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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2025-062 - Public Art Commission for Mill Courtland Community CentreStaff Report Development Services Department www.kitchener.co REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: March 17, 2025 SUBMITTED BY: Andrea Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries, 519-783-8269 PREPARED BY: Eric Rumble, Coordinator, Arts & Creative Industries, 519-783-8294 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9 DATE OF REPORT: February 24, 2025 REPORT NO.: DSD -2025-062 SUBJECT: Public Art Commission for Mill Courtland Community Centre RECOMMENDATION: That the commission and creation of a new public artwork, "Swoop," by Agnes Niewiadomski and Michelle Purchase, to be installed at Mill Courtland Community Centre as part of its expansion renovation, be approved; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to implement an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with the artist team, outlining the obligations of the commission. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: • The purpose of this report is to explain the selection rationale and recommended proponent from the 2024-25 Mill Courtland Community Centre public art competition. • The key finding of this report is the jury selection of one proposal, which resulted from a successful open call for submissions and a three -stage selection process. • The financial implication is a $25,000 allotment from the facility renovation budget, plus approximately $10,000 from the consolidated public art account. • Community engagement included a diverse jury composition, endorsement from the Arts & Culture Advisory committee and feedback from users of the community centre. • This report supports the delivery of core services through the 1 % for public art policy. BACKGROUND: City of Kitchener's public art program installs site-specific artworks at newly constructed facilities such as libraries, community centres, fire stations, parking garages, and other public spaces and civic buildings. These artworks include permanent installations in a wide variety of styles and materials, chosen with a preference for artistic merit and material innovation, site responsiveness, public engagement and accessibility, durability and sustainability. Mill -Courtland Community Centre (MCCC) is eligible for a public artwork allotment through the City of Kitchener's public art policy, GOV-COR-816. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. MCCC will soon be renovated to increase the footprint of the building and update existing infrastructure to meet its current and expected demand for services and programs. The planned expansion of the facility involved community consultation to determine priorities for the centre's indoor and outdoor spaces, which informed a business case and then a detailed design, led by a project team including City staff and neighbourhood association members. Renovations will begin this spring and are expected to be completed in 2026. REPORT: The MCCC public art competition was open to artists or artist teams based in the Waterloo Region with experience creating public art and/or participatory artworks with community contributions. The open call requested ideas for a $30,000 commission, which would need to cover the successful artist's or team's design and production fees, insurance and other administrative costs, as well as materials, fabrication and installation expenses, including studio space, transportation or travel. Interested artists were encouraged to visit MCCC and learn about its active uses before applying, and to respond to a theme of "togetherness" that was highlighted during expansion consultations with residents. Staff assembled a jury to evaluate the expressions of interest received, determine a short list of potential proponents to be paid to further develop their ideas, and recommend a final selection after considering further input from citizens with connections to MCCC. Jurors were carefully chosen to include the following members: • Melika Hashemi (professional artist) • Jason Panda (professional artist) • Jacob Irish (professional artist & Public Art Working Group representative) • Nicola Martin (representing the Mill -Courtland Neighbourhood Association) • Lisa Lambourne (representing MCCC staff) • Cassandra Cautius (representing the renovation architect, Barry Bryan Associates) • Debbie Chapman (Ward 9 councillor) Competition After determining a selection process and timing in collaboration with Community Services staff, Arts & Creative Industries (A&CI) staff shared an open call for expressions of interest on the City's website for 90 days from March until June 2024. In addition to a togetherness theme, the call identified a clear preference for ideas featuring hands-on opportunities for community members to help create the artwork and/or programming or interactive potential once installed. Other evaluation criteria included: • Artistic merit of a proposed concept to enhance or activate public space at MCCC. • Appropriateness of the scale, visibility and/or presence of a proposed artwork. • General technical feasibility (durability, assembly, safety, accessibility). The open call was promoted via City communications channels, local e -newsletters and emails to appropriate arts sector workers based in the region. A public information session was held at MCCC in April 2024. Eleven submissions were received before the deadline. In stage one, the jury reviewed, rated and discussed their preferences of all submissions. The jury selected four submissions to advance to stage two. In September 2024, A&CI staff met on site with the four remaining artists or artist teams. Each proponent was paid $500 to further develop their artwork proposal and then present it to the jury in early November. The jury was tasked with eliminating one