HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-11 Public Art Subcommittee Agenda
PUBLIC ART SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA
Monday, May 11, 2020 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/878591757
1.Roll Call
__ Jessica Peters, Subcommittee Chair
__ Maria Tzompa
__ Logan Cloninger
__ Lizzie Taylor
__ Jenifer Cavaness-Williams
2.Via Partnership’s Meridith McKinley Questionnaire Report
a.Questionnaire Findings- see attachment
b.Discuss objectives and outcomes for the workshop
3.Review Public Art Projects Budget FY20
4.Public/Private Mural Next Steps
5.Establish Meeting Time for Future Subcommittee Meeting
6.Adjourn
To develop, advance and nurture all facets of the arts
to enhance the quality of life for Meridian residents and its visitors
Meridian Public Art Questionnaire
Purpose and Methodology
The Meridian Arts Commission (MAC) was established by the City in 2006 to develop, advance and
nurture all facets of the arts in order to enhance the quality of life for Meridian residents and
visitors. Core to this mission is the belief that opportunities to experience public art can strengthen
cities, increase livability, and contribute to a sense of community.
In 2019 MAC adopted a Strategic Plan, with one of the central goals being to create opportunities for
all Meridian residents and visitors to experience public art. As part of an effort to thoughtfully and
deliberately build the City’s public art collection, the MAC conducted an online questionnaire. The
questions were designed to help the MAC better understand the public’s view on public art where
public art would have an impact in the city, and how public art can contribute to a sense of
community, pride and engagement. The questionnaire was launched on March 27 and was up
through April 27, 2020. The questionnaire received 292 responses, of which 101 were partial.
The questionnaire asked five questions related to people’s preferences for public art:
•Which examples are you familiar with? Please click on each image you recognize. (Respondents
were shown 16 examples of artwork in Meridian). Which is your favorite and why?
•(Respondents were shown 22 examples of public art from other cities). Of these projects, pick up
to five that you think are visually interesting and represent the type of art that you think would
be successful in Meridian.
•What is the IMPACT that public art should have in Meridian? (Respondents were asked to
indicate four preferences from a list of 11 options)
•What AREAS of Meridian are the best opportunities for public artworks? (Respondents were
asked to indicate four preferences from a list of 14 options)
•What TYPES of artwork would you like to see in Meridian? (Respondents were asked to indicate
four preferences from a list of 12 options)
We also asked:
•What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Meridian?
•What places in Meridian do you take people to show them what Meridian is all about?
•Tell us about something unique about Meridian that a visitor or newcomer might not know
about.
Findings
Several themes emerge from the questionnaire results that cut across multiple questions and help
us understand people’s preferences related to public art, as well as their perceptions of Meridian.
Community Identity
Respondents prefer and would like to see more artwork that reflects their community identity and
feels unique to Meridian. When asked about the impact of public art, art that supports and enhances
the distinct identity of Meridian was listed as a top priority (43%). Many shared their appreciation
for Native Grasses and Far and Away because the work represented the heritage or history of the
area.
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The City’s unique history featured prominently in the things that make Meridian unique and that
people would like to see reflected in new public artwork. History was listed as the top response for
something unique about Meridian that a visitor or newcomer might not know about. The top reason
people stated their preference for certain public art in Meridian was that it reflected local history or
heritage.
Though not as prevalent as history, the areas natural environment was also mentioned as something
that makes Meridian unique. Additionally, four of the top five most selected public art projects from
other cities have a strong nature-based theme, which was specifically mentioned as the reason for
liking the work by a significant number of respondents.
In answering the question about what comes to mind when they think about Meridian, the strong
sense of community and small town feel featured strongly for respondents, there were also many
responses about the family friendliness, flourishing potential and Meridian being an overall great
place to live. However, there were some responses to this question and in the follow-up question
what is something unique about Meridian that referenced the fast development and growth of the
area in a negative light, expressing the need to maintain the area’s agricultural heritage and natural
areas, and to keep the city from becoming indistinguishable from other places. A majority of
respondents spoke of their appreciation for uniquely local events, like Dairy Days, special locally
owned businesses, and the city’s interesting history.
