PUBLIC ART IN GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

Public Art in Glendale is coming up for review and the meeting to discuss what the hired guns to figure things out have come up with has been changed from today to next week: Thursday, February 1, 2018.

With the recent expenditure of $18,500.00 paid to Scott Froschauer for his installation of twenty 'traffic' signs around town, it appears that the City of Glendale is serious about finding ways to direct income from new construction taxes here to be put to use.   The figure I heard was $5 Million! 

My goal has been to make sure that The Gas Station in Adams Square Mini-Park begins to be of more importance and that artists chosen to show there will be compensated appropriately.  In the past, the City required the artist him/her self to provide liability insurance and pay for all materials that were included in any installation, as well as any salaries they may have provided for helpers and, of course, their own compensation. 

A few years ago, with my last installation in The Gas Station, the City provided insurance, but there was no budget for the participating artists nor for the costs of installation.  Please copy and paste this link to see the results of that project.

 http://july4thgasstationproject.blogspot.com/

There is a prevailing attitude that artists do their work for the fun of it.. Which, for some may be true.  Currently, the 'installation' in The Gas Station is from a local school. It follows another school project coordinated by the Adams Hill Neighborhood Association.   

To attract professional artists, making the space a destination for even local world class artists like Kim Dingle and Kent Twitchell or even Richard Jackson, Nancy Rubins or Ed Ruscha to bring special installations, will require the respect of some kind of monetary compensation. 

As The Brand, under the aegis of Glendale Library / Arts and Culture, is also part of Glendale Parks and provides space and installation assistance, it seems logical to me that The Gas Station, also under the aegis of Glendale Library / Arts and Culture,  that commensurate attention should be considered.  

Funding is available.  Let's see what the study has to say and cross our fingers that there will be interest in The Gas Station and Adams Hill and South Glendale included in ideas to properly spend this windfall for public art.   

With the recent expansive installation commemorating Armenian heritage by Ara Oshagan on Central Park, I hope that a discussion about the impending changes to that park will be up for discussion at some point in the over all considerations for Public Art in Glendale.  Mr. Oshagan showed in no uncertain terms how this large open space is important for our city. 

Please attend the meeting next Thursday! 

Stay informed. Speak up!

WHEN: February 1st, 7:00-9:00 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM

WHERE: Downtown Central Library Auditorium
Located at 222 E Harvard St, 2nd Floor

Free & open to all. Light refreshments & parking validation provided for the Marketplace Parking Structure (120 S Maryland Ave).