bolted to a cement pad and the kinetic parts would need to be removed for storm winds 60 miles/hr. or more.
5. Red Angle - 7’ high, recycled fiberglass and steel, bolts to a concrete pad. The piece is set at a 60-degree angle, the measure of angles in an equilateral triangle, the strongest architectural form. The pyramids at Giza were based on this measurement. Minimal maintenance, hurricane proof.
Some potential locations where the pieces would be complementary and get maximum community exposure are:
Hobe Sound entrance on Dixie Hwy
The new plaza area to be built on Mapp Road
Either or both new Firehouses
Cummings Library
El Camino Trail in Golden Gate
As several of the above locations are in some phase of development and/or construction, staff proposes to place the sculptures on the already existing cement pads that are in Memorial Park in downtown Stuart. We propose working with the public art program in the City of Stuart as well as the Martin County Arts Foundation to produce, market and promote this “Gary Gresko” temporary sculpture show for countywide visual enjoyment and education. As the facilities and projects are completed, the pieces can be placed in their permanent homes.
This provides a variety of ways to fulfill our mission of bringing public art to the community; promoting partnerships with other arts organizations; offering a fantastic temporary exhibition; and supporting art education opportunities for residents. Martin County Art in Public Places would increase its portfolio by almost a third for an extremely reasonable cost and, at the same time, be able to highlight the new projects and facilities that the county is building without having to wait years for funding, etc.
This purchase would be easily supported through the AIPP Capital Projects budget. Currently there is a balance of $63,060.00. The AIPP Operating budget currently has $1500 for artwork administration which includes education, marketing and signage.
Staff has spoken with Mr. Gresko and he would be happy to have staff and/or PAAC members come to view the pieces. He has also attested to the fact that all will be delivered in excellent condition and that he will personally touch up any scratches or dings that may happen during delivery.
Mr. Gresko is offering all five of these pieces for $3,000.00. (4 pieces for $2600; three pieces for $2200; two pieces for $1700 and one for $1,000) This incredibly generous pricing includes the artwork, loading of the pieces at the storage site, delivery to a Martin County site (Memorial Park) and assistance with the installation.
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Move that the Public Art Advisory Committee approve the purchase of all five pieces of art and provide direction on potential locations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
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This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.