Memorable and Iconic
Respondents not only wanted to see public art that reflects the community, but could somehow
help define it or set it apart from its neighbors. Just over 50% of respondents (the highest
percentage) would like to see artwork in Meridian that is a memorable and highly recognizable
landmark. A top reason respondents gave for favoring artwork in Meridian and in other communities
was its uniqueness, as well as its ability to be a good candidate for a ‘selfie.’
Functional Art
Respondents are interested in artwork that enhances existing infrastructure or artistic items that can
also be functional, serving a dual purpose. This is revealed through appreciation for the robust
transformer box mural arts program. Respondents expressed appreciation that these turn a boring
but necessary fixture into something meaningful and joyful, something that shows that Meridian is
cared for and exceptional. In the same appreciation for functionality, respondents shared that they
would like to see more artworks that serve dual purposes. Three of the top selected public art
projects from other cities are artist designed functional elements – a gazebo, benches, and a play
space. Artist designed functional elements were the most selected example of the type of artwork
that respondents would like to see in Meridian (60.7%) and functionality was the top reason listed
for selecting a favorite artwork from another city.
Interactive Art
Another type of artwork that ranked favorably was interactive art. This could include the types of
projects mentioned above that are functional. Or it could include work that comes to life with the
interaction of people. Interactive was one of the top reasons that people listed as reasons why they
preferred certain artwork in other communities. Interactive and playful artworks was the third
ranked type of art (51.3%) that people would like to see in Meridian.
Art in Parks
The people of Meridian love their parks! A strong majority of respondents felt that the city’s parks
were the best opportunity for public art (75.6 %). In response to existing art in Meridian, projects in
parks were among the top favorites. When asked where they take people to show them what
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Meridian is all about, most said that they bring visitors to their favorite parks. Parks were also listed
Meridian’s top special places in the City.
Art in Downtown
When asked about priority areas for public art, downtown ranked second (67.4%) behind parks.
However, when asked about what the impact of art should be in Meridian, the lowest ranking
response was enhances the identity of important nodes or areas of the community such as
downtown. Downtown was also listed as a place people take visitors to understand what Meridian is
all about. Further conversations about public art in downtown should focus on the main goals for art
in that area.
Keeping it Local
The projects completed through the transformer box mural program were frequently listed as
favorite examples of public art because of their showcasing of local talent. A high percentage said
that it was important that public art supports the development of local artists to develop a public art
practice (42%) and more than half of respondents (56%) want to see work by local and regional
artists in Meridian.
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1. Below is a small sampling of public artwork already existing in Meridian. Which
examples are you familiar with? Please click on each image you recognize.
"Under the Sun and Dreaming," CJ Rench, Meridian and Main Streets 76.1%
"Far and Wide," Sector Seventeen, Zamzows Feed Mill 74.1%
"Julius Kleiner, " Thomas Jay Warren, Kleiner Park 72.1%
"Obelisk 1,2,3," J. Amber Conger, Kleiner Park 66.5%
"Native Grasses," CJ Rench, Fairview & Main 57.4%
"Sunset Walk," Kory Ramsay, Main & Pine 46.7%
"In Good Company," Laura Yager, Franklin & Linder 44.2%
"Journey of Heroes," Ken McCall, Heroes Park 41.6%
"Origin," J. Amber Conger, City Hall 38.6%
"Zentangle Butterflies," Megan Elliott, Meridian & Broadway 37.6%
"Girl and the Balloons," Jessica Irvine, Main & Idaho 37.1%
"Girl with Calf: Showtime," Bernie Jestrabek-Hart, Patty Young, Lori Hoagland, Vada
Manhire, Centennial Park
35.5%
"Outrageous Mavis," Clarissa Grkovic, Pine & Ten Mile 34.5%
"Norah's Wish," Anna Button, Locust Grove & Central 31.0%
"Tulips," Barbara Williams, Meridian and Overland 29.9%
"Passing Passerines," Karyn deKramer, Linder & West Stone Valley 22.3%
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2. Do you have a favorite public artwork in Meridian? Which one?
