Comments on: City To Seek Feedback On Public Art Program

By: James Jefferson

James Jefferson — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:41:51 +0000

Localartist is not the only one who thinks this process stinks. It takes a while to put together the response to each qualifying document, time and money for each duplicate needed, and then it is like sending it off to a black hole. The first one I sent, I received no response at all, I have no idea if it was received, opened, viewed, or what? The second one for the Argo cascades required a new prequalifying document, and I only found out about it by chance, despite belonging to the city email list for just such items, I thought. It turns out that you have to on many separate email lists, including the bid list for all city procurements, in order to find out about these things. Which, combined with other experiences surrounding the advisory committees in this town, makes me wonder if this obfuscation is purposeful, so that only those “in the know” can be a part of things. Or these folks are in over their heads and dont know what to do. Certainly that viewpoint is reinforced by the above conversations regarding the justice center work, who would ever make an open dollar amount offer to an artist based on their “excitement over the artists observations of the project”? That man did some serious intercontinental smoke blowing, if you will pardon the expression.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:47:55 +0000

Yes, the Fourth & Washington art was privately funded and the Art Commission (which was authorized under a different ordinance and perhaps had a different name) was mostly a facilitator, helping to sort out proposals. Obviously whoever handled the materials was not very careful. That was quite a while ago, perhaps 10 years or more.

Still, you can tell that this one artist has had a lot of frustration in dealing with this process.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:41:03 +0000

The public art projects go through the city's procurement process – more information is online here: [link] The website includes a link to the Michigan Inter-Governmental Trade Network (MITN). Re. "For their first projects in the Parking structure....": The Ann Arbor public art commission has not done any projects in any of the city's parking structures. That sounds like a reference to the artwork that's part of the Fourth & Washington parking structure, which was handled by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority prior to the formation of the city's public art commission.

By: DrData

DrData — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:32:21 +0000

I'm betting it is this: [link] Sounds like a very bungled process. This just lets us know that this committee is in way over its head.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:06:47 +0000

Re (10): I hope our council members are reading this. I’m sure they would be as horrified as I that a person making an honest effort at answering an RFP would not be told that their proposal was not according to rules and given the information necessary to submit a proper proposal. Further, the requirements should have been part of the announcement of the RFP. It is especially horrifying to hear how the mock-up you labored over was not treated respectfully.

What is MITN?

By: LocalArtist

LocalArtist — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:30:47 +0000

Asking the public’s opinion is an improvement. But I suggest they start talking to local artists to see if the process they have in place works. As an artist, I find the process to apply to do a work of public art is highly unsatisfactory. I have applied three times. For their first projects in the Parking structure, three artists from out of state were chosen. When I asked to have my artwork returned, my 3d mock-up had been smashed and the envelope with my proposal wasn’t even opened. For the West Park seating area, I was told that I was “not on the list.” I thought that submission of proposals was an open process and that all were presented, but was told later by a panel member that my proposal was never presented. (I had spent two weeks on it) This year I finally discovered that an artist has to be “pre-registered” and “pre-qualified” through MITN before submitting an RFP. The RFQ for muralists has now expired and if you are not registered and MITN AND approved by the Public Art panel, you are disqualified from responding to an RFP for two years. Most artists would have given up at the first smashed mock-up. I’m betting the public doesn’t know this side of the story.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:10:16 +0000

“Parker ultimately proposed…”

The chair of a committee is usually discouraged from making proposals. Maybe AAPAC could have benefitted (still?) from some guidance as a new committee on Robert’s Rules.

Speaking of which, does this council committee have a chair? Allowing (in fact, offering) attendees extensive time to present thoughts and discuss matters with the committee sets a precedent that the committee might not be able to maintain in the future.

By: Observatory

Observatory — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:23:30 +0000

I am tired of apologists re: AnnArbor’s terrible leadership and failed management.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 12:42:25 +0000

“The proposal was so poorly written that it’s difficult to understand the reasons of the people voting against it.”

We have Mr. Taylor and everyone on Council who voted to use the vaguely written proposal, to thank for this.

By: Mae Sander

Mae Sander — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 12:39:42 +0000

“Kotarski, Parker and Gay all recommended hiring a full-time administrator for Ann Arbor’s public art program.” — If there’s no clear vision for public art, what good would it do to hire an administrator? The discussion reported here definitely suggests a lack of vision! If all we want is more aesthetic interiors for public buildings why not require each project to hire an artist to work with the developer and create some relevant art? Or even a good interior designer? At least we might get something as nice as the inside of the Washtenaw Community College fitness center or the downtown parking garage.

When the Medicis in Florence wanted public art they hired Michaelangelo. He was not much good at PR but public art in Florence and the Medici Chapel which he designed and sculpted … well, it’s silly to even bring up the comparison.