proposal during its stage two meeting and it easily reached consensus on that decision. Another proposal was subsequently eliminated by A&CI staff due to substantial technical and feasibility concerns. The remaining two options were progressed to stage three. Stage three involved sharing the two finalist options with a display at MCCC and a request for public input on the facility expansion project's Engage WR webpage for three weeks in January 2025. More than 80 responses were received to a series of questions about each option, with a clear preference for one of the proposals. The selected concept (see appendix A) was indicated as "strongly" or "very" representative of the togetherness theme by 95.1% of respondents, and its potential to enhance MCCC and make its users happy was confirmed by 91.6% and 97.6% of respondents, respectively. The jury met again in late January to review the public input and determined its support for the community's preference. Jury Statement Swoop proposes an eye-catching reimagination of the vaulted ceiling area inside MCCC — a great, cannot -miss -it location that will attract interest from everyone who enters the facility. The artwork will engage with the community that relies on the Centre by providing opportunities to contribute to its fabrication and an ongoing source of inspiration for activities or programs after it is installed. The renewable, natural and locally sourced willow will bring a unique material language into the space, balancing strong craftsmanship with a handmade quality that aligns with the centre's well-established character. The sense of motion and collective flow of the piece will beautifully mirror the communal interaction and movement of people in the building as well. Citizen input on two finalist options also indicated a clear preference that the jury wanted to respect. Residents confirmed that Swoop represented the concept of togetherness well and that it would enhance the space. Comments about the idea's appeal included its repurposing of renewable, low -impact materials, its use of vertical space at MCCC, the hands-on involvement of the community in its production, and the positive symbolism and multicultural resonance of swallows and flocks of birds. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports the delivery of core services. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The recommendation has no impact on the capital or operating budget. Guided by the City's public art policy, 1 % of the facility renovation budget was determined to be a $25,000 allocation. Because the policy indicates $30,000 as the minimum amount required to produce an artwork for the City's collection, and selection processes have further costs such as compensating artists to develop proposals, honoraria for jurors and jury meeting costs, A&CI contributed another $10,000 from the consolidated public art account. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of the council / committee meeting. CONSULT — The call for expressions of interest was created in collaboration with MCCC staff and informed by previous A&CI efforts to refine its open call template to reduce barriers to inclusivity and attract more equity -seeking applicants. The selection jury for this process attempted to be representative of community demographics and include both visual arts professionals and locals with active involvement in MCCC activities. The soliciting of citizen input using the Engage WR platform was motivated by consultation with centre users that indicated a high priority on their involvement in things that happen inside MCCC. Without past outcomes to reference the success of the effort, staff felt that the community response was general positive and useful to the selection process. At the Arts & Culture Advisory meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, all members present voted to "endorse the jury selection of the artist team, Agnes Niewiadomski and Michelle Purchase, and their proposed artwork, Swoop, for the Mill Courtland Community Centre." PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: • CSD -2022-422 Mill Courtland Community Centre Expansion Business Case APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A — Stage two proposal for Swoop public artwork at MCCC Swoop by Agnes Niewiadomski and Michelle Purchase Using basket weaving techniques, we (Agnes and Michelle) will conduct a series of community-based workshops to craft a flight of hand-woven willow swallows. The swallows, which will hang from the ceiling and/or be affixed to an indoor wall, will be locally sourced from wild and farmed willow. Likewise, dyes, made from local walnut (brown) and acorn (black) pigments, will be handmade, along with a set of woven baskets resembling swallow mud nests, placed in the upper room corners. sample woven willow swallows - aprox. 30cm x 45cm Swallows, small migratory songbirds found worldwide, carry myriad cultural symbols. They are known for their homing instincts, denoting stability and home in many cultures. Indigenous North American beliefs associate swallows with protection and good fortune. As such the presence of swallows is seen as a sign that the community is being watched over and safeguarded from harm. In Europe and China, swallows are seen as a blessing that wards off harm, and for sailors, they are harbingers that signify safe shores ahead. Swallows also allude to love and loyalty, as male and female pairs look alike and often mate for life. This association with love, freedom, and hope connects to the 2SLGBTQI+ community and Pride celebrations. And their return each spring after long migrations ties swallows to renewal, new beginnings, and the end of difficult times—all markers of resilience and transformation. There are more than a dozen willow species native to Canada, and their presence provides vital habitats, prevents erosion, and aids in ecosystem restoration. They