Transformer box artwork (32)
Native Grasses by C.J. Rench (16)
Far and Wide (the Mural at Zamzows) (14)
All of them (11)
Under the Sun and Dreaming by C.J. Rench (7)
Out on the Town by Daniel Borup (6)
Origin by Amber Conger (5)
Journey of Heroes by Ken McCall (5)
Meridian Gateway Signage by Bernie Jestrabek-Hart, Jim Mullenberg, Dane Michelsen (4)
Girl with Calf “Showtime” by Bernie Jestrabek-Hart, Patty Young, Lori Hoagland, Vada Manhire (3)
Obelisk by J. Amber Conger (2)
Village at Meridian fountain sculptures (2)
Julius Kleiner Statue by Jay Warren (2)
Murals (2)
Sculptures (2)
Girl Reading a Book (1)
Ben Kleiner by Jay Warren (1)
Splash pad fountain (1)
No Art (1)
Renaissance Park Art (1)
Boy and Girl on Bench in front of Library (1)
Bunny at Copper Basin (1)
Overpass art (1)
Hillsdale Farm/Stack sign (1)
Initial Point Gallery (1)
Why?
Represents history/ Heritage/ Agricultural history (15)
Reflects local community/ Reflects priorities/ Sense of meaning (13)
Improving environment/ Improving something functional/ Add interest (13)
Brings joy/ Fun/ Engaging/ Happy (9)
Colorful/ Vibrant (9)
Well sited/ Well-made/ Shows care (9)
Makes Meridian stand out/ Iconic/ Unique/ Memorable (7)
Beautiful (7)
Nature theme (6)
Striking/ Dynamic/ Eye catching (6)
Showcase local talent (5)
Personal connection (5)
Encounter regularly (4)
Imaginative/ Whimsical (4)
Family friendly/ Good for kids (3)
Surprising to encounter/ Hidden gems (3)
Modern/ Abstract (3)
Timeless/ Not trendy (2)
Size (2)
Representational (2)
Hopeful (1)
Diverse (1)
Creates distinction among parks (1)
Good photo opportunity (1)
Waste of tax dollars (1)
5
3. Of these projects, pick up to five that you think are visually interesting and represent
the type of art you think would be successful in Meridian.
"Community Bookshelf, " Kansas City, MO 39.8%
"Gazebo," Whitesavage + Lyle, Seattle, WA 39.3%
"Beacon Bloom," Arlon Bayless, Carmel, IN 38.8%
"Main Street Seating," Cliff Garten, Salt Lake City, UT 36.3%
"Westmoreland Park," Adam Kuby, Portland, OR 34.3%
Freak Alley, Boise, ID 30.8%
"Dawn's Silver Lining," Barbara Grygutis, Salina, KS 26.9%
"Butterfly Gate," Mike Pennypacker, Clayton, MO 25.9%
"Pine Cones," Floyd Elzinga, Ottawa, ON 24.4%
"Sky Play," Don Rambadt, Jackson Hole, WY 23.4%
"I See What You Mean," Lawrence Argent, Denver, CO 22.9%
"Rustician," Carl Unnasch, Montevideo, MN 19.9%
"Love," Robert Indiana, Philadelphia, PA 17.4%
"Chrysalis Amphitheater," TheVeryMany, Columbia, MD 14.9%
"Muskrat Ramble," Patrick Dougherty, Olympia, WA 14.4%
"Kinloch Courts," William LaChance, Kinloch, MO 13.9%
"Expression of the Soil," Erik Burke, Reno, NV 13.4%
"BLDG Bike Stands," Scott Eunson & Marianne Lovink, Toronto, ON 13.4%
"Double Play," Robin Brailsford, Frisco, TX 11.4%
"Haymarket Rabbits," Deborah Masuoka, Council Bluffs, IA 10.9%
"Fremont Troll," Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead,
Seattle, WA
10.9%
"Cloudscape," Christopher Lavery, Denver, CO 1.5%
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Top Five
1 - "Community Bookshelf," Kansas City, MO
2 - "Gazebo," Whitesavage + Lyle, Seattle, WA 3 - "Beacon Bloom," Arlon Bayless, Carmel, IN
4 - "Main Street Seating," Cliff Garten, Salt Lake City, UT
5 - "Westmoreland Park," Adam Kuby, Portland, OR
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4. Of the projects you chose, what do you like about them?
