HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Art 7624 Firestone Boulevard
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
April 22, 2008
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: Thad Phillips, Director of Community Services
SUBJECT: ART IN PUBLIC PLACES SCULPTURE AT 7624 FIRESTONE
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve the “Descending Sphere” sculpture.
DISCUSSION
The City Council on November 22, 2005, approved and adopted Ordinance Number 05-
1182 amending the Downey Municipal Code, Article VIII, Building Regulations, by
adding a new chapter 10 titled “Art in Public Places”.
The ordinance established an Art in Public Places program that assesses a one percent
(1%) fee of the building evaluation on constructing or reconstructing a commercial
building with a building valuation of $500,000 or greater or a residential project
consisting of more than four units with a building valuation of $500,000 or greater.
The ordinance created an Art in Public Places Advisory Committee appointed by and
advisory to the City Council. The committee reviews and makes recommendations to
the City Council on the developers’ choice of artist and proposed art piece. The City
Council has final approval of the artist and art project before the artwork may be
installed.
The City received its first public art application from Mr. Eitan Sharaf, owner and
developer of Unique Auto Spa at 7624 Firestone.
The Art in Public Places Committee on June 7, 2007, recommended approval, with two
conditions, of Mr. Sharaf’s application for a sculpture titled, “Descending Sphere” 2003,
Edition of 3, created by Jon Seeman. Its dimensions are: 87” high x 44” wide x 18”
deep, welded steel, zinc metallized, industrial. The sculpture’s base is 20”X20”X3/8”.
The two conditions which have been met were:
Submit structural design prepared by a registered engineer and obtain approval
from the City of Downey Building and Safety Department
Specify the wording on the sculpture’s two plaques
The developer submitted the structural drawings on March 10, 2008, which were
approved by the Building Department. The wording on the plaques will appear as
“Donated by Derorah & Eitan Sharaf Family” and “Descending Sphere by Jon Seeman”.
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
The sculpture will be located near the front of the property approximately 19 feet from
Firestone Boulevard. The frontage of the property measures 119 feet, the sculpture will
be 57.2’ from the east property line and 61.8’ from the west property line.
Jon Seeman, a Laguna Beach artist, has participated in many exhibits and his works
appear in public and corporate collections. Mr. Seeman’s biography and a gallery of his
public sculptures are on his website http://www.jonseeman.com/index.htm.
Mr. Seeman provided the following statement about his “Descending Sphere” sculpture:
My abstract work is about developing an expressive play between elements that
create a sense of motion, tension and balance. The sculpture is complete when
all works in harmony. In the sculpture “Descending Sphere”, the balancing
interactive forms express a sense of motion as the sphere travels down the
angular bar. The dynamic form of the sculpture is intended to be viewed as an
entity in and of itself.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact
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