HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-13-005 - 2012 Commission Agmt - Jefferson Campbell-Cooper
REPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
March 18, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Rod Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development,
ext. 7506
PREPARED BY:
Silvia DiDonato, Manager, Arts and Culture, ext. 7392
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
January 16, 2013
REPORT NO.:
CAO-13-005
SUBJECT:
COMMISSION AGREEMENT, 2012 ARTIST IN
RESIDENCE, JEFFERSON CAMPBELL-COOPER
RECOMMENDATION:
That the commissioning and installation of art work by the City’s 2012 Artist in
Residence, Jefferson Campbell-Cooper be approved; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Artist in Residence 2012
Commission Agreement with Jefferson Campbell-Cooper in a form satisfactory to the
City Solicitor, such agreement encompassing the terms set out in Report CAO-13-005.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1995, the artist in residence has customarily developed a proposal for a commissioned art
work to be added to the City’s “Artist in Residence Collection.”
See http://www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitchener/Artist_in_Residence_Program.asp
These are works have been installed in the public areas of city hall and in various city-owned
facilities such as Centre in the Square and community centres. The works reflect the creative
work done by the artist during his or her term of appointment. The majority are two-dimensional
works of painting, photography or prints. There are a few sculptural works as well. The
commissions are $5,000 each, funded from the Public Arts Trust Fund established by the Lions
Club of Kitchener. They are permanent assets of the City of Kitchener.
As part of the annual program, the appointee serves for a year as amember of the Public Art
Working Group (PAWG). Each year, the artist submits a commission proposal to PAWG for
review.
Jefferson Campbell-Cooper was appointed by Council to be the 2012 Artist in Residence
(Report CSD-12-005). His year-long program was titled “The People’s Museum of Kitchener.”
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REPORT:
For “The People’s Museum of Kitchener” project, the artist created a large and detailed map of
the Kitchener area. In March, September and October 2012, visitors to the Berlin Tower
ARTSPACE were invited to walk on the map and add updates and changes including their
travel routes, landmarks, spots of historical significance and points of personal interest.
Jefferson’s goal for the project was to invite an open dialogue between artist and community in
reflecting on our local landscape through mapping. Citizens participated by sharing their stories,
mapping their memories, and contributing drawings.
Jefferson’s other activities this yearincluded:
Taking the map on the road for further community input at TEDX at the Centre in the
Square in March;
Facilitating a community mural-making project at the KPL/KW Art Gallery Block Party in
July (the mural now calls the Downtown Community Centre home);
Hosting a sculpture-making workshop at the King Street Art Marketin August, where
participants used recycled materials to make a model of the Grand river watershed;
Engaging citizens to participate in the People’s Museum of Kitchener project at Word on
the Street in September;
“Greet the Go”: Jefferson encouraged citizens to welcome the first train from Toronto at
the Kitchener VIA/Go train station at Victoria and Weber streets in September; and,
Completing a detailed drawing of the six remaining railway bridges that cross the Grand
River as the final exhibit of his residency in the Rotunda Gallery in December.
Mr. Campbell-Cooper proposes to reinterpret the map as a site specific mural installation at
Breithaupt Community Centre. See the attached proposal for more details.
The Public Art Working Group supported the acquisition of this commissioned work at its
meeting held January 14, 2013. PAWG’s motion was forwarded to the Arts and Culture
Advisory Committee (ACAC) for further support which it received on January 15, 2013:
“That 2012 Artist in Residence Jefferson Campbell-Cooper’s commission proposal for a publicly
accessible mural installation of a large scale map that reinterprets his “People’s Museum of
Kitchener” project be accepted for installation at Breithaupt Centre; and further, that the work
include a special panel depicting the location of the Breithaupt Community Centre as part of the
informational signage.”
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Quality of Life
The Artist inResidence program and the work of its appointees support the and
Community Engagement
strategies.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The commission fee is $5,000, funded by the Public Arts Trust Fund.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Artist in Residence program requires successful candidates for the appointment to offer a
program with an outreach component. This is often achieved with free public engagement
opportunities, lectures or workshops. In 2012, Mr. Campbell-Cooper presenteda series of
public engagement opportunities and three exhibits of his art work. His activities enabled direct
engagement with citizens at various locations and events throughout the year.
PAWG andACAC provide oversight of the Artist in Residence program.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Rod Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development
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