Functional/ Useful/ Dual purpose/ Transform utilitarian (36)
Interactive/ Good for selfies (27)
Reflects the community/ Culture/ Local history (26)
Nature themed (24)
Different/ Unique/ Interesting/ Expressive (23)
Beautiful/ Visual/ Aesthetically pleasing (21)
Fun/ Joyful/ Playful/ Whimsical (20)
Well sited/ Enhances the environment/ Nice to come across (16)
Landmark/ Iconic/ Memorable/ Recognizable (15)
Large (15)
Accessible/ Engaging/ Inviting/ Enjoyed by many/ Creates a gathering place (15)
Colorful (13)
Bold/ Noticeable/ Eye catching/ Striking (12)
All ages/ Family friendly (8)
For kids to play (8)
Contemplative/ Inspiring/ Endures multiple visits (7)
Subtle/ Not garish (6)
Outdoors/ Recreation/ Sports Themed (5)
Creative (5)
Modern (5)
Brings activity for business (3)
Day and Night Interest/ Multiple season interest (3)
Motion/ Sound/ Light (3)
Style/ Diversity of style (3)
Wall Murals (3)
Calm/ Tranquil/ Peaceful (3)
Honest/ Timeless (3)
Made by local artists (3)
Made by professional artists (2)
Figurative (2)
Sense of humor (2)
Sculpture (2)
Indoor artworks (1)
Lawful (1)
No art (1)
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5. What is the IMPACT that public art should have in Meridian? (pick your top four)
I would like to see public art in Meridian that …
Creates memorable, highly recognizable landmarks. 50.3%
Supports and enhances the distinct identity of Meridian. 43.0%
Creates opportunities for all Meridian residents and visitors to experience art that
enriches their lives.
42.5%
Supports the development of local artists to develop a public art practice. 42.0%
Anchors focal points or community gathering places throughout the community. 39.9%
Creates an outlet for community creativity and expression through hands on
involvement.
34.2%
Supports and generates social interaction throughout the community. 32.6%
Supports and encourage pedestrian activity. 31.1%
Gives voice to the unique history and spirit of Meridian. 28.5%
Supports Meridian's growth as a cultural destination. 19.7%
Enhances the identity of important nodes or areas of the community such as
downtown.
19.7%
Other:
- Creates positive feelings in viewers.
- Encourages youth to explore art
- I would hate to see us spend large sums of money for out of state artists works like boise did keep
any money spent for Idaho artists.
- Isn't too bright.
- Memorable--for the "right" reasons. Bring joy!
- Simply makes you smile to look at it.
- Supports/promotes local artists (4)
- The standard must be high for murals and sculptures, otherwise we just end up with low quality,
visual garbage on utility boxes.
- refund this 'surplus' cash to the taxpayer.
- none of he above. put this money to better use.
- Need to add more hammer and sickles to all government buildings
- Re-band the police department as a proper stazi building
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6. What AREAS of Meridian are the best opportunities for public art?
Check the top four areas.