also bloom early in spring offering some of the first food for pollinators. Known for their flexibility, the willow is adaptable and strong with the ability to bounce back following adversity. In folklore, willows represent renewal, and the bark has a compound used in modern pain relievers like aspirin. li Existing doubt height public lounge - 6.5m x 4.2m x 7.2m height Our flight will feature a gradation of natural colors in reference to movement, transition, and change—a nod to personal growth, the forging of new friendships, and the acceptance of physical and emotional change. As symbols, the swallow and willow align with the values of the MCCC, which serves a diverse community, often helping families who have come from afar to find safety and support. MCCC connects people to resources in support of building healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. The swallows and willow remind us of the resilience of nature and how we can thrive even under challenging conditions. This makes them fitting emblems of hope, new beginnings, and adaptability. We are passionate about our shared love for nature and creativity, especially through hands-on art -based activities. By building deep connections to nature, a sense of responsibility for the environment with strong bonds to our surroundings is nurtured. Engaging hands-on crafting, alongside friends (old and new), enhances mental health and well-being, which in turn contributes to a sense of belonging—to each other, to the community, and to the plants and animals that inhabit our natural environment. �'��"Tior � F Above is the mood board from the artists to help convey textures & other details of their concept. stage2- budget -SWOOP MCCC public art competition: stage two PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTIMATE � Title SWOOP Michelle Purchase Production Space & Equipment Budget Notes Budget Briefly explain your calculations Cu...+..m Too! ..-. ufa Gt Wing OFI(.6.....s at Two Smiths 6.laek.......oHh studio with ai=tmom.+ C.,. dFa Dunn daily rate per artist charged at $500 (8 hour day) or $50 includeProfessional Fees: Artistic per hour (these estimates all Willow harvesting from local sites, soaking and mellowing $735.00 have used Micheal Zwart at Tacoma Engineering before, Michelle performed a consult then she drafted the specifications and construction details for the approval Nest weaving - 15 nests ($150 per nest) $2,250.00 Willow weaving community workshops Subtotal Travel Costs 216 birds - (1:5 student to teacher ratio - approx. 2-3 hours to make a bird) If 10 students per workshop need Subtotal Professional Fees: Technical $300.00 about 22 half day workshops $250 to each instructor $11,000.00 per workshop Installation -two people for two weeks (140 hours @50 per hour) $7,000.00 Project Management/ Administration - planning, Iiase with city staff, organizing, promotion, calculations and measurements, sourcing materials, etc. (9% of total - approx 54 hours @ $50 per hour) $2,700.00 Subtotal Professional Fees: Artistic $23,685.00 Production Space & Equipment develop pmtetype fOF GUStOffl willow weaving tools along with Naeksnqmth Personnel travel SandFa says $500 to develop the PFOtOtype Cu...+..m Too! ..-. ufa Gt Wing OFI(.6.....s at Two Smiths 6.laek.......oHh studio with ai=tmom.+ C.,. dFa Dunn included in other costs C.,. dFa it's aFninimumeh.,.ge Of $1500.00 f0F a gFOUP session. One day ..I.,........s a e $375.00 m Engineer consult and specification/drawing approval $300.00 have used Micheal Zwart at Tacoma Engineering before, Michelle performed a consult then she drafted the specifications and construction details for the approval Engineer site inspection during / after installation? Subtotal Travel Costs $0.0011 Subtotal Professional Fees: Technical $300.00 Production Space & Equipment $800.00 Personnel travel included in other costs Freight, shipping or additional baggage included in other costs Packing and Crating included in other costs Per Diem and Accommodation (maximum $150/person/day) non anticipated Other Travel Costs Subtotal Travel Costs $0.0011 Production Space & Equipment $800.00 Storage space rental ($100 per month - 8 months?) Community space rental for workshops $0.00 in-kind from City Equipment rental - Scissor Lift - two weeks $1,783.40 Cooper Rentals - 19ft lift 793.50 (per week, 26ft is $891.70 per week - includes insurance, envionmental fee, taxes, delivery ($125 each way) - daily rental approx $170 per day 10/28/2024 stage2- budget -SWOOP Sculpture Tools and Materials working at heights training (2 people) - 6.5 hour course $508.50 Materials: dry willow (to ensure variety of colour and quality we will collect some willow and purchase some willow) $1,000.00 priced by the pound $18 per pound before tax - approximately 200 birds (60 grams per bird - 7.5 birds per pound of willow) - need about 29 pounds for birds and about 1 pound per nest willow soaking tank $0.00 Agnes has a tank freezer (for storing soaked willlow) $0.00 Agnes has a freezer Fabrication Hardware: secateurs, awls, etc. $350.0011 branch ranch sells awls for $48, replacement blades or sharpening for secateurs that Agnes already has Installation Materials $300.00 Installation Hardware: brackets, wires/aircraft cable (1/16"), sleeves/fasteners, crimping tool etc. hanging hardware: wires and eye loops fastened to walls/beams, drill/tool rental $300.00 Subtotal Project Costs $4,533.40 Total Project Costs ' 10/28/2024 working at heights training (2 people) - 6.5 hour course $508.50 Acute Services ($254.25 each) https://acuteservices.com/working-at-heights-training- kitchener/ harness - class A harness features one D -ring on the back $165.55 $71.98 each plus tax Studio & personal liability insurance for shows and workshops $800.00 Agnes is $1240 per year.Ayr Farmers Mutual is $71.10 per month (over 8 months = $568.80) Subtotal Other Costs 1 $1,474.0511 Total Project Costs ' 10/28/2024