Parks 75.6%
Downtown 67.4%
Bicycle and pedestrian pathways 38.3%
Libraries 35.2%
Gateways to the city 34.2%
Major intersections 28.5%
Large development areas 22.8%
Roundabouts 21.8%
City Hall 17.1%
Schools 12.4%
Visible from the freeways / major roadways 11.4%
Alleys 8.3%
South Meridian 6.7%
Police and fire stations 3.6%
Other:
- Avoid schools. We want them to foster creativity not imply endorsement of a particular style.
Student artwork with a limited term of commission is good if principle isn't biased to one style.
- Distributed throughout all neighborhoods
- Peace Park
- Revitalization areas
- none of the above. refund taxpayer dollars
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7. What TYPES of artwork would you like to see in Meridian? (pick your top 4)
I would like to see more…
Artist-designed functional elements in the streetscape (benches, bike racks,
crosswalks, manhole covers).
60.7%
Artwork by local and regional artists. 56.0%
Interactive and playful artworks. 51.3%
Artwork that is large-scale and iconic. 41.9%
Artwork that creates pedestrian-scale visual surprises. 41.9%
Murals. 36.6%
Illuminated/Light-based projects. 26.2%
Public art festivals. 25.1%
Street art (independent, sometimes unsanctioned, art in public spaces). 17.8%
Temporary installations that come and go. 11.0%
Artwork by nationally or internationally recognized artists. 8.9%
Video projection and media-based artworks. 2.1%
Other:
- All of the above are possibilities except unsanctioned art. Large scale iconic works are very high risk.
For each St Louis Arch there are hundreds of eye sores.
- Art that would be photo backdrop worthy for families
- Artwork from highschool students
- none of the above, refund dollars to tax payers.
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8. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Meridian?
Family friendly/ Great place to raise family (38)
Small town feel/ Quaint/ Wholesome/ Comfortable (20)
Suburban (17)
Growth/ Flourishing/ Potential (16)
Supportive/ Strong community (15)
Dairy/ Agriculture/ Farms/ Rural (14)
Friendly/ welcoming (13)
Home (12)
Great parks/ Recreation (11)
Downtown/ City Hall (10)
Too crowded/ Losing landscape/ Poor planning (10)
Lacks identity / Sprawl (9)
Agricultural history (7)
Nature/ Sky/ Trees/ Outdoors (7)
Clean (5)
Water tower (5)
Calm/ charming/ Pleasant/ Peaceful (4)
Traffic (4)
Walkable/ Be more bicycle-friendly & walkable (3)
Schools (3)
Restaurants/ Cafes (2)
Art/ Music (2)
Great place to live (2)
The Speedway (2)
The old creamery (2)
Citizen involvement/ Well run (2)
Safe (2)
Lacks diversity (1)
The Village (1)
Center of the valley (1)
Better than Boise (1)
Freedom (1)
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9. What places in Meridian do you take visitors to show them what Meridian is all about?
Parks, especially Kleiner Park (90)
The Village (74)
Downtown (58)
Cafés/ Restaurants, especially Epi’s Restaurant (22)
City Hall (11)
Outdoor Recreation/ Trails/ Bike Paths (11)
Independent shops/ Businesses (10)
Main Street/ Generations Plaza (8)
The Meridian Speedway (6)
Boise (6)
Art & music events/ festivals (5)
Library (5)
Galleries/ Art venues (4)
Farms/ Agricultural lands (4)
Scentsy (4)
Eagle/ Eagle Island (3)
Open air shopping/ Farmers market (2)
Museums/ Aquarium (2)
Subdivisions (2)
Eagle Rd. (2)
Wahooz Family Fun Zone/ Roaring Springs Water Park (2)
The Water Tower (1)
Old Flour Mill (1)
Meridian Temple (1)
High school sporting events (1)
South Meridian (1)
Meridian Crossroads (1)
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10. What is something unique about Meridian that a visitor or newcomer might not know
about? It could be a person -- someone who’s famous, or someone who’s just
interesting. It could be a place that is special, but perhaps only known to locals. It
could be an event that isn’t something you’d find just anywhere. It could be a
tradition that is important to the city or a group of people in the city.
Dairy Days/ Dairy Day Parade (21)
Dairy history/ Farming History (13)
Parks, especially Kleiner Park (12)
Cultural events: Art Week/ Concerts/ Library events/ Outdoor movies/ Dance troupes/ Kite Festival (12)
Local restaurants, especially Epi’s Restaurant (10)
Interesting history/ Historic Walking Tour (8)
The Village (8)
City Hall Art Gallery (7)
Friendly people/ Strong community (7)
Family friendly/ Accessible (6)
Nature/ Outdoor recreation/ Paths/ Trails (6)
Meridian Speedway (4)
Library (4)
Fast development/ Growth/ Losing agriculture (4)
Mix of rural and suburban (3)
Downtown (3)
Large school system/ School events (3)
Art galleries, especially Initial Point Gallery (3)
Food festivals: FD BBQ/ Wing Off (3)
Seasonal events: Halloween party/ Christmas Nativity/ Lights (3)
Small businesses (2)
Local city amenities (2)
Diversity (2)
Main Street (1)
Wahooz and Roaring Springs (1)
South Meridian YMCA (1)
Water tower (1)
Farmers market (1)
14
11. Have you attended Meridian Art Week in the past 3 years?
Yes 32.1%
No 35.8%
I do not know about Meridian Art Week 32.1%
12. Approximately how many art activities or events (museum or gallery visits; concerts,
plays, musicals or other live performances, etc.) have you attended in the past 12
months?
More than 12 8.6%
8-11 9.7%
4-7 31.7%
1-3 43.5%
None 6.5%
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13. What is your zip code?
83646 83
83642 50
83704 5
83713 5
83714 5
83616 3
83703 3
83705 3
83709 3
83712 3
83634 2
83651 2
83669 2
83706 2
83716 2
83263 1
83617 1
83619 1
83622 1
83636 1
83638 1
83643 1
83686 1
83687 1
83702 1
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14. Do you live in Meridian? If so, how long have you lived here?
Less than 1 year 6.5%
1 to 3 years 12.4%
4 to 6 years 9.1%
7 to 9 years 8.6%
10 to 20 years 24.2%
More than 20 years 13.4%
I do not live in Meridian 25.8%
15. Do you work in Meridian? If so, how long have you worked here?
Less than 1 year 2.7%
1 to 3 years 12.6%
4 to 6 years 9.9%
7 to 9 years 4.4%
10 to 20 years 12.6%
More than 20 years 4.4%
I do not work in Meridian 53.3%
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16. If you are not from Meridian, where did you move here from?
California 25
Boise 15
Other Idaho (not Boise) 15
Washington 9
Nevada 6
Utah 6
Colorado 4
Alaska 3
Texas 3
Oregon 3
Montana 3
Massachusetts 2
Hawaii 2
Arizona 2
Virginia 2
North Dakota 2
Illinois 1
Wyoming 1
Florida 1
Wisconsin 1
Missouri 1
District of Columbia 1
Pennsylvania 1
Ohio 1
Nebraska 1
New Jersey 1
New York 1
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17. What is your age range?
Younger than 18. 1.6%
18-24 4.9%
25-34 9.8%
35-44 23.5%
45-54 23.0%
55-64 22.4%
65 or older 11.5%
Prefer not to answer 3.3%
18. Please tell us your gender identity.
Female 77.7%
Male 15.6%
Non conforming 1.7%
Prefer not to answer 5.0%
19. How would you describe yourself?
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1.1%
White 92.2%
Two or More Races 3.9%
20. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin?
Yes 4.3%
No 87.5%
Prefer not to answer 8